Harleston Magpies Under-12s qualify for National Championships after victory at the East In2Hockey Championships

Harleston Magpies has been celebrating one of its youth team’s being crowned champions of the East.

On a sun-drenched morning, Magpies hosted the East In2Hockey Championships for Under-10 and Under-12 girls and boys teams at their Syleham Road base.

The tournament saw some of the leading sides from hockey clubs across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Essex and Bedfordshire come together – and it was in the Under-12 Boys’ section that Magpies came out on top.

Having qualified for the event as Norfolk champions, the team was drawn in the same group as the Suffolk and Hertfordshire county champions, as well as the runners-up in Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Early goals in their first match settled any nerves in the squad and Magpies quickly brushed aside Ipswich, Crostyx, City of Peterborough and finally Blueharts – by far their sternest test – to finish the group unbeaten, scoring 17 goals and only conceding two.

The semi-finals paired Magpies with Cambridge City – a club always known for producing talented and well-organised junior teams.

However, a professional display from the hosts saw them take an early lead before adding two further goals to set up a clash with Upminster in the final.

The Essex champions are regarded as a club on the up when it comes to junior hockey, and they made life tough for Magpies during the opening exchanges of the contest.

But Magpies’ strength in depth eventually told as they sealed a 3-0 victory to not only get their hands on the title, but also book a place at the National Finals in Nottingham on May 17.

Joining the Under-12 Boys at the Nationals later this month will be Hertford (Under-10 Boys and Under-12 Girls) and Old Loughtonians (Under-10 Girls).

Elsewhere on the same day, Magpies Under-10 Boys finished fifth, the Under-10 Girls recorded a seventh-placed finish and the Under-12 Girls came 12th.