Borehamwood Crusaders skater hockey club's Pee-Wee team qualified for the national finals following a two day tournament in Devon.

The U14s took part in a competition against the country's top 24 teams last weekend playing five games over the course of two days.

The first match pitched the Crusaders against Worksop Smoke -- who were unbeaten in competitive matches this season.

But their fire was doused when they met the Crusaders who won 3-1. Only some excellent goalkeeping by the Smoke's net minder managed to keep the score down.

Next in line were the Cardiff Pumas, last year's runners-up and past rivals. On paper, the Pumas were a strong favourite to qualify.

This game brought out the best in the Crusaders with Steve Barrow striking the only goal of the half.

The second half saw openings which resulted in a goal from Sam Scrivener and two from Steve Dickinson.

Crusaders laid on a solid all-round team performance to make the final score 4-0 in revenge for previous meetings.

Sunday morning brought a tough game against the North-East's best - The Morpeth Ratz.

Two sets of vociferous supporters helped the match capture people's imaginations and set the stage for the game of the weekend.

The Crusaders, reduced by an early penalty, struck when the Ratz held a power play, a Curtis Esty stinger shocked the Geordie fans.

Tom Kasler, upon his release from the penalty box, fired two sensational shots, opening up a 3-1 lead for the Crusaders.

Steve Barrow pounced to cancel a Ratz strike but two goals by Steve Dickinson put the result beyond doubt.

This was threatened as the Ratz clawed back two shots bringing the score to 6-4 but the defence who had worked hard, maintained their cool until the final hooter sounded wrapping up the game.

Crusaders' final matches were against the Milton Keynes Druids and Wiltshire's Olympiad, in which wins of 5-2 and 16-0 were recorded.

This placed the Crusaders at the top of their qualifying group with more goals scored than any other team.

Now the finals which are being held in Yorkshire next month beckon.

The Crusaders have their own website which features pictures of players at www.users.globalnet.couk/-lkasler/default.htm.

In a supplementary event for the fastest slap shot of the weekend, Theo Jones of the Crusaders Rugrats (U10s team), hit a 53mph shot to win his age group.

And Garry Spight of Crusaders' junior team came top of his group with a shot over 95 miles per hour.

During the weekend Steve Dickinson scored 11, Tom Kasler got eight, Steve Barrow and Curtis Esty six each.

David Barrow, Sam Scrivener and Chris Ennis scored one apiece.

In goal for Crusaders, Martin Spight, only conceded seven and received an award of Players' player by the other teams in the group. While James Partridge and Oliver Sheppard proved to be valuable members of the squad.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.