Saffron Walden U14 boys hockey team overcame powerful opposition on Sunday to qualify for the national finals for the first time in the club’s history.

In the first game the team, containing eight boys from Newport Free Grammar, beat rivals from Felsted,Blue Hornets, 3-1 with the goals coming from Alex Newitt (2) and Barnaby Deller.

Next up were Kent giants Canterbury who were beaten 2-1 with goals from Sam Bushnell and Newitt.

In the winner-takes-all final game Walden beat one of the biggest clubs in the country, Southgate, 3-2, and qualified for a tournament where they will take part as one of the top eight teams in the country, in Wakefield on May 10.

Goals from Kristian Rogers, Newitt and Ethan Webb sealed the victory with Ollie Patmore pulling off an amazing save from a penalty late on.

Freddie Colclough, Saffron Walden’s captain said: “We played against some awesome players but our teamwork and togetherness proved to be a winning formula.”

In a great season for the junior club the girls U10 and boys U12 will be aiming to pull off similar feats in their regional finals after Easter. The U14 boys’ squad was: Dom Bozianu, James Barker, Matt Chaney, Max Benton, Alex Newitt, Joe Jenner-Bailey, Will Turnbull, Ethan Webb, Freddie Colclough, Sam Bushnell, Barnaby Deller, Callam Edwards, Kristian Rogers, Ollie Patmore (GK).