Penarth Hockey Club returns to the Welsh Institute of Sport this weekend with the aim of completing its second league and cup double in as many seasons.

Having wrapped up the GoCrea8 League Conference North title with two games to spare, the Bears went on to demolish old rivals Bridgend in the semi-final of the Welsh Trophy to confirm their return to the Finals Weekend at the National Hockey Centre in Sophia Gardens.

Buoyed by a late invitation to make their European hockey debut regardless of the result this weekend, Penarth will look to repeat the free-flowing hockey that made them one of the highest scorers in the country over the 2016-17 campaign as they take on the students of Cardiff University on Sunday morning (10am start), before turning their attention to the impending trip to the Ukraine.

"The ongoing success currently being enjoyed by the entire Penarth organisation is a mark of how far the club has come in the past few years, and fitting reward for the efforts being put in, on and off the pitch," player-coach Ben Croxall commented, "Everyone is working towards big occasions like the cup final, and hopefully we'll continue to make it a regular thing in the years to come.

"The chance to play in Europe is icing on the cake after a great season for the 1st XI, but we won't allow that to distract us from the job in hand this weekend. Cardiff University can't be taken lightly, and we don't want to head to the Ukraine knowing that we didn't give our all on Sunday."

The fundraising effort behind the chance to play in June's EuroHockey Club Challenge continues apace, with a number of initiatives planned for the coming weeks. Anyone interested in contributing to, or sponsoring, the Penarth team's participation in the Ukraine is urged to contact the club, while individuals can make smaller donations to the cause via a crowdfunding page at

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Penarthhockeyclub

Penarth Hockey Club always welcomes new, old and returning players, umpires, supporters, friends and helpers regardless of age and ability. When the regular season resumes, training will take place on Wednesdays at Stanwell School, with the juniors on the pitch between 6.15pm and 7.15pm and the seniors between 7.00pm and 8.15pm.

Anyone interested in joining the club at senior or youth level can contact club secretary Dave Stevens (d_stevens81@hotmail.co.uk) for further information.