This upcoming weekend, we are thrilled to see our talented RINKit athlete, Archie Franks, compete at the National League Finals U17s. Archie demonstrated exceptional skill and determination by winning the U20s Cup last weekend, scoring an impressive 7 goals to top the list. With such an outstanding performance, the question on everyone's mind is whether Archie can become a National Champion two weeks in a row. We are rooting for Archie and his team, Herne Bay RHC, and wish them all the best of luck in the competition.
Can Invicta maintain their impressive form and keep their winning streak alive?
After their impressive victory against top team Middlesbrough RHC last weekend, RHC Invicta faced off against Manchester RHC in their first of two games this weekend. Manchester currently sits in second place in PL2, so Invicta knew they were in for a tough match. The game started off well, with both teams going at it, but it was Manchester who took the lead through I. Servent. However, Invicta quickly responded, with C. Botting finding the back of the net to level the score.
The game settled down as both teams found their rhythm, and with just 8 minutes left in the first half, D. Gordon struck for Manchester, putting them ahead once again. But Invicta didn't let this faze them, and they sent on Sheppard, who quickly made an impact with a stunning goal in the top corner, making it 2-2. Just a minute later, Invicta took the lead before the break through D. Butcher, making it 3-2 at halftime.
The second half began, and within just three minutes, Invicta struck again with Butcher's second goal of the game. The pace of the game continued to be quick on the tight rink, and Manchester managed to strike back with a goal from M. Carter. However, Invicta responded almost immediately with another stunning goal, this time from L. Greenwood, who sprinted down the barrier, cut in, and smashed it into the top corner.
With just two minutes left in the game, Manchester was awarded a penalty, but Invicta's goalkeeper, J. Thomas, who had been in fine form all game, made a double save to keep his team ahead. Manchester did manage to score one more goal, with I. Durwert-Black finding the back of the net, but it wasn't enough, and Invicta walked away with all three points.
The referees for the game were A. Kneeshaw and P. Williams. Overall, it was an exciting and hard-fought match, with both teams putting in a solid effort until the final whistle. Invicta will now look to carry this momentum forward as they prepare for their next game.
Invicta took to the rink for their second game after a 7-hour wait between games, facing off against local rivals Herne Bay. The game started quickly, with Herne Bay pressing early and scoring two goals within eight minutes through H. Hudson, leaving Invicta shocked and scrambling to respond. Four minutes later, D. Butcher got a goal for Invicta, but Herne Bay struck again with Hudson completing his hat-trick and making it 3-1 to the Bay.
Invicta had to dig deep and with 8 minutes left of the half, Butcher got his second from the penalty spot. Invicta was slowly gaining control of the game and with 36 seconds left, Invicta captain Martindale fired one home to make it 3-3 at half time.
Both teams came out at full throttle in the second half, but the game became very scrappy. J. Peters struck for Invicta to take the lead, but 2 minutes later, Herne Bay equalized through J. Rawlinson. With both teams chasing the game, Herne Bay struck again with 2 minutes left on the clock. However, there was one last opportunity for Butcher, who took it and leveled the score with 1 minute to go, completing his hat-trick and making it 5-5.
Herne Bay had accumulated 9 team fouls while Invicta had 4. J. Rawlinson took a blue in the second half. The game ended 5-5, with both teams sharing the points. Referees K. Wilson and N. Davis officiated the game.
Back-to-back wins propel Kings Lynn to the top of the PL standings....
On April 14th, the reigning PL champions, Kings Lynn, made the trip to Peterborough for a Friday night fixture. The game got off to a fast-paced start, as expected, with Peterborough taking the lead within the first minute through Luca Oakley. However, Lynn quickly replied a few minutes later, with Barnes scoring two goals in a minute to put them ahead. The game continued to be a back-and-forth affair, with Lynn scoring two more goals and Peterborough responding with one, resulting in a half-time score of 4-2 in favour of Kings Lynn.
The second half started similarly to the first, with Peterborough catching Kings Lynn off guard and scoring quickly, thanks to a goal from M. Carter. However, Lynn regained their composure and responded strongly, scoring two more goals through Griffin and Norris, while Peterborough failed to score. The final score of the game was 6-3 to Kings Lynn, with S. Taylor and J. Oldroyd serving as the referees.
Back to back wins for Kings Lynn…
as they return to the top of the league
In their second game in as many days, Kings Lynn faced off against Soham in what promised to be an exciting match-up, with both teams vying for crucial points in their pursuit of the league title. The game started at a frantic pace, with Lynn striking first through their captain, Josh Taylor. However, Soham responded just two minutes later, with their own captain, Scott Neville, scoring to level the game.
