Under 10 - 10th January 2009

Guildford Firestreaks 8 - 0 Cardiff Junior Devils

The Cardiff Junior Devils under 10s team travelled to Guildford on Saturday 10th January for their first league match since November.

With three quarters of the team only starting hockey this season, and ten aged just 7 or younger, the young Devils are working hard to develop skating skills and puck control. Three new players – Dylan Jeenes, James Parkin and Ryan Fearnley – took the trip for their very first match in a Devils shirt, while Carter Lloyd, Jay Jones, Ben Morgan and Riley Lulfs were all playing in their first away match. It was always going to be a tough fixture.

Right from the start, the experienced Guildford players hurled shot after shot at Cardiff’’s netminder Jake Roberts. In spite of heroic efforts from Jake, within 5 minutes each of Guildford’s lines had picked up a goal.

The inexperienced Devils defence tried hard to clear the puck from their zone, only for the Guildford forwards to throw it back at the net.

Sportingly, the Guildford management rested their top players in the second period, relying on their less experienced team members for a more even match. Cardiff’s young players showed great team spirit, and a lot of healthy enjoyment, to pull back one goal, scored by Iwan Williams and assisted by Eliot Randall.

This was a tough match against a very good team. Following the new under 10s 'Jonkers Rules', the 'mercy rule' applies when a team goes 8 goals ahead, so this match result is recorded as 8-0, and Iwan's goal isn't counted officially. But we know you scored, Iwan!

The young Devils were unlucky to have their two December fixtures postponed – and the shortage of playing practice showed. Guildford are a well drilled, skilful team, against whom the young Cardiff team had no answers.

Congratulations to man of the match Ben Morgan, who showed determination and blossoming skill, to Jake for some fantastic saves, and to the whole team for not giving up and for showing great team spirit. The young Devils can look forward with confidence to good times ahead.