SWINDON’s Nat O’Dwyer came away with silver after his Team Bath Buccaneers lost out on shuffles to Harrogate in the under-18 National Final last weekend.

Having defeated Repton in the semi-finals two weeks earlier, O’Dwyer took to the pitch in confident mood with his Bath teammates to face a strong Harrogate team at the Nottingham Hockey Centre in Beeston.

Bath Started the stronger of the two teams and dominated the early exchanges before Harrogate settled and came back into the match forcing the Bath defensive line of Nicholls, O’Dwyer, Aspray and Reed to thwart their attacking efforts.

Bath then took the lead with one of the best goals to grace a National Final – David Aspray launched a full pitch aerial that Will Prentice controlled with his back to goal, before flicking over his head and that of the on-rushing goalkeeper.

The game remained tight for the remainder of the first half with Bath’s goalkeeper, Nathan Colthart, making a fantastic save to deny Harrogate.

But, from the resulting long corner Harrogate forced their way in to the D and scored from close range to equalise.

Bath again started strongly in the second half and took a deserved lead, firing the ball in at the far post.

However, the game turned with two yellow cards shown to Bath players, meaning they played the final 10 minutes with just nine men.

Harrogate’s 11 men piled on the pressure and Bath held firm until two minutes from the end when Harrogate forced a flurry of short corners and a well-placed drag flick equaliser.

The game then went to the lottery of shuffles with Harrogate coming away 2 - 1 winners to take the title.

O’Dwyer is a former Lydiard Park Academy pupil, who also plays for Team Bath Buccaneers men’s 1st team.

Team Bath play in the National League Division One South where they finished a creditable fourth place last season.

And having gained a place at Bath University, O’Dwyer is looking forward to another season with Bath Buccaneers’ senior team.

He is also a member of the Wales under-18s team and recently represented his country in the Futures Cup against Scotland before Covid dashed hopes of a European U-18 Championships pick.