The island senior hockey teams are playing in the Plum tournaments held this weekend at various venues around Essex.

Both sides will play four games against a mixture of National League and Premier League teams.

Coaches Neil Crowe (women’s) and Jon Whiting (men’s) have selected squads which are a mixture of experience and youth as they look to see how their talented young players match up against senior opposition.

Twelve players in both squads have experienced the England Hockey Player Pathway and its forerunners. This demonstrates the importance the scheme plays in the development of these athletes.

Women’s squad:

Laura Atkinson, Sarah Blackman, Kirsty Bowley, Kim Carney (C), Ellan Cleator, Zoe Crowe, Maddy Dunlop, Mia Greenwood, Breesha Foxton, Georgia Foxton, Sam Hassall, Hannah Leece, Rachel Overman (GK), Louise Slater, Zara Sweeney (GK), Jen Turner.

Men’s squad:

Jai Patel (GK), Jamie Brown (C), John Verrall, Luis Novo Smith, Andrew Vernon-Browne, Ben Leeming, Alex Bell, Thomas Tsitsos, Andrew Whiting, Jonny Callow, Robin Masson, Nathan Evans, Will Hassall, Alex Kneale, Tim Henderson, Juan Kermeen.