Reading were crowned the winners of the women’s Maxifuel Super Sixes Championship after powering their way to a 5-2 victory over Sutton Coldfield in the final at Wembley Arena on Sunday.
Olympian Helen Richardson scored four goals to help Reading secure the win over a Sutton Coldfield side who proved a tough and experienced opponent.
After losing out in the final for the previous two years, Reading’s win was celebrated in style by both the team and their large travelling support which swelled the sell-out crowd of more than 6,000.
Richardson was first to score, squeezing the ball home from a narrow angle after four minutes following some good work down the right.
And they doubled their lead after seven minutes with Elspeth Cockburn finding herself unmarked in the circle and scoring after spinning round to face goal.
But Sutton Coldfield hit back on 13 minutes with Sarah Mills scoring from close range with a simple shot, and five minutes later they had levelled with their rivals.
Evergreen Jane Sixsmith scored an incisive no nonsense goal after 18 minutes to give her side hope, and shortly after play resumed for the second half she very nearly gave them the lead, but she just missed out with a good chance at goal.
Instead it was Reading who went ahead, breaking away immediately and turning defence into attack with clinical style, Kate Walsh feeding Richardson who cut inside and bagged her second on 30 minutes.
Richardson completed her hat-trick on 34 minutes from a penalty corner, shooting low across the goal from right to left.
And with a minute left on the clock Richardson – who was named Player of the Tournament – drove up the right side from half way before slotting the ball home to claim a superb solo goal.
“I’m incredibly pleased for the girls,” said Richardson afterwards. “We’ve lost the last two finals, so for the girls who went through that it’s great to win. They played incredibly well and stuck to our game plan.”
Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
Image: Ady Kerry
