The men’s final in the National Indoor Championships at the NIA in Birmingham provided a classic tussle between the old masters of the indoor game and a side whose pre-eminence outdoors has not really been matched indoors in recent years. East Grinstead have appeared in every final at the NIA but, despite winning the first, they have been pipped at the post in the last two years outings, and in results which have overturned the form book. History looked ready to repeat itself, as they did a fairly effective job against Loughborough Students in the semi final, winning 6-3, but then appearing to falter in the final against Reading. Undoubtedly the player of the final was Simon Mantell, back for the indoor season from his Dutch club, HGC, who on no less than three occasions gave Reading the lead. It was Simon Mantell who opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Grinstead’s German international, Martin Haner soon equalised but Mantell then scored again to retore the Reading lead. Fellow HGC exile, Ashley Jackson, netted the ball for EG to put the score at 2-2. Shortly before half time Mantell scored his hat-trick but again EG managed to equalise, this time from a Scott Ashdown penalty corner. After the re-start it all seemed to fall apart for East Grinstead as Simon Mantell scored his fourth and fifth. The Grinners looked dead in the water until Jackson scored his second and they seemed to come alive. Two penalty corners later, both scored by Haner, East Grinstead had established a narrow 6-5 lead. As the seconds ticked away towards the final hooter, Reading took the risky decision to take Nick Brothers in goal off and replace him with a kicking back. It turned out to be a fatal mistake, with Scott Ashdown delivering the coup de grace, twice walking the ball into the net. Final score 8-5 to Grinstead. East Grinstead will now return to Europe, where two years ago they won promotion for England to the ‘A’ division of European indoor competition, only to see English clubs relegated a year later.Since the 1995/1996 season only two clubs have ever won the women’s championship, Slough and Chelmsford, Slough winning on 10 of those occasions, including 2007 and 2008. Their opponents in the final. Bowdon Hightown, are the side they beat in the final in the last two years. Although it would be unfair to describe it as a one-sided affair, Bowdon looked much the better of the two sides, going into half-time 3-0 ahead though goals from Tina Cullen, Michelle Liptrop and Sally Walton. Steffi Cordier pulled one back for Slough in the second half but Tina Cullen scored her second to re-establish the margin. Ashleigh Ball, herself a former Bowdon player, scored what could not be seen as more than a consolation goal in the final two minutes. Final score 4-2 to Bowdon Hightown.
Our pictures show Bowdon Hightown skipper Sally Walton with manager Dieter Hill and East Grinstead captain Scott Ashdown with the winner's cup.
RESULTS FROM THE NIA IN FULL:
Boys’ Under 16 Final: Whitgift School 8 Ipswich School 6.
Girls’ Under 16 Final: Harleston Magpies 4 Horsham 1.
Boys’ Under 18 Final: Ipswich School 3 The Perse School 5.
Girls’ Under 18 Final: Trojans 0 Belper 4.
WOMEN’S INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Semi Finals:
Canterbury 3 (Mel Clewlow, Cathy Gilliat-Smith, Lisa Hapke), Bowdon Hightown 4 (Tina Cullen [2], Nicky O’Donnell [2])
Slough 6 (Jane Smith [3], Alex Scott[3]), Olton & WW 3 [Rachel Walker, Emma McCabe, Denise Marston Smith)
Final: Bowdon Hightown 4 (Tina Cullen [2], Michelle Liptrot, Sally Walton), Slough 2 (Steffi Cordier, Ashleigh Ball).
MEN’S INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Semi Finals:
East Grinstead 6 (Martin Haner [2], Glenn Kirkham, Ashley Jackson, Scott Ashdown, Mark Pearn), Loughborough Students 3 (Carl Smith, Richard Smith [2]).
Reading 4 (Simon Pinks[2], Austin Smith, Simon Mantell), Old Loughtonians 3 (James Stedman [2], Oliver Didham).
Final:
East Grinstead: 8 (Martin Haner [3], Ashley Jackson [2], Scott Ashdown [3], Reading 5 (Simon Mantell [5]).
