Farnham Roller Hockey Club’s under-17s kicked off their South Eastern Counties Roller Hockey Association league season with hard fought wins over Herne Bay United and Invicta on September 21.

The first match saw Farnham face Herne Bay United, who had previously defeated Farnham’s under-15s in last season’s cup final.

Farnham started slowly and in the first few minutes the players struggled. It took Kyle Piper's individual goal in the sixth minute to settle the team into a more structured rhythm.

Herne Bay responded with one of their own, but Farnham answered, with Kyle getting his second goal with 23 seconds remaining in the first half, making it 2-1 to Farnham going into the break.

The second half started positively, with Farnham scoring two superbly linked goals by Kyle Piper and Max Ousey, each finding the net assisted by the other in a brilliant display of partnership.

Despite Farnham playing with more flow and possession, Herne Bay scored a second goal. But victory still looked certain, and vice-captain Thomas Broom scored with four minutes to go, sealing a 6–2 win.

Goalkeepers Zack Collins and Courtney Wheeler were instrumental, making crucial saves under pressure to keep Farnham in control.

The second match against Invicta began with nerves, and Farnham quickly fell 2–0 behind. After a team talk, the under-17s returned with renewed focus.

Ourson scored twice in quick succession to level the match, and Zack held firm in goal to keep Invicta at bay before half-time. A big team effort saw Ourson net his third, giving Farnham a 3–2 lead at the break.

Invicta pushed hard, but Courtney made several magnificent saves to maintain momentum. Ourson capped off his outstanding performance with a fourth goal, securing a 4–2 win.

Coach Callum Piper acknowledged how much the team had grown since last season, saying: “This was the first time we have ever won a game after going behind. A huge achievement.”

The competitive season runs until spring, when the top two teams in each regional league will qualify for national and inter-regional competitions.

This opening weekend was a reminder that the hard work had begun across every age group at Farnham, and on that particular Sunday all the under-17s showed steely determination and good sportsmanship.

This season Farnham Roller Hockey Club are proud to be the only club in the South Eastern Counties region with teams in every junior age group.

They have two senior teams participating in the South Eastern Counties Roller Hockey Association senior leagues, and their first Female Premier League team compete at national level.

The club have seven teams playing this season, with Farnham players also representing England internationally across various age categories.

They are looking for sponsorship to support this growth.

A spokesperson said: “Contributions could assist with new kits for our newly formed under-11 team, match balls for home tournaments, and funding for new goals at the second training venue.

“We invite businesses who share our passion for grassroots sport to consider supporting Farnham Roller Hockey Club - a club with proud involvement at local, regional, national and international levels.

“The success of the under-17s this weekend is a testament to the dedication of our players and coaching staff. With the right support they can reach even greater heights this season.”

For sponsorship opportunities visit [email protected]

Sarah Lloyd