harleston magpies hockey club

BRIGHT AND WARM BUZZ

There was a real buzz at Weybread last Saturday. The weather was bright and warm, there was a good number of spectators throughout the day to enjoy the full programme of eight matches, four of which were won by Magpies’ teams with one draw, and in addition there were also encouraging performances by our three other teams. Later we were further cheered by the news that the Ladies’ 1sts and Ladies’ 3rds had won away from home.

The Ladies’ 4ths got the ball rolling at 10.15 and Kate Russell soon had them ahead against Pelicans 2nds and shortly afterwards goalkeeper Georgie Goodin made a fine save to maintain their lead. Pelicans then enjoyed a good spell but goals by Kathryn Bullen and Rachel Goodson just before half time put Magpies in total charge. After the break Kathryn scored again before a brace by Laura Tibbenham made the final score 6-0. Meanwhile on the other pitch the Men’s 4ths – with four stars of the O50s team in defence, namely goalkeeper Murray Graham, David Blackmore, Bob Skinner and Jerry Blackmore – were up against Ipswich 3rds. After a goalless first half the home side took control to win 5-1. Iain Cumming made the vital breakthrough converting a penalty corner before adding the fifth after further goals by Sol Barker (2) and John Pope.

Next up were the Ladies’ 2nds against Cambridge University and the Boys’ Development who were entertaining Pelicans. The Ladies’ 2nds needed a boost after their heavy defeat the previous week and they got it with a really encouraging performance despite a narrow defeat. They had a couple of early chances but decided to pass when a shot on goal would have been preferable. CU took the lead after 25 minutes and added to their score following a defensive mix-up ten minutes before the end. In the meantime Magpies – for whom goalkeeper Megan Brown, Lucy Chubbock (welcome back Lucy), Amy Hipwell, Georgie Minta and Molly Redgrove stood out in a good team effort – won several penalty corners converting one through Lauren Mickleburgh on the cusp of full time. Meanwhile the Boys’ Development, in front of their enthusiastic supporters, were winning 3-0 with goals by Jude Pottruff (with a penalty corner conversion), Jack Largent and Jake Caston. The Boys have now scored nine goals in their two games without conceding.

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Tristan Baynes - Leigh Sitch - Stuart Leate v Sevenoaks

The Men’s 1sts were next into action facing newly-promoted Sevenoaks and the game had everything. Sevenoaks as befitting a team which has started the season in fine style were soon into their stride and were 4-0 up at half time including a penalty stroke conversion. Ten minutes into the second half Magpies took advantage of Sevenoaks being reduced to nine players with Ben Wright converting a penalty stroke and a few minutes later he scored from a penalty corner to take his total to six in three games. Magpies were now back in the game but their cause was not helped when forward Andy Hipwell was hit over the head by John Livings, his own goalkeeper, in a frantic defensive melee and departed to hospital with blood pouring from the wound. Fortunately Andy was soon back at the club having had the wound glued. Magpies continued to more than match their opponents who frustratingly scored another goal in the last minute to give them a 5-2 win – a score line which didn’t reflect how well Magpies had played in the second half. This Sunday Magpies are away to league leaders Richmond (1.30) where they will be up against ex-England star Mark Pearn who has joined them from East Grinstead. Last Sunday Richmond beat Bromley & Beckenham 7-1 away.

Also at home were the Ladies’ 6ths who went down 4-0 to Yarmouth 2nds, the Ladies’ 7ths who had an encouraging 0-0 draw with UEA 4ths and the Men’s 3rds who maintained their good start to the season by beating Norwich Dragons 3rds for whom it was good to see James and Rob Goodson back at the club and playing well in midfield. For the Ladies’ 7ths to survive this season (they had to concede their match the previous week) the continued support of the club’s other teams will be essential. The Men’s 3rds were goalless at half time but after Gavin Cole took advantage of a defensive howler he soon got a second before goals by Andy Johnson (penalty corner) and Sol Barker made the final score 4-0.

During this game the very welcome news came through that the Ladies’ 1sts had clinched their ‘must win’ game against Ipswich by two goals to one. Emma Lee-Smith put them ahead in the forty-seventh minute and after an Ipswich equaliser Abby Gooderham got the winner eight minutes from time. This Saturday the team are at home to St Albans (2.00) and they will be mindful of the threat posed by England players Ellie Watton, who last Saturday scored four times in her team’s 5-3 win over Maidenhead, and Hannah Macleod. Meanwhile the Ladies’ 3rds were maintaining their excellent start to the season with a third straight win beating Norwich City 3rds 4-0 away. Millie Preece put them ahead in the first half and after the break there were further goals by Katie Kinsella (2) and Alice Woollatt.

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CHILLI AND QUIZ NIGHT
Saturday 10 October, Clubhouse, 7.30pm
Tickets £10 from behind the bar or on the door. Please come!
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In other away games the Ladies’ 5ths drew 1-1 against Thetford; the Men’s 2nds (who this Saturday host Spalding (1.45)) played better than the previous week in going down 4-0 to Saffron Walden; the Men’s 5ths lost 2-1 (Alex Kilbourn) against Bury St Edmunds 3rds; the Men’s 6ths drew 2-2 against Ipswich 4ths (Lewis Belsey and Richard Allcock) and a very young Girls’ Development lost 3-1 against Norwich City. The Girls Development included eight U12s of whom two were U10s. After conceding two early goals the team had plenty of shots but couldn’t find a way past an in-form City goalkeeper until Georgie Gardens and Georgie Cantrell combined well once again for Georgie Cantrell to score.

This Sunday the England Hockey Youth Championships get underway with our following teams playing in the first of their Tier 1 local league matches.

U14 GIRLS v Pelicans (Home) 11.00 (S)
U16 GIRLS v Sudbury (Away) 1.30
U14 BOYS v Norwich Dragons (Away) 2.00
U16 BOYS v Norwich Dragons (Home) 11.00 (W)

Good luck as always to all our teams playing this weekend. Please see the Latest News page of the website for the complete list of fixtures.

HOORAY FOR HARLESTON
David Johnson and James Smith kindly manned our stall/display at this event in town last Saturday. It gave us a chance to promote the club and to emphasise the part we can continue to play as part of the local community.

RUBBISH WATCH
Number of water bottles left on the pitches or near the dugouts last Saturday – 15. As I remember saying a year or two back they do not levitate into the nearby bins!

With kind regards
Mike Denham
[email protected] 29/9/15

www.magpies-hockey.co.uk web site hosted and managed by IceniPost.com

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