Caerphilly Cobras under 16 Inline hockey team visited Belfast last weekend and entered the 1st Junior Inline hockey tournament hosted by the Northern Irish team East Coast Blaze. Teams from all over Ireland competed along with a team from England and Caerphilly Cobras representing Wales. The tournament saw 150 players take part and over 300 spectators.

After a disappointing start where the Cobras lost their first game the team went from strength to strength winning all qualifying games and they were a joy to watch. The Cobras then found themselves facing the host team East Coast Blaze in the semi finals but they were undaunted and cheered on by the Welsh supporters deservedly won their place in the final. The final saw the Welsh playing against the English team from Wigan, but from the start the Cobras were the more determined team and they managed to hold the fast and furious game at 2-0 until the final whistle.

Coach Richard Davies commented
“ The team played some great hockey and were a pleasure to watch; they truly deserved to be crowned Champions”

Over the last six months, Caerphilly Inline hockey club have worked in partnership with Caerphilly Council, putting together proposals for an Inline Hockey rink in the Caerphilly area. Club members would like to take this opportunity to thank the council for their continuing support.

The Irish never managed to pronounce Caerphilly but nicknamed us the Caterpillars but our hosts still provided us with such a warm welcome helping to make it such a memorable weekend. Everyone at the Caerphilly club would love to extend the welcome when they hopefully have a much needed inline hockey rink in the Caerphilly area next year.