PASTELLA Jersey Ladies Hockey Club capped off a truly memorable 2024/25 season by ending a 37-year wait for Upton Cup glory, defeating Guernsey Cubs 4–0 at Les Quennevais on Saturday to complete a remarkable clean sweep of trophies.
The annual Women’s Upton Cup sees the league champions of Jersey and Guernsey face off for inter-island supremacy, and this year’s edition lived up to its billing.
The match began with a competitive edge as both sides battled for control in the opening 10 minutes, trading possession and opportunities at both ends of the pitch. Jersey’s back line, marshalled by the ever-reliable Harley Cadoret, stood firm.
Cadoret’s tenacity sparked the game’s opener, a strong tackle on halfway launched a swift counter-attack down the left flank.
Sarah Jenkins and Lucy Kirby combined well to win a short corner, from which captain Emma Bower fired goalward. Her strike took a deflection off a Cubs defender and slipped between the goalkeeper’s legs to give Jersey a vital 1–0 lead.
Guernsey pressed hard for an equaliser, winning two short corners in quick succession, but were denied by excellent saves from goalkeeper Laura Besnard, whose sharp reflexes kept the hosts ahead.
As the half progressed, Jersey began to assert control and doubled their lead with a superbly constructed team goal. Kerry Rogers, tireless in midfield, powered through the Cubs’ defence to find Phoebe James inside the circle.
James showed great composure to square the ball to Olive Smith, who calmly flicked home from close range to make it 2–0 at the break.
The second half saw Guernsey push forward in search of a lifeline, but Jersey’s defensive unit held firm once again. Both Cadoret and Nicola Williams made crucial goal-line interventions to preserve the clean sheet.
Sensing the need to regain momentum, coach Mike James made a tactical adjustment that allowed his side to regain attacking fluency. The change quickly paid off as Claire De La Haye’s quick sideline ball found Rogers driving aggressively along the baseline.
De La Haye’s clever play won another short corner, which she dispatched herself with a low, accurate strike into the bottom corner, extending Jersey’s lead to three.
The icing on the cake came late in the match when captain Emma Bower intercepted a loose Guernsey pass in midfield. Weaving through defenders with determination, she slotted home her second of the game to seal an emphatic 4–0 victory and spark jubilant celebrations from players and supporters alike.
The 11:30am push-back drew an excellent crowd, who witnessed a commanding display from start to finish. Jersey’s balance of attacking flair and defensive discipline proved too much for the Guernsey champions, who were ultimately unable to match the hosts.
This triumph marks Jersey’s first Women’s Upton Cup win since 1988, breaking a long-standing drought, it also ends Quackers’ four-year hold on the inter-island title.
The win completes a clean sweep of honours for Pastella JLHC, League, Cup, and Upton Cup, confirming their place among the island’s most successful sides in recent memory.
With strong youth talent emerging and experienced leadership guiding the way, Jersey’s women’s hockey looks in excellent health heading into the next campaign.
