And that’s a wrap!

Well that’s it the last game is played and the tournament for us is over.

We had a tough opponent today in the Dutch but I left everything on that pitch, I gave every last bit of my game today and I came off that pitch feeling proud.

The heat was unreal and I could feel it even before I put my kit on. Playing in 35 degree heat fully kitted up is hard work, and if anyone complains about how warm it is when I get home they can look out lol

I have never experienced playing in that heat and by the end of the 3rd quarter I was done. I saved plenty of shots, even 3 on the bounce, ok I let in 7 but I saved a hell of a lot more. The Dutch were relentless but they broke through our defence.

I even had 2 penalty strokes against me, yes one was totally my fault, clearing the ball off the line with the back of my stick was not my finest moment but I never gave up, I carried on with chants of encouragement from the side line I knew I had some left in the tank, but by the end of that third quarter if I hadn’t of got off that pitch I would’ve been lying in that goal.

I’ve learnt a lot over this last week, how I can improve and what I’m doing right.

Being a goalie is hard work and sometimes you feel like you’ve let everyone down but there are games when you leave that pitch knowing you have done everything and there was nothing left in you, nothing more you could’ve done. That’s how I felt today.

We lost today but I am proud to be part of this Welsh master squads and I am proud of all my team mates, they all played their asses off today and every one of them left everything on that pitch.

It was our first tournament together and hopefully we will all be back together for the world cup next year.

I know what I need to work on and I am more determined than ever. I want a place on that squad next year and I am willing to work for it.

As my 5 year old nephew said “it doesn’t matter that you didn’t win, it’s the taking part that counts” and if I didn’t take part in this I wouldn’t be able to take all the things I need to learn away from it, and all the good things I have been told about my playing ability too.

I want to say a massive thank you to the people back home who have supported me and to my family who have wished me well before each game and told me how proud they are of me.

A massive thank you to my wife Lisa who has cheered us on at every game and given me the words of encouragement I have needed when I’ve been feeling down about my game.

As it’s the last day of the tournament tomorrow we will be heading to the pitch to cheer on the 40s in their final game.

This is definitely an experience I will never forget!