After a year of intense regional Performance Centre training/selection, seven SHC players were selected to represent the Saxon Tigers (South East) in the prestigious Futures Cup in St Albans 21st-24th August: Ashley Sewell and Alex Thompson in the Boys U17s team, Fin Webster and George Schooley in the Boys U15s and Annabel Cheveley, Venetia Barker and Tilly Strand Ford in the Girls U15s.

Six regional teams take part in Futures Cup, the selection tournament for future England juniors – four covering England plus Wales and Scotland National junior teams. Each age group is divided into two, so each Saxon Tigers team had two group matches before the playoffs/finals. Our U15 and U17 Boys put in strong performances and won their first matches – both against Wales, with Fin scoring 2 terrific goals in the U15 match. They both lost their second games against Scotland (U15s) and the North (U17s) so reached the 3/4th playoffs. The U15s unfortunately lost theirs against a very strong North of England so finished 4th, but the U17s boys fought back against West of England from 3-1 down to win 4-3, so got their richly deserved bronze medals.

The girls U15s won both their qualifying matches, against Wales and the North, so went through to the Final against a very strong Scotland National U16 team. The Scottish girls took the lead but the Saxon Tigers refused to give up and managed to claw their way back with 2 goals in a minute at the very end of the third quarter. They held onto that lead in a tense final quarter and so won gold, conceding only 2 goals in the whole tournament with Venetia and Tilly at the heart of the Tigers defence, and Annabel outstanding in attack. Venetia also deservedly won Saxon Tigers U15 Girls Player of the tournament.

Saxon Tigers Boys U15 results:
V Wales 7-4
V Scotland 2-6
3/4th Playoffs v The North 2-6
Saxon Tigers Boys U17 results:
V Wales 3-1
V The North 2-3
3/4th Playoffs v West of England 4-3
Saxon Tigers Girls U15 results:
V Wales 4-0
V The North 2-1
Final v Scotland 2-1