BASINGSTOKE under-16 Bison trio netminder Connor Standing, defenceman Hugh Tibbitts and forward Cameron Wynn have just returned from Holland where they were part of the England under-16 team at the annual Chris Verwijst Tournament.

The event attracts top class teams from right across the globe – with national teams from Holland, Austria and Hungary also competing.

England were drawn in group B of the tournament and their opening game was against Belmont Hill School from the United States.

The English boys took the lead in the fourth minute, but their American counterparts ran out 6-1 winners as Standing had a busy afternoon, facing 35 shots in the game.

In their next game, Wynn scored once and had one assist, helping his side to a 7-0 win over host team the Tilburg Trappers.

In their final group game, goalie Standing helped England to a 3-3 tie with the Hungarian national team.

This result saw England finish third in their group, setting up a game against the Dutch national team, which unfortunately they narrowly lost 2-0.

That meant they once a gain played Tilburg in what was the seventh and eighth place play-off game.

The Dutch club side, which does include seven internationals, took an early 2-0 lead, but the English boys hit back to tie the game 2-2.

At that point England swapped their netminders as Standing gave way to Adam Goss and home side went on to win 6-3.

Despite finishing eighth it was a great experience for all the members of the England team whose next step on he international ladder is to play for Great Britain under-18s next year.