FOLLOWING the success of the Great Britain women's team at the Rio Olympics, Penarth Hockey Club have launched an initiative to promote and support the take-up and on-going development of hockey in primary schools in Penarth and across the Vale.

The scheme, started with support from the Community Chest, which entails the provision of kit, coaching and coach training for teachers in the schools and continuing support for teachers and participants in terms of skills uplift.

The aims of the initiative are:

To increase the number of primary aged children enjoying hockey

To increase coaching standards

To increase junior club membership

To support kids having fun through hockey in a safe environment

The first phase, covering five primary schools, is already underway and further phases will bring more and more schools in to the scheme.

Further information on the Scheme for Schools and Parents can be obtained from Judith Powell (judepowell2307@hotmail.co.uk) or David Stevens (d_stevens81@hotmail.co.uk)

In the meantime, Penarth Hockey Club offers training for both junior (6.15-7.15pm) and senior (7-8.15pm) members on Wednesday evenings at Stanwell School.

Two sides represented the Penarth club at under-13 level in the opening competitive fixtures of the 2016-17 season.

Penarth's A team, comprising Year 8 pupils from local schools, faced a strong Abergavenny side in their opening game, but came through - despite playing without a goalkeeper - to win 2 - 1 with two excellent goals from Iwan Meddins. Gabriel Pryde and Ethan Kneale marshalled the defence and did their best to stop Abergavenny from getting a shot on goal.

The Penarth team then went on to beat Whitchurch B by three goals to one, with Kneale and Elys Johnson joining Meddins on the scoresheet, before their final match pitted them against Whitchurch A team.

This time, the Vale boys really hit top gear, running out convincing 6 - 0 winners with goals from Pryde, Johnson, Lewis Ingram, Ross John to add to a brace from Meddins, while Aaron Noor-Mohamed was also very close to making it 7 - 0 before the final whistle.

The B team, consisting mainly of Year 7 boys, made a good start against Whitchurch B, but ultimately came out on the wrong side of a 1 - 0 scoreline after competing very strongly, with some good defensive play from Owen Kestle and Aron McJennett-House.

Lewis Ingram controlled the midfield but, despite many chances, Penarth could not get the all important equaliser. The younger boys also lost their next two matches, the first against Abergavenny despite a tremendous goal from Lewis Latimer, and finally against Whitchurch A, with Oscar Warne getting on the scoresheet for the Cubs.

Despite the results, the weekend provided a tremendous start for the under-13 age group, with the Year 8 team proving that they are one of the strongest teams in South Wales, while the Year 7s now have an insight to the level they need to aspire to.