MEN’S 1STS TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED
A few weeks ago the Men’s 1sts needed to win their remaining six games for the East Premier ‘A’ title (and with it a return to the national league) and now after their 2-0 away win over Blueharts last Saturday it is down to one. But skipper Mark Wheelhouse, player-coach Ben Wright and the rest of the squad will be taking nothing for granted when they play Felixstowe at home this coming Saturday (NB. 11.00). This is their last game of the season and for several weeks of the campaign the squad were league leaders before slipping to become only second or third favourites for the title. They were given a last opportunity to finish as champions with the combination of their win over St Albans and Wapping’s draw with Cambridge University the Saturday before last. Wapping beat Felixstowe 4-0 last Saturday to keep their hopes alive. IF YOU ARE FREE PLEASE COME ON SATURDAY (11.00) TO CHEER OUR TEAM ON.
The game against Blueharts was always going to be a tricky one as they have played much better of late to avoid relegation so a 2-0 win for Magpies, despite not playing well, was a highly satisfactory outcome. Magpies went into the game with five players on two yellow cards but thankfully all avoided adding to their tally so they are available for selection against Felixstowe. James Meek put Magpies ahead in the first half and he added the second after the break. Goalkeeper John Livings had little to do in the first half but it was a different story thereafter as he was made MOTM.
While the Men’s 1sts are still hoping to clinch their league title the Boys’ Development went one better last Saturday clinching their league title (with two games remaining) thanks to their 6-1 (Alex Kilbourn 3, Jake Caston 2, Ben Emms) away win over Dereham and Norwich Dragons’ 4-1 defeat of second placed Norwich City. This has been a splendid season for the team and it is congratulations to them, coaches Richard Larkin and Blake Elliot, the management team of Mark Emms and Jo Emms and to player-coach Roger Sweet for his on-pitch encouragement and example. Last season the team finished bottom of the league!
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It is very best wishes to the U18 Girls this Saturday when they play Plymouth Marjon (10.45) in the semi-finals of the England Hockey Plate at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre – the legacy facility of the 2012 London Olympics. In the final or the 3rd/4th play-off later in the day (4.45) the team will play either Alderley Edge or Reading. The team (as below) goes into this exciting event encouraged by their 5-0 win over Belper in the last round.
Magpies: Kira Wooltorton (capt), Amy Campbell, Jessica Harvey, May Bowden, Maria Andrews, Joy Andrews, Ellie Tennant, Kara Kilbourn, Catherine Kilbourn, Sophie Meynell-Anderson,
Imogen Meynell-Anderson, Katie Woollatt, David Brook (coach), Nigel Wooltorton (manager).
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Play got underway at a bitterly cold Weybread last Saturday with the Men’s 5ths completing the double over the 6ths with another 2-0 win. Andy Caston put the 5ths ahead in the first half with Sol Barker getting the second midway through the second. I apologise to Steve Halliley and Tom ‘Magic’ Miller for getting them wet after the game in my rush to water the pitch for the next game. On the sand-based the Girls’ Development were beating Norwich Dragons 1-0 (Georgie Cantrell) in their friendly in preparation for their last league match of another highly successful season away to Norwich City ‘A’ on Saturday (10.00). Next into action were the Men’s and Ladies’ 2nds and both were able to play without any relegation concerns. The Men’s 2nds were up against undefeated league champions Havering and they did well to hold the Essex team to 0-0 at half time. Magpies went close to taking the lead early in the second half when Toby Tibbenham took a quality through pass from Philip Cobbald before sending a fine reverse stick shot an inch wide of the right hand post. Thereafter Havering gradually took control of the game scoring three times before a late consolation goal for Magpies by Sam Ashurst. Magpies complete their programme with an away game against Saffron Walden on Saturday (12.00). Meanwhile the Ladies’ 2nds were playing relegated Saffron Walden and they went ahead when Lucy Whiting converted a first half penalty stroke only for the visitors to be quickly back on terms. After the interval Magpies turned their possession into goals with Lucy scoring again (before a jug avoider?!) with Tor Findlay rounding off a good win and season for the team. Canterbury 2nds were one of the four relegated teams on the basis of having an inferior goal difference to Broxbourne of one goal after 22 games!
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FIZZ & CANAPES EVENING – THIS SATURDAY (28 MARCH) TIBBENHAM’S BARN 7.30PM.
Tickets are £12.50 each including canapés and a glass of fizz and will be available on the door. Please come. You will be very welcome!
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Next into action and completing their highly successful season were the Ladies’ 1sts looking to do the double over early-season pacesetters St Albans who included England players Hannah Macleod and Ellie Watton. The visitors took the lead through Watton after seven minutes – only the 16th goal conceded by Magpies all season! At that stage St Albans were threatening to take total charge of the game but Magpies hit back and Lizzie Clymer was calmness personified when she skilfully eased the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net a minute before the break. Magpies had a considerable amount of defending to do in the second half but a 1-1 draw was a fair result and with Sevenoaks beating Ipswich 3-1 Magpies finished in third place.
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80TH ANNIVERSARY BALL (SATURDAY 13 JUNE)
To secure your table please send your booking form and cheque to Tracy Reeve by the end of this month. Thank you for your support.
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In other games at Weybread the Ladies’ 3rds won for the eighth time in their last nine games beating Carrow 3-0 (Kara Kilbourn and Caz Aldous-Goodge 2), the Ladies’ 5ths beat Carrow 2nds 5-2 and the Men’s 4ths beat Lowestoft Railway 2-0. The Ladies’ 5ths were 3-1 up at half time before going on to lead 5-1 (Millie Preece 2, Matilda Warde-Aldam 2 and Alice Woollatt) before a late reply by Carrow. Before the Men’s 4ths played Railway I told Greg Jagger that I was expecting a goal from him and he duly obliged after Harry Haigh had put them ahead with the important first goal. Greg took his goal in fine style with a reverse stick shot into the bottom left. But it was some minutes after the game before he was convinced it was not the bottom right! This was an excellent win for the already relegated 4ths who under the enthusiastic leadership of David Blackmore have played far better throughout the season than their league position would suggest. Away from home the Ladies’ 4ths drew 0-0 with Norwich City 3rds while the Men’s 3rds completed their programme losing 4-1 (Jon Aldridge) to Newmarket in a game they dominated for spells despite losing Gavin Cole to an eye injury.
Last Sunday was a really good day for the club with three of our sides qualifying for the East Minis Finals by their successes in the Norfolk Championships held at Pelicans HC. The U12 Boys and U12 Girls finished as champions while the U10 Girls qualified by finishing second in their event. Congratulations to the players, coaches and managers. The finals are being held for the seventh successive year at Weybread over the weekend of Saturday 18 (U12 Boys and U10 Girls) and Sunday 19 (U12 Girls and U10 Boys) April.
Please see the website for all of last weekend’s results and for this weekend’s fixtures with best wishes to all our teams.
SUMMER HOCKEY – ARE YOU INTERESTED? We have had invitations to the Norwich Dragons and Broadland mixed leagues and Tristan Baynes would like to gauge the interest in either entering these leagues or just playing some dates at Magpies. Please contact Tristan at tabaynes if you are interested.
HARLESTON MAGPIES MAY DAY WEEKEND HOCKEY FESTIVAL 2015 – please see the club’s website on how to enter teams in this year’s event.
With kind regards
Mike Denham
24/3/15
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