Pembroke Ladies Under 16s played in the Welsh Hockey Under 16s Championships at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff over the weekend and came a creditable third out of the eight teams that made the finals weekend.

Having been unbeaten in becoming Pembrokeshire and then West Wales Champions this season it was against Welshpool, the eventual finalists who lost to Bridgend on Penalty strokes 1–0, to who they lost their unbeaten record.

Having dominated the game but being unable to put the ball in the Welshpool net despite many attempts at goal, it was Welshpool's only attack on the Pembroke circle that saw Welshpool score from a short corner in the last minute of the game. Unfortunately an injury to Keira Bratcher against Welshpool put her out for the tournament.

The Pembroke girls went on to win their other two pool games, 2-1 against the Cardiff Dragons where Sofia Smith, Hayley Preece and Rachel Greenhalgh made excellent contributions to the team's effort and 2–0 against Whitchurch to qualify for the third and fourth play-off against Ruthin, who were unlucky not to qualify for the finals.

Along with Pembroke they looked one of the best teams at the competition.

The third and fourth play-off, which to many looked like the final of the competition, saw Pembroke take the initiative from the start and press Ruthin back into their own half.

The Ruthin midfield, which consisted of two internationals, were given no room to get their game into flow with Pembroke's captain, Natasha Lawrence and Catherine Owen controlling the game.

Rosie McBride at centre back showed maturity beyond her age sweeping up any through balls and setting up many of the Pembroke attacks through both right half Sian James and left half Rosie Hill.

The defensive trio of Claire Griffiths, Catherine Fazer and Catherine McNally were mostly untroubled which is credit to the tight marking they put on their opposite numbers.

However there were one or two heart stopping moments when Ruthin hit Pembroke on the break with Victoria Scourfield making two very important saves when called upon.

Pembroke's dynamic attacking duo of Carrie Slack and Carys Jones who had caused mayhem in defences over the weekend were now on top form with Slack making some impressive runs into space and giving Jones several opportunities on goal.

It is all credit to the Ruthin goalkeeper Sioned Robert who made some excellent saves and kept Ruthin in the game.

It was from a short corner that Jones put away her fourth goal of the tournament with a strike at goal that must rate her one of the hardest hitters of the ball in her age group, to make her the tournament's top goal scorer.

Pembroke kept on top of the game to the end where they were awarded a short corner at the final hooter. The short corner, which has to be taken before the game ends, was broken down illegally by the Ruthin defence on three occasions; however the hard work that Sian James had put in all weekend was rewarded with a goal in following up of a Carys Jones strike at goal to give Pembroke a 2–0 win and third place.

All of Pembrokeshire should be proud of this achievement from a team which has proved that despite having no players that have to date been recognised by the Welsh selectors, in working as a team for each other have competed with the best in Wales and could easily have come out on top. Well done Pembroke Ladies Under 16s.

Team: Victoria Scourfield, Natasha Lawrence (capt.), Rosie Hill, Carys Jones, Claire Griffiths, Sian James, Kathryn Frazer, Catherine McNally, Carrie Slack, Rachel, Greenhalgh, Keira Bratcher, Rosie McBride, Hayley Preece.

Coach: Bernie Wheeler. Management: Brenda Scourfield, Julia Griffiths, Jane Wheeler, Tonya Griffiths.