The back-and-forth action continued, with Soham taking the lead in the 17th minute through H. Parfitt, followed by Neville's second goal less than a minute later. However, just before halftime, Kings Lynn managed to pull one back, with Jack Tucker finding the back of the net, making the score 3-2 in favour of Soham at the break.
The second half started off with a bang, as Lynn's captain, Taylor, scored his second goal of the game within five minutes. Soham responded quickly, with J. Neville finding the back of the net just three minutes later. The game remained tight from there on, but with just nine minutes remaining, Lynn's Barnes scored to level the game. Soham was then rocked by two more goals from Dugdale, resulting in a final score of 6-4 in favour of Kings Lynn. Referees J.Oldroyd, C.Freeman
This win marked a successful weekend for Kings Lynn, who notched two victories and regained their spot at the top of the league table. However, the pressure is now on Ely and Chesterton United to keep pace in the race for the title.
SHEFFIELD ADVANCES TO QUARTER FINALS WITH IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE.......
Sheffield Wildcats returned home to play their Senior National Cup
After three consecutive games on the road, Sheffield Wildcats returned home to play their Senior National Cup game against Skaters RHC. The home fans showed up in good numbers to support the team, creating a great atmosphere. Sheffield dominated the game as predicted and went into half-time with a comfortable 8-0 lead. In the second half, Skaters RHC had some opportunities from direct shots, but Amelia Thomas, on loan from RHC Invicta, made a world-class save to keep the clean sheet for Sheffield. The final score was an impressive 16-0, with goal scorers including L. Tasker (3), J. Proctor (2), J. Clarke (6), and J. Hall (5).
The referees for this game were Derek Bell and Jack Thomas. Overall, it was a fantastic performance by Sheffield Wildcats, with their dominance on the Rink reflecting their great form on the road. The team's solid defence and excellent goalkeeping ensured they kept a clean sheet, while their attacking prowess resulted in an impressive 16 goals. The Young home fans certainly got a great game with plenty of goals with this outstanding display of Roller Hockey.
Sheffield Wildcats are now gearing up to travel to Peterborough for their upcoming PL2 games on Sunday. The team will face off against Middlesbrough and Farnham in what is sure to be a challenging and exciting matches.
Sheffield has been performing exceptionally well in recent games, both at home and on the road, and will no doubt be looking to continue their winning streak. With their solid teamwork and excellent individual performances, Sheffield is definitely a team to watch at the moment!
The PL2 games on Sunday will be a crucial test for Sheffield, but with their current form, they are certainly up for the challenge.
Exciting News: Franks Signs with RINKit Athletes
RINKit Athletes is proud to announce that Archie Franks has joined our team! We are looking forward to partnering with Archie to help him achieve his roller hockey goals.
Get ready for an action-packed Sunday
of Premier League 2 in Peterborough's Bushfield Leisure Centre
The PL2 tournament resumes this weekend in Peterborough with an exciting lineup of matches. The first game will feature RHC Invicta and Manchester RHC at 10:30 am. Manchester emerged victorious in their previous encounter, with a convincing 6-1 win over Invicta.
In the second match, Plymouth RHC will take on Middlesbrough RHC, who won 11-3 in their last meeting. Plymouth will be looking to bounce back and return to their winning ways.
Game 3 will see Sheffield Wildcats RHC go head-to-head with Farnham RHC. Sheffield won their last PL2 game against Plymouth RHC with a score of 9-7, while Farnham claimed a 7-3 victory against Sheffield in their last encounter. It will be interesting to see if Farnham's new signing, Tom Mills, will continue his impressive goal-scoring form or if Jordan Hall of Sheffield will have the final say.
In game 4, Middlesbrough RHC will face Sheffield Wildcats RHC in what promises to be an exciting match following their previous 12-goal thriller.
Game 5 will feature Manchester RHC against Plymouth RHC, with Manchester RHC looking to repeat their previous 10-4 win over Plymouth.
The final game of the day will be a highly-anticipated match between local rivals Herne Bay RHC and RHC Invicta. Herne Bay won the last battle with a 6-4 scoreline, but Invicta will surely be seeking revenge.
All matches will be played at Bushfield Leisure Centre in Peterborough and are live for spectators to come and support.
The PL2 season has commenced.
The Premier League 2 kicked off in Middlesbrough on April 9th, 2022, with the first match between Sheffield Wildcats RHC and Plymouth RHC. The first half was controlled well by Sheffield, who looked comfortable throughout and led 3-1 at half-time.
