SWINDON Flames Juniors finished second at the BISHA National Championships held at the Midlands Roller Arena in Lutterworth.

Swindon were without regulars Dylan Jackson (shoulder) and Harry Llewellyn (knee), while goalkeeping duties were shared between Jade Kenealy and Lucy Gruber.

The Flames first faced South East champions Chelmsford Hylanders, who stormed into a 3-0 lead before Liam Coleman grabbed Swindon a lifeline.

However, the flicker of hope was soon extinguished as Chelmsford netted again to claim a 4-1 success.

Swindon began their second game against the Medway Assassins brightly, with goals from Charlie Browning and Richard Wilson.

Further strikes from Liam Coleman and Dylan Bonner gave Swindon a 4-0 lead at the end of the first period.

Medway pulled three goals back in the second period before Coleman struck again only for Flames to concede a fourth.

Swindon then moved up a gear and scored three unanswered goals from Jacob Latham (2) and Coleman to run out 8-4 winners with all to play for on day two.

The second day began with Swindon facing Crusader Kings.

Crusaders took an early lead before Coleman, Wilson and Tristan Ward gave them a 3-1 advantage at the end of the first period.

The second period was tense with a single goal for each side, Swindon’s being scored by Latham to give them a 4-2 success.

Swindon then ran out 6-3 winners over Ash Avalanche, who took an early lead.

Coleman then struck twice for the Flames, but Ash were also on target to make it 2-2.

Bonner put Swindon ahead early in the second period before Latham netted twice to make it 5-2.

Ash pulled a goal back before Coleman completed his hat-trick to seal the win.

Swindon claimed a 6-5 thriller win over local rivals Oxford Hurricanes to book their place in the final.

Wilson and Latham gave the Flames the lead before Oxford netted three to go 3-2 up in the second period.

Latham netted two more alongside a Ward strike to give Swindon a 5-4 advantage.

Oxford managed to equalise in the final minute only for Coleman to pounce and book the Flames’ place in the final.

However, the final proved a step too far for the spirited Swindon team after a hard weekend's hockey eventually took its toll.

They never recovered from an early goal and, despite chances to score, were beaten by a more experienced Chelmsford Hylanders side 6-0.