Why it matters: The girls' victory represents significant progress for the club, with the team "far exceeding expectations from 18 months ago" according to club officials, while also securing valuable competitive experience.
The details: The girls remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, drawing their opening match 1-1 against hosts Saffron Walden before finding their rhythm.
After coaches Peter Wright and Pete Bale adjusted their approach, the team secured an impressive 5-0 victory against West Suffolk in their second match.
The squad demonstrated their tactical development by switching from individual ball carrying to a quick-passing strategy, at one point completing "five passes with just two touches on each."
By the numbers:
1st place finish for the Girls U14 team
3rd place finish for the Boys U14 team
Four matches played by the Girls team
Three matches played by the Boys team
What they're saying: The club noted that the girls have "developed so much as players and contributed to the growth of our U14 age group."
The bigger picture: The success bodes well for Ipswich HC's future, with many current U14 players set to progress to the U16 squad next season, while a strong number of U12s will join the U14s.
The bottom line: Both Ipswich HC youth teams demonstrated impressive performances against strong regional opposition, with the girls claiming top honours and the boys showing "tremendous resilience" despite limited substitutes.
