QUEEN’S College boys under 16s hockey team have finished fourth in the country at the National Schools hockey finals held at Lee Valley Hockey Centre in the Olympic Park.

After winning the Somerset county championships in February on home soil, the team narrowly lost out on penalty flicks to great rivals Dean Close at the West finals later that month.

This meant a play-off match against one of the most decorated schools in hockey, Kingston Grammar, from London.

The team took this challenge head-on and a clinical performance saw the team run out comfortable 2-0 winners, securing a place at the national finals at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

A loss in the opening pool game against eventual tournament winners Repton, the Midlands champions, put a dent in hopes of qualifying for the final.

The remaining two games were must win affairs and the team played some fantastic hockey against The Leys School - the East champions, eventually running out 5-0 winners with two penalty flicks and an open play goal from Ben Stevenson - and one each from Dan Wilde and Elliot Fathers.

The final pool game was against the very direct and pacy North champions, Calday Grange.

Tom Stevenson then broke the deadlock with a great strike, surging into the circle from left back, and Tristan Coore added a second.

Queen’s eventually ran out 5-2 winners with further goals from Ben Stevenson and two from Cameron Kirkpatrick to claim second place in the group.

This meant a bronze medal play-off game with West Champions and great rivals Dean Close.

The first half was a very cagey affair and the teams went into the break at 0-0.

Unfortunately in the second-half Queen’s failed to control possession and Dean Close were very clinical when breaking forward.

Queen’s continued to fight hard but eventually lost 4-0 as they desperately tried to save the game.

Director of Hockey, Ian Haley, said: “Hockey at Queen’s is very healthy - the coaching staff have worked hard to instil our culture and playing style which I look forward to further developing in the years to come.”

The 2014/15 season has been a superb one for Queen’s College hockey with the U18 girls team also finishing fourth at the national finals in February.

This was the seventh time a Queen’s hockey team has made it to the national schools finals since 2012.

Ben Stevenson continues to represent the England U16 boys team in preparation for the European Championships in the summer - in addition, Patrick Free and Olivia Hoskins are both involved with the NAGS Academy U17 squads, and four U15 boys have been selected for the JRPC Exeter Centre thus far.