YATE hockey club had their final matches of the season last weekend, all away form home in the sunshine.

Yate Ladies 1s

Yate Ladies 1s finished the league season with an enjoyable win away at Bristol & West Jaspers in front of great travelling support. 

Yate had plenty of early pressure and took the lead after 6 minutes, when Chloe W's short-range effort was fumbled by the keeper and trickled in.

Yate kept Jaspers pinned in their half thanks to excellent hassling in the press from Chloe W, Emily A, Millie V-W and Kyishia Cooke.

Di Pugh-Hudson made some interceptions, Antonia Joy was relentless as usual and Yate won a number of penalty corners.

Yate's second came from open play when joint player of the match Zoe Vale's top of the D screamer almost broke the net!

It was 3-0 a couple of minutes later when Vale's long ball found Emily A, who crossed to Cooke and she calmly scored. 

Jaspers had more of the ball in the second half, but Yate's defence of Katie Brown, Lucy Joy and Rosie Belcher were solid and distributed well for more attacks, with goal keepers Ruby Gold and Kelly Bowden rarely troubled.

Jaspers pulled one back from a well worked penalty corner, lifted over Bowden, with 10 minutes to go. 

Yate pressed for more goals with some great runs from Ruth Belcher and Millie V-W among others.

Yate made it 4-1 when joint player of the match Holly Davis made yet another typically decisive tackle to win the ball back on the side line. She then found Cooke in the D with her powerful ball in, and Cooke calmly slotted home from wide. 

Yate were pleased with a satisfying 4-1 win after more great tactics from coach Carolyn Rolleston.

Yate finished 5th in the West Women’s Division 1 North table, tied on 39 points with 4th and 6th.  

Captains Zoe Vale and Lucy Joy were proud of the squad’s performance, reflecting “we played some excellent hockey this season and had we turned one of our 6 draws into a win we would have finished third”.

Yate Mens 1s

Yate men’s 1s travelled to Swansea 2 for their final match. Unfortunately they couldn’t finish the season with a win, losing 5-3. Yate’s goals came from a Danny Pearce Brace and another for Dylan Bruce.

However, an excellent second half of the season has seen them finish 4th in West Men’s Division 2 West on 38 points, 1 point behind 3rd place.

Yate Men’s 2s

Having won the league already, Yate men’s 2s had a final non-scoring league match away against the Uni of Bristol 5 Development Team. On this occasion the students emerged victorious 5-2.

Yate Mixed

Yate travelled to Trojans to play in the last 16 of the National Mixed Plate competition, knowing they faced a tough task against higher ranked opponents.

It was quickly apparent from the start that this was going to be a high-quality encounter as both teams started well, with great skills and fitness on display. Trojans took an early advantage with a tap in at the back post and doubled their tally mid way through the 1st period.

However, Yate fought back with a superb goal from Angus Friell, following good approach play from Maria Jones, Milo Young and Conor Pinnell.

90 seconds later and Yate had parity as Millie VW finished off a great move by flicking the ball past the oncoming GK.

In a dramatic last minute, Antonia Joy picked up a green card and Trojans scored their 3rd just seconds before the break.

Yate improved after the break, with the quality of the match still at a high level.

Trojans scored a 4th from a penalty corner, but Yate kept battling with youngsters Dylan Bruce, Alex Whittle and Lucy Mackenzie displaying superb stick skills.

With 5 minutes to go, Kyishia Cooke had a one-on-one chance but was thwarted by the excellent Trojans GK and shortly after Whittle created an opportunity which was smothered by the GK.

Time ran out to leave Trojans 4-2 winners, but Yate can be proud of their endeavours in the Mixed Cup this season.