LADIES 1STS FIGHT BACK FOR OUTSTANDING WIN
Pride of place just has to go to the Ladies’ 1sts this week in recognition of their outstanding away win over Ipswich last Saturday. They went into this evening match at the Rushmere Sports Centre (now owned by Ipswich School) encouraged by their home win the previous week over Wimbledon looking for a rare away win. I have to confess that after leaving Weybread a little late and not believing my satnav (fool!) when I was within a hundred yards of the ground I didn’t arrive until midway through the second half when the score was one goal apiece. But within seconds of my arrival Amy Campbell touched in Louisa Greenacre’s shot to put us into the lead at a penalty corner and thereafter thanks to some calm defending, including a good save by goalkeeper Charlotte Lee-Smith, and some forceful attacking play the team got the win they deserved. What made this victory even more encouraging was that the team had fought back after Ipswich had gone ahead at a penalty corner in the ninth minute with Lizzie Clymer scoring her second goal of the season some ten minutes later. The team, sponsored by Kilbourns.co.uk (The Ford Specialist), are away again this coming Saturday when they visit league leaders East Grinstead (1.30) who after two wins needed a late goal last Saturday to draw 2-2 with St Albans leaving them one point ahead of Magpies who are in fourth place. Cherry Seaborn departs this week to take up her appointment with Deloittes in New York with our best wishes and our thanks for her invaluable contribution during the first three league matches of the season.
Earlier in the day at Weybread no less than 48 goals were scored in the seven games resulting in five wins and one draw and one defeat for the home teams. After the Girls’ Development had gone down 1-0 to Norwich City in a closely fought game as suggested by the score line the Men’s 3rds were next in action on the water-based up against a lively UEA team. Phil Cobbald thumped in a penalty corner to put Matt Brand’s team ahead at half time before the students equalised in identical fashion. Against the run of play Phil converted another shortie to put Magpies back in the lead. Ill-disciple by the visitors resulted in them being reduced to eight players for a few minutes and with five minutes to go Phil completed his hat trick. A good win seemed on the cards for Magpies but the students had other ideas and they scored two quick goals to bring the scores level. Even then Magpies had a chance to snatch victory when they were awarded a penalty stroke following an illegal goal line stop. The final whistle then blew and up stepped Phil only for his uncharacteristically weak stroke to be saved by the goalkeeper who was mobbed by his very happy teammates. It was good to see James ‘Tiger’ Brice turning out for the 3rds and he told me he was surprised to have read in Musings of his retirement! Let’s hope the lure of Weybread is stronger for Tiger than that of Carrow Road!!
Thereafter it was win after win for the Magpies’ teams with the Ladies’ 7ths leading the way with a 5-2 win over Hornets to record their first league win of the season with goals by skipper Karen Ray, Charlotte Underdown, Shirley McAllen (2) and Lisa Kent. Next it was the turn of the Ladies’ 5ths to get three points and they did so in emphatic manner beating North Norfolk 2nds 7-1 with a hat trick from skipper Jose Tibbenham and further goals by Sophie Child (2), Matilda Warde-Aldam and Alice Woollatt.
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Halloween Fancy Dress Party – clubhouse – Saturday 11 October (7.30pm). Tickets £5 on the door. The event includes prizes, music and fun and games (including apple bobbing!) for all. Please come.
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Next up were the HMHC Men’s 1sts, sponsored by Dynamic Sports Clothing & Equipment Ltd, against Cambridge City 2nds giving their supporters an opportunity to see the new-look team in home action for the first time following their pre-season games and first league match being played away from home. New to the squad from last year were Ben Wright, James Baker and Will Martin all making very welcome returns to the club plus Martin Fields and Sam Rowe (from last season’s 2nds) and very welcome new members Matt Collinge (GK) and Max Macaulay. With James and Ben finishing off two flowing moves, with Toby Price to the fore, the touchline experts were happy as half time approached if we could overlook our penalty corners! On the cusp of half time another penalty corner went begging and in seconds City had got a goal back following a fast break down their left. This completely changed the half time mood of the crowd and things were not improved when City equalised with an expertly taken short corner drag flick. But to their credit Magpies, after defending another penalty corner, raised their game with Leigh Sitch in good form in defence and Ben was on hand with two minutes to go to get the vital winner and another three valuable points. This Saturday the team is away to Wisbech (2.30) and hopefully Chris Barber will be fit to return following his hand injury sustained against Bedford.
