Manx Hockey Association hosted its 2021 annual challenge matches at the National Sports Centre recently.

In addition to the traditional under-18 v under-21 series was the newly-instated IoM v Exiles mixed fixture.

The first game up was the girls which saw the u21 side continue their unbeaten run with a resounding victory over their younger counterparts.

The u18 side, who will be contesting the quarter-finals of the English Championships Plate in February, used the fixture to work with new players and formations.

While they suffered a defeat, they can walk away with some very positive feedback into this month’s training programme.

The boys fixture was once again very tightly contested. The u18 - also through to the quarter-finals of the English Championships Plate in February - went into the fixture keen to overturn last year’s defeat on penalties and attacked from the very whistle.

The u21 side were ready for this though and an end-to-end game of fine hockey followed, with outstanding displays of goalkeeping by both GKs. In the end, two missed chances by the u18s cost them and allowed the older side to claim a narrow victory.

The final outing of the afternoon was the new Exiles v Isle of Man mixed fixture. The IoM fielded a very strong side including no fewer than 11 players who represented the island in the English men’s and women’s championships recently.

The Exiles team saw the return to the NSC of many notable names who have very successfully plied their trade across.

A very skilled and entertaining match was played out in front of an appreciative crowd, with the Isle of Man side claiming victory in what looks set to become an annual challenge.