FLAMES’ FAB FOUR ON FIRE IN NATIONAL FINALS  

Swindon Flames Junior team members Miles Bailey, James Bayliss, Craig Davies and Tom Ireland were in action this weekend as members of the SASH (Southern Area Skater Hockey) Junior regional squad who claimed top spot in the 2008 British Regional Championships.

The tournament, held in Swindon at the Croft Sports Centre, Old Town, saw some of the country’s top Junior inline hockey players assembled to represent their respective regions in this prestigious annual competition.

The SASH squad, which included players from Oxford Hurricanes, Reading Rhinos, Kingston Street Flyers, Heathrow Reapers, Ash Avalanche and the Swindon Flames, went into the competition determined to end a three year run of second places and secure top honours.

With the non-participation of the Northern region, who were last year’s Champions, SASH were keen to take full advantage of their absence and install themselves as early favourites, which they did, when they brushed aside their opponents from SESHA (South Eastern Skater Hockey Association) with a convincing 8-2 victory in their first face-off of the day. The second game of the day saw the team from SASH face a much sterner test when they came up against the London and Eastern regional squad (LESHA). In a tense, hard fought game it was the side from the South who managed to scrape out a win and gain a slim advantage taking the match 2-1 to finish the day in poll position.

Sunday morning saw the SASH squad again facing London and Eastern for their second round-robin game but in complete contrast to their earlier head-to-head a confident display by the Southern side saw them to a well deserved 6-1 win and a place in the finals. With a final slot secure the SASH squad completed an undefeated run through the round-robin phase of the competition with a comfortable 4-2 victory over SESHA.

Facing off against SASH for national honours in the final LESHA hit the rink determined to make amends for their earlier defeat at the hands of the Southern region and within three minutes found themselves two goals up as the SASH team struggled to find their feet. A time-out called by the SASH bench seemed to settle the nerves and the SASH side slowly began to force their way back into the game. A goal from Flames forward, Craig Davies, saw the SASH team open their account and with less that two minutes of the first period remaining SASH equalised to go into the break level at 2 all.

Having wrestled the initiative back from LESHA, SASH were determined to seize the upper-hand and a goal in the opening minute of the second period put them in to the lead for the first time in the match. Not to be denied LESHA responded with an equaliser but a determined effort by the SASH side saw them claw their way back in front, 4-3,only two minutes later. Again the London/Eastern side stubbornly refused to be cowed and threw everything into a sustained attack on the SASH defence which was rewarded with an equaliser which took the sides into the last five minutes level pegging. However, the efforts to equalise left the LESHA side all but drained and as the team began to run out of steam the SASH side began to turn the screw, retaking the lead within a minute and then adding two further goals in the dying second to run out 7-4 victors and claim the 2008 British Regional Championship. 

After the presentation ceremony, where the SASH squad also received the Fair Play award and Miles Bailey and Craig Davies were selcted for the Regional “dream team”, John Bayliss , the Junior  Flames manager said “Miles, James, Craig and Tom all played well throughout the weekend and all made valuable contributions in every game they played in and I’m sure that without their efforts and commitment the results would have been different.”

“The selection of four players from our team to this very strong regional squad is a testament to the successful and ongoing development programme being run throughout the club.” 

Concurrent with the Junior Regional tournament The Croft was also the venue for the British Regional Peewee finals and here too the Swindon Flames were well represented with the selection of 5 players to the SASH Regional squad. Netminder, Jake Silvester, Megan Salisbury, Sam Nobbs, Will Harding and Jacob Latham all played key roles in the squad’s attempt to take the 2008 title but were beaten into second place by tournament winners  London and Eastern (LESHA)

Also in action in the Peewee Regionals were Ryan Walters and James Kilby of the Swindon Flames who were both selected for the SASH regional development side