It was then the turn of the Men’s 5ths and Ladies’ 4ths to bang in the goals and between them they managed fifteen with a total of six against. The Men’s 5ths were up against Norwich Exiles and with the two forward lines in form a ding dong battle ended with Magpies 7-5 victors with Andy Caston netting a hat trick with the other goals coming from John Pope, Simon Bardwell, Jonty Herschel-Shorland (following his league goal last week) and Cameron Woodcock. Like the Ladies’ 5ths the Men’s 5ths lead their league on goal difference after two matches. Meanwhile the Ladies’ 4ths, after their heavy defeat the previous week by the 3rds, were hammering in the goals against Diss winning 8-1. Anna Harrod got the ball rolling with the first two goals before Kathryn Bullen, another member making a very welcome return, got the first of her four with Clemmy Ardley-Forder, Laura Betts and Plum Sweet completing the scoring.
Apart from the win by the Ladies’ 1sts our teams didn’t fare too well away from home. The Ladies’ 2nds went down 4-0 to Cambridge City, the Men’s 2nds lost 7-2 (Blake Elliot and David Francis) to City of Peterborough 3rds, the Ladies’ 3rds lost 4-1 to Dereham 2nds despite the early boost of a goal by Catherine Kilbourn, the Ladies’ 6ths lost 3-0 to Lowestoft Railway, the Men’s 4ths lost 2-1 (Ben Kilburn) to Ipswich Cranes after a performance highly praised by skipper David Blackmore and the Men’s 6ths lost 3-2 to Pelicans 4ths after twice drawing level with goals by welcome new member Ed Williamson and skipper Eric Davy. The winning goal for Pelicans came after a swift break following a Magpies’ penalty corner.
With the 1st teams playing away the 2nd teams have centre stage at Weybread on Saturday and both need points after successive defeats. The Ladies’ 2nds entertain Ipswich 2nds (12.00) while the Men’s 2nds host Ramgarhia (2.00) who are already minus six points having conceded their first two games of the season. Hopefully they will honour Saturday’s fixture.
On Sunday three of our teams are in EHB Championship action with the U14 Girls away to Pelicans (12.00) while the U14 Boys are at home to Norwich Dragons (12.00) and the U18 Boys welcome City of Peterborough (1.30).
GOOD LUCK TO ALL HMHC TEAMS THIS WEEKEND. Please see the website for the full list of fixtures.
80th anniversary of the founding of the club
a) To mark this significant milestone the club is holding a Ball at Weybread on Saturday 13 June 2015 – please note your diary!
b) It is hoped to project at the event a montage of photographs taken during the past 80 years and the club is looking for a member who would be prepared to kindly gather together the photographs for scanning and projection. If you are prepared to help with this exercise would you please contact chairman Murray Graham at [email protected]
Andy and Jon to dribble up mountains
Starting today, Andy Halliday and Jon Bleby, Team Manager and Assistant Coach of the GB Men’s Hockey Team, will face one of their toughest challenges yet, the NOW: Pensions Mountain Dribble. The two members of the GB Men’s coaching team will not only be taking on the infamous Three Peaks Challenge, but they plan to dribble a hockey ball up and down the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales; something no one has ever attempted before. To add to this charity challenge they have given themselves only three days to take on this monumental task! For more details please see www.englandhockey.co.uk
IceniPost.com – sponsors of www.magpies-hockey.co.uk
With kind regards
Mike Denham
30/9/14
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