Roller Hockey awards for Lee and Matthew (From Penarth Times)

Roller Hockey awards for Lee and Matthew

TWO MEMBERS of Penarth Roller Hockey Club were recently awarded representative caps for their selection to the Welsh In-Line Roller Hockey team during the 2001/2002 season.

To gain this award they had to play a minimum of 15 games against teams representing North of England, South and the Midlands with the venues being at Bisley and Derby in England and Deeside in Wales.

Lee Jones and Matthew Hookins, both from Dinas Powys, and pupils of St Cyres School, Penarth have been members of Penarth Roller Hockey Club since its formation in 1998, and the hard work put in by former coach Lee Murray and the present coach James Webber, has been a big factor in Lee and Matthew reaching the required skill levels.

Last season was a transitional time for the Penarth club, with some members leaving and the now defunct South East Wales Hockey League having difficulty organising fixtures.

However, the close season has seen James Webber recruiting several new members, and Penarth entering the British In-Line Roller Hockey Association, playing their league games in Gorseinon.

Dave and Tim Francis have both qualified as referees, and the club has acquired new playing strip thanks to generous sponsorship from Shepherd Construction and others, and tireless ground work put in by their coach.

Although the season has only just started the Predators Under-18 team have won all three of their opening fixtures and hopes are high within the club that Penarth will again be up for honours.