BOTH Kent College under-16s and Canterbury Hockey Club’s under-18s were triumphant in the RAF Careers Youth Hockey Cup national finals.

Kent College thrashed Dean Close School 6-1 to win their age group, while Canterbury hammered Cheshire-based Bowdon 7-3 in their National Plate final at the Old Loughtonians club, Chigwell.

The city was also represented in two more of the national finals, with Kent College losing in the under-14s 5-3 to Kingston Grammar, and Canterbury Under-15s losing 4-2 to Cannock.

Kent College were defending the national title, but the squad had lost to their Dean Close rivals at under-14 level two years previously. Led by a classy midfield display from captain Chris Pryce, who also plays for Canterbury and England Under-16, they went behind after six minutes to a short corner by Will Pearce.

But Luke Wicken responded less than a minute later, and goalkeeper James Richardson, the man of the match, made three spectacular saves in as many minutes.

Then at the other end Nick Buckingham nearly burst the net with a screaming half volley by half time.

A minute into the second half, Sam Winding made it 3-1, followed by a goal from a penalty corner from Pryce. Wicken and Pryce scored again as the College took control.

Team manager Joe Robson said it was the best performance he had ever seen from an under-16 side.

Canterbury needed only 60 seconds to take the lead through county player Steven Collier, and Michael Farrer, who plays for the South East Under-17 team, scored the second nine minutes later from a penalty corner.

Ollie Miles and Ben Hare, twice, also scored, but Bowdon’s Danny Ryan and Simon Egerton beat goalkeeper James Carson either side of half time, bringing the score to 5-2.

However, Farrer scored again before captain Rob Pryce, an England Under-18 player scored the sixth and Charlie Raney notched another consolation goal.

John Miles, whose co-manager Sam Samson, immediately left for a delayed holiday in Cyprus, said: “This squad may have occasionally frustrated their coaches by not always taking full advantage of the abundance of talent at their disposal, but their unique team spirit shines through on all occasions.

“Their record of three successive Mercian League titles and now the National Plate speaks for itself - they can be very proud of themselves.”

Kent College Under-14s were 3-0 down inside 20 minutes and, despite goals byt Huw Stevens, Harry Bloice and Simon Hare, were never quite able to close the gap.

All the goals in the under-15 match came in the second half, Canterbury scoring through man of the match Simon Hare and Chris Burnage.

Seven of the side are young enough to play in the age group next year.

Canterbury Under-18s: James Carson, Rod Archibald, Tom Biddle, Mark Bennett, Olly Clark, Mike Farrer, Chris Pryce, Andy Burnage, Oscar Hummerstone, Rob Pryce, Kai Price, Ben Hare, Lloyd Starley, Ollie Miles, Steven Collier, Will Conder, Glen Barton, Sam Bowles.