Coopers Coborn celebrate winning the National Schools Indoor Hockey title in 2011

Indoor hockey squad in national finals action

Coopers Coborn’s under-16 girls will look to defend their National Indoor Hockey title at Bromsgrove this weekend.

The squad, crowned champions last year, travelled to the Midlands yesterday (Thursday) ahead of their busy schedule today.

And Mark Menear, who coaches the side along with Helen Biscoe, said they were relishing the challenge.

he said: “We’re all very excited. Last year was an unbelievable feeling and we want to see if we can do it again.

“We’re the only state school there again and five of the girls played last year, who have been there, done it and want it again, which is a big plus.

“We’ve got the added pressure of being champions, but those five were big players last year and other teams might be worried about us.

We’ve got a very busy first day, with three matches, and you want to get yourselves into a good position.

We’ll see. We’re a little bit apprehensive because we don’t know who has got what. Repton are the biggest school and, in theory, the toughest.

We beat William Borlase in the semi-finals last year and Wakefield are always strong.”

The girls returned to school early this week for a training session on Monday and the six-a-side matches will last 24 minutes in total.

Menear added: “There is a lot of hockey in one day and it’ll be tough.

“But we’re taking a physio along with us as well and we’re being professional about things.”

Coopers: Charlotte Triggs, Chloe Menear, Emily Holmes, Ellie Gane, Hannah King, Natalie Patient, Collette McLaughlin, Bethany Fortune, Emma Sharp, Chloe Lawrence.