Guildford U16's have just come back from the annual Jonkers rules tournament in Hull. An excellent event attend by Bradford, Kingston, Solway, Whitley Bay, Nottingham, Isle of Wight and Newcastle.

A punishing schedule for Guildford saw them playing five round robin games on Saturday starting at 7.50 for the first and 22.15 for their last game. With not much time to sleep their first game on Sunday was again at 7.50am. A great performance from the whole team with some disciplined defence and good netminding play saw just 2 goals conceeded in 9 undefeated games of open play. Guildford, ironically had to face Kingston in the semi final, after already trouncing them 5-1 in the round robin whose discipline had got the better of them. Again Kingston came out chippy and a penalty was called late in the game on only what I can describe as the cheapest and nastiest piece of off puck play I have ever seen in any game let alone a junior one. If that had happened in a senior game I'm sure the protagonist may well have still been trying to find his teeth and other bits as you read this. The play had gone yet again up in the Kingston zone so all were concentrating up there including Guildford's netminder. Cynically one of the opposition players skated around past Guildfords net and as he went by lifted his elbows and shoulders up forcefully checking him high and cracking his head on the back of the bar sending him down like a sack of spuds. Refs were unsure what to do and eventually gave him a 5+game, why not a match I don't know. All I'll say is that if you have the audacity and ego to wear a certain number under a hundred, then play like it The game went into ot and no goals were scored thus sending it into sudden death penalties. Sadly on the fifth round of penalties Kingston managed to squeeze one past sending them into the final. The Guildford net making a couple of really top drawer saves during the pens was seen straight after holding an ice pack on a decidedly bruised head. The Guildford players were absolutely gutted by the whole outcome and debarcle of the semi's but they did have several chances to put the puck in the net but can come away with their heads held high that they were the better team overall at the tournament, that comment being made by several opposition parents, comfortably beating both finalists soundly, earlier in the competition. A mention must also go to the younger guys in Guildfords squad who took the hits all in their stride!

Well done guys sorry it had to end as it's been described.