However, the second half was a different story, with Plymouth coming out strong and pulling back two goals to tie the score at 3-3. The rest of the half was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams fighting hard for the win.
In the end, Sheffield Wildcats managed to come out on top, winning 9-7 and continuing their winning ways. Their goal scorers were J. Proctor (3), J. Hall (3), K. Cunningham (1), and C. Gash (2).
Meanwhile, Plymouth's goals came from T. Adams (1), K. Swabey (4), and G. Swabey (2).
Sheffield's performance in this match suggests that they could be a strong contender in the league. However, it's still early days, and it remains to be seen how long they can continue their winning streak.
Overall, it was an exciting and competitive match of the Premier League 2.
Referees: A. Adams A.Kneeshaw
Sheffield Wildcats RHC
The second game of the Premier League 2, featured RHC Invicta and Middlesbrough RHC. In their last encounter, Middlesbrough had won 3-2, but this time around, Invicta were determined to come out on top.
The game started at a fast pace, and Invicta took a deserved lead after controlling the game. The goal came from the veteran Halvorsen, and the game continued at a quick pace. With about 8 minutes left in the first half, Invicta's player Gonzalez received a very dubious blue card, and coach Bowyer from Invicta showed his frustration resulting in a warning. Middlesbrough had their chance to level the score, and G. Redpath scored from the direct. A few minutes later, J. Shelton for Invicta appeared at the back post and made it 2-1 to RHC Invicta. With two minutes left of the half, Redpath for Middlesbrough got a blue card, but unfortunately, Invicta's Archie Franks failed to convert. Half-time score was 2-1 to Invicta.
The second half began as competitive as the first, with Invicta looking solid at the back and not letting any chances go to Middlesbrough. Connor Botting and Dave Martindale controlled the game for Invicta, with Middlesbrough throwing everything they had at Invicta. With 29 seconds left, Invicta got their chance on a break with Invicta captain Martindale finishing brilliantly, resulting in the final score of 3-1 to RHC Invicta.
This was a well-deserved win for Invicta, who looked composed throughout the game. Their defence was solid, and they took their chances well. Middlesbrough fought hard, but in the end, they were unable to break down Invicta's defence. Invicta will be pleased with their performance and will look to build on this win in the coming matches.
Referees: P. Williams C.Freeman
RHC INVICTA
The third and final game of the day witnessed an enthralling and high-scoring encounter between Middlesbrough RHC and Manchester RHC. The game started at a frenetic pace, with both teams displaying exciting and skillful hockey. Middlesbrough took the lead with a goal from Todd. However, six minutes later, Servent from Manchester equalized, and this seemed to inspire the Manchester team. By half-time, Manchester had taken a commanding lead of 3-1, with Aitken and Gordon also finding the back of the net.
The second half began with Manchester continuing their dominance, extending their lead to 4-1 within the first minute. Middlesbrough fought back, with L.Pickering scoring two minutes later, but their joy was short-lived as Manchester hit two more goals, with Servent and Aitken both scoring their second goals of the match, bringing the scoreline to 6-2 in Manchester's favour. The goals kept coming at a fast pace, with Middlesbrough scoring through Millward, but Manchester replying instantly with another goal from Carter. Middlesbrough managed to get one more goal from H.Pickering, but it wasn't enough to turn the game around. The final score was 7-4 in favour of Manchester RHC.
Manchester RHC
England Roller Hockey Coach report - Vitor Pereira
Following the first two games of the European U23s Championships in Paredes, Portugal, Vitor Pereira spoke with the England Roller Hockey Media team to share his thoughts on the team's performance.
Pereira acknowledged the challenges that the team faced in the first game, given their previous tough preparation game with the Portuguese team. However, he praised the players for their excellent availability and tactical rigor, which allowed them to maintain a high pace and demonstrate their quality. He noted that the team focused on rotation during the game to balance the effort of the competition while ensuring harmony and higher quality dynamics throughout the team performance.
Despite the result, Pereira drew positive conclusions from the game, particularly the team's fighting spirit.
Moving on to the second game, Pereira expressed confidence in the team's ability to perform well, and they did not disappoint. Despite facing a more experienced Swiss team with players of greater physical stature, the team showed more possession of the ball and put into practice some new movements. Although they were not able to secure a victory, Pereira was impressed with the team's positive style of play and highlighted their efforts to maintain their intended identity throughout the game.
The team faced accumulated fatigue, which caused them to lower the pace of play, but they maintained their determination to win. A testament to this was a ball that hit the post in the last 7 seconds of the game. Overall, Pereira was pleased with the team's performance and remains optimistic about their prospects for the remainder of the tournament.
