Sevenoaks Ladies have won promotion to the Premier Division of England Hockey’s Indoor Competition – known as the Super Sixes. The team join the club’s Men’s team at the pinnacle of indoor hockey. The club is one of only four in the country to have achieved this dual status for next season’s competition.
The women travelled to Bristol last weekend for the second and final weekend of this season’s competition. Lying in 2nd place after the previous weekend’s four matches, the team won both games on Saturday to bring winning one of the two promotion slots tantalisingly close. A hard fought draw in the first game on Sunday, against their closest challengers, tied up second place to secure the aim of achieving Premiership status.
The squad has been built on a mixture of experience and youth. Player coach, Jen Wilson, and Captain Susie Rowe provided invaluable leadership and skill while, at the other end of the spectrum, three juniors performed extraordinarily well, more than holding their own against some highly experienced players with international pedigrees. There’s no hiding place in indoor hockey, and the rest of the 12 person squad was made up of core members of the club’s 1st team outdoor squad, all of whom made huge contributions to the success.
The team’s focus now turns back to the outdoor league which resumes on Saturday 5th February. At the halfway point in the season, Sevenoaks Ladies lead Division 1 South of England Hockey’s National League by five points. With only the winners promoted to the Premiership, and some strong adversaries to overcome, there will be some tough challenges along the way, but the squad is focused on achieving a second promotion of the season.
