At last there is a new winner of the Roger Brummitt Mixed Hockey tournament as perennial champions are dethroned
Jurassic Beavers have finally dethroned the previously unbeatable Camp Retro side to become the new Kings and Queens of mixed hockey.
Camp Retro had won the eight previous stagings of the Roger Brummitt Mixed Hockey tournament. They hadn’t lost a single match since first entering the tournament at Bretton Gate in 2016.
But a team with plenty of National League experience struggled through Saturday’s opening group round, despite scrounging some strong guest players from rival teams, before losing their first pool match of Sunday morning, 3-2 to Jurassic Beavers.
Beavers then remained unbeaten through the rest of their group games to reach the final leaving Camp Retro on the outside looking in, or they would have been had they not beaten a hasty retreat as soon as they were eliminated.
Beavers faced new entrants Goal Diggers in the final – a team of Nottingham University students led by former City of Peterborough star Ben Goold – and they triumphed 2-1. The city side fielded a strong team of predominantly City of Peterborough Men and Ladies first team players.
Gary Hales is a first team star of the past, but still bangs in goals regularly for the club’s third team and and the veteran opened the scoring for Beavers with a close range finish soon after coming on as a first-half substitute.
Beeston player Nathan Rosario added a second goal before the students replied seven minutes from time to set up an exciting finale, but Beavers held out rather comfortably to claim a popular win after losing the two previous finals to the now deposed champions.
Beavers had lost five finals since winning their last Brummitt in 2010.
The Plate Final went to a penalty shuffle shootout before Scurvy Crew claimed victory over Inches of Post following a 1-1 draw. Jacob Hings scored the decisive goal in the shootout after opening the scoring in regular play from the penalty spot. Leo Oliver scored an outstanding individual goal for Inches of Post to extend the final to penalties.
The Jack Rouse Fair Play trophy went to GPO 2.
**Hales will lead the attack alongside first-team player-coach Gareth Andrew when City of Peterborough host Bristol Firebrands in a National Over 45 Vase semi-final at Bretton Gate next Sunday (April 19, 1pm start).
The winners compete in the final at the Olympic Hockey venue at Lee Valley.