TAUNTON Vale Hockey Club’s Plus Over-45s ladies entered the England Hockey national competition for the first time this year, and the ‘Golden Gals’ have enjoyed an amazing cup run, achieving a finals place next weekend.

The masters of hockey will travel to the Olympic Park next weekend to play Driffield in the Plate final, having booked their place with a 2-1 win away to Woking last month.

The team, which is made up of players from both Vale and Minehead, have displayed serious mastery of the game in all of their fixtures on the cup run.

On Saturday they travelled to Weymouth for a practice fixture ahead of the finals.

With two goals from over-45s international player Clare Hayes and Elaine Gale scoring a third, the Golden Gals secured a 3-2 victory over the Dorset side.

Sponsored by Five Rivers Childcare Ltd and Imprints in Taunton, the girls in pink are looking forward to taking on Driffield.

The team showcase how women can keep fit, have fun and friendship and enjoy sport into their later years – the squad is made up of eight over-50s and two over-60s, demonstrating that hockey can be enjoyed by all ages.