Herts and Essex High School under-16s hockey team finish second in East Regional Schools Finals

Darcy Edwards was the tournament’s top scorer as Herts and Essex High School’s under-16s were runners-up in the East Regional Schools Finals.

The team topped their group before suffering a heart-breaking defeat to Hertford rivals Haileybury on penalty shuffles in the final.

The day began well for the side at Ipswich School as braces from Edwards and Esme de Temple along with a goal for Charlotte Woodrow earned them a 5-0 win over Bedford Modern.

They were below par against Stamford but still triumphed 4-1 thanks to Rafae Roberts’ double and efforts from Woodrow and Pilar Montu.

Edwards claimed all of her side’s goals in a thrilling 4-3 success over Saffron Walden County High School and she netted her seventh of the event in a 1-0 win over Norwich’s Langley School.

Herts and Essex dominated Haileybury in the final, but the opposition goalkeeper was on top form and the contest finished 0-0.

And only Montu was able to convert her penalty shuffle as they lost the shootout 3-1 and had to settle for silver medals.

“The girls are gutted yet I am so proud of them with their high standards on and off the pitch,” said PE teacher Sarah Mander-James. “We continue to punch above our weight as a state school against independent schools who have much superior resources to us.

“We are also very grateful for all the support Bishop’s Stortford Hockey Club give us to ensure that we can compete at this level.”