A DOUBLE TONIC

It is said that Henry Longhurst, the famous golf correspondent, used to write his columns without leaving the clubhouse to see any play. I didn’t even get as far as the clubhouse last Saturday due to a bad cold (and my wish not to spread my germs) but for those interested I’m now feeling a lot better (thank you) and I also thank Kirstin Cumming for her advice and remedies!

Being at home waiting for the results is more nerve wracking than actually being present and when Leigh Sitch phoned with the excellent news that the Men’s 1sts had beaten Chelmsford 4-1 he suggested I stay away in future! Two hours later I received the equally pleasing news that the Ladies’ 1sts had beaten Horsham 3-0. A notable home double and a tonic for your poorly scribe!

The Men’s win over Chelmsford even included two penalty corner conversions (by Chris Barber and Ben Wright) if Leigh is to be believed with the other goals coming in open play from James Baker following another effort by the prolific Ben. I would rate this the win of the season for the team bearing in mind i) Chelmsford had put seven goals past Dereham the previous week, ii) before the game Chelmsford stood just one point behind Magpies (who continue to top the table one point ahead of Cambridge University and who they play at home on 15 November) and iii) the absence of Tristan Baynes due to his hamstring injury which unfortunately could keep him out of action for several more weeks. NB. Please see the excellent match report on the website written I can only assume by the Poet Laureate or the Poet Larky! This coming Saturday the team are away to City of Peterborough (1.00) who are having a moderate season by their high standards of late although with sixteen goals in their six games they remain a big threat.

After their defeat by Bedford the previous Saturday the Ladies’ 1sts needed the boost of a win to continue their good start to the season and three goals in the first eighteen minutes was just what the doctor ordered – my last medical reference this week apart from further injuries. Turning out for the team for the first time this season Susan Wessels scored in the fourth and fifteenth minutes with Emma Lee-Smith adding the third in their 3-0 win over Horsham. The team have now played eleven games at home since being beaten (at the beginning of last season by eventual champions Holcombe) and during that time they have picked up 27 points. Their away record is not so good to say the least so I’ll leave that for another day! They have this coming Saturday off in company with all our other Ladies’ teams with the exception of the Ladies’ 2nds.

Talking of the Ladies’ 2nds they went down to the only goal of the game away to a strong Canterbury 2nds after failing to take some early chances and this week they welcome Old Loughtonians (12.00) who were surprisingly relegated last season from the national league following defeats in their last two games and Ipswich’s Houdini act.

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Another friendly reminder of the Fireworks Spectacular (Friday 7 November)

a) Tickets are on sale at the clubhouse bar (they are £1 cheaper than on the gate).

b) If you are able to help on the night PLEASE add your name to the board in the clubhouse or contact James Smith on 01379 898767 or via [email protected]

The club is committed to finding 50 members and friends and family of members to help run the event.

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Also away from home the Men’s 2nds were gaining their first point of the season with a good draw against Cambridge University 2nds. At one stage they were two goals ahead with Robbie Kinsella scoring both before at 2-1 the students won a penalty stroke. It was now a matter of mind games and who would you put your money on – the gifted but young student or the worldly-wise accountant and club chairman cum goalkeeper Murray Graham? Yes – you were very astute to go for experience. The student duly stepped up and after looking through the grille of Murray’s helmet and into his eyes proceeded to hit a post! It was just a pity that CU got a late equaliser! Magpies were without Ewie Cumming following his very nasty little finger break in training last week and they suffered a further setback when skipper Dickon Taylor was injured during the game.

Back at Weybread a) the Ladies’ 3rds were moving up their league with a good 4-2 win over Norwich Dragons 3rds with goals by Kara Kilbourn (2), Issie Knowles and skipper Sarah Legg, b) the Men’s 3rds were going down 3-1 (Gavin Cole) to Norwich City 3rds and c) the Men’s 6ths were being edged out by the odd goal in three by Norwich Dragons 4ths – the Magpies’ goal being scored by Andy Smith making a very welcome return.

Meanwhile the Men’s 5ths came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 away to Bury St Edmunds 3rds. Tom Norton put them ahead before Bury hit back to take a 3-1 lead. Magpies then responded with veteran Stuart Peters scoring twice in the last four minutes with his equaliser coming thirty seconds from the end. Stuart seems to be specialising in late goals this season. Has he been working on his fitness?! A few miles away at Newmarket the Men’s 4ths were 2-0 down before Sol Barker, making his fourth team debut with Jonty Herschel-Shorland, pulled a goal back and Richard Gill brought the scores level early in the second half when he converted a penalty stroke. The experienced Newmarket side went on to clinch victory with two goals in the last ten minutes. For Magpies goalkeeper Andy Palmer was in fine form and it was good to see former first teamer Duncan ‘Rocket’ Steven making a very welcome return to the club and playing his first game for eighteen months.

The Ladies’ 5ths lost 1-0 away to Norwich Dragons 4ths but at least they got a game in contrast to the Ladies’ 4ths who were denied that pleasure with Thetford being unable to find an umpire and the Ladies’ 6ths who had to call off their game with Pelicans 2nds after being unable to raise a full team. It is to be hoped that this problem will have been solved before the team returns to action on Saturday week.

This Sunday the club is hosting the first of the season’s mini hockey events held throughout the county with the U10 & U12 Girls starting at 9.30am and the U10 and U12 Boys getting underway at 1.30pm. In all 31 teams have entered including, of course, our own teams.

Good luck to all our teams this weekend. Please see the website for the full list of fixtures.

HARLESTON MAGPIES HC AND LANGLEY SCHOOL

Magpies and Langley School have built on their already close links by forming a partnership to promote the development of hockey within the club and school by way of coaching and the sharing of facilities.

Murray Graham, chairman of Harleston Magpies, says “We are very pleased to further our links with Langley School and we look forward to exciting times ahead for both club and school”.

Langley School Headmaster, Dominic Findlay adds “We are delighted to have gone into partnership with the Magpies especially at a time when we have some very talented students who are now being offered great opportunities to further develop their skills as they aspire to play at national level”.

CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO:

a) Kristina and Ali Smyth on the birth of Florence Elizabeth May on Tuesday 7 October at 12.35am! It is good to know that Florence has already begun her introduction to hockey by visits to Norwich Dragons and Magpies (!) and that Kristina hopes to be playing again soon.

b) Jodie Guest and Tom Gaskell on their marriage on Saturday 18 October.

IT IS THANKS TO:

a) Mike Eastaugh and George Hunter for all their hard work in keeping the club’s 14 acres of grounds looking so smart and welcoming.

b) The anonymous donor of the large clock on the clubhouse. NB. Members are asked not to take the clock off the wall in order to make any adjustments as we have a highly trained team standing by!

FINALLY

Tickets (£20 each) are now on sale for the Fun Casino and Fizz Evening to be held at Starston Place, Starston on Saturday 22 November (7.30pm). Black Tie. Champagne cocktail on arrival. Nibbles. For tickets please contact Frances Taylor 07717 531269 or [email protected]

IceniPost.com – sponsors of www.magpies-hockey.co.uk

With kind regards
Mike Denham [email protected] 
28/10/14

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