MIXED BAG BEFORE TOUGHEST GAME OF SEASON
There was a mixed bag of results last Saturday from the club’s first three league matches of the season with the Ladies’ 1sts going down 1-0 away to St Albans, the Ladies’ 3rds winning 4-0 at the expense of the 4ths and the Girls’ Development not playing due to Lowestoft’s withdrawal from the league. It is to be hoped that the efforts of Lowestoft to recruit more players to enable the team to rejoin the league in 12 months time will be successful.
This coming Saturday all our sixteen teams will be in league action except for the Men’s 6ths and 7ths who have friendlies pending their opening league encounters on October 5th by which time they will be super keen to get going!
After deserving to get a point at St Albans the Ladies’ 1sts, sponsored by Kilbourns.co.uk, have what could turn out to be the toughest game of the season (except for the return!) when they take on newly-promoted and newly-reinforced Holcombe at Weybread (12.30). With England players Maddie Hinch (who was voted the best goalkeeper in the recent EuroHockey championship) and Laura Unsworth now in their ranks Holcombe are obviously going for promotion encouraged by their 7-0 win last week over Wimbledon who could still turn out to be one of the best teams in the league. Holcombe have similar ambitions for their men’s 1sts following the recent signings of England captain Barry Middleton and his England colleague Dan Fox, plus a number of other star players, and from what I’ve heard they have not joined on the basis of merely being spared having to pay their weekly match fee!
The Men’s 1sts, sponsored by Dynamic Sports, travel to play Bedford (2.45) who pipped them for second place in the league last season on goal difference following a certain match scoreline which I will not go into again! This is sure to be a tough opener for coach Les Howlett, skipper Mark Wheelhouse and the squad but they will be heartened by the 5-1 friendly win over Cambridge University last Sunday in which Mark scored a hat-trick. It is good to see Richard Larkin being given a chance in the squad. There is no keener club member than Richard (the other Saturday he helped coach the U12 Boys, played a game and later umpired well enough to get his Level 1 award) and he has earned this opportunity by the steady improvement in his play over recent years. And he passes the ball accurately!
The Ladies’ 2nds also travel to play Bedford (1.00) in their first match since promotion to the East Premier League in what is likely to be a really demanding season after two successive promotions and the loss of several regulars to the 1sts. The team is again managed by Nigel Wooltorton and captained by Frances Taylor. The Men’s 2nds entertain City of Peterborough 2nds and under the captaincy of Lawrence Baynes once more will be looking to get off to a better start than they did last season in what turned out to be a very successful campaign for the squad.
The Ladies’ 3rds, after their 4-0 win (Kara Kilbourn 2, Catherine Kilbourn and Jemima Jacobs) over the 4ths, are away to Dereham 2nds (12.00) while the Men’s 3rds host North Walsham (4.00) looking for a good season opener after their relegation at the end of last season when they often played better than some of their results might suggest. The Ladies’ 4ths have a tough looking game away to UEA (1.00), the Ladies’ 6ths take on the 5ths (10.30) and the newly-formed Ladies’ 7ths entertain Norwich City 6s (1.45). The Men’s 4ths travel to play Norwich Dragons 2nds (1.00) and the Men’s 5ths are away to Norwich City 4s (2.30). Last Saturday there were four penalty strokes (all converted) in the 5ths 4-2 friendly defeat. Good luck to all our teams this weekend. Please see the website for the full list of fixtures which include on Sunday the very strong looking Girls’ U18s travelling to play Spalding (2.00) in the first round of the EHB Cup in which last season they were bronze medal winners.
ClubsFirst
HMHC was first awarded ClubsFirst status by England Hockey in 2007 recognising that the club is committed to supporting the development of a safe, effective and child-friendly environment. This status was renewed, as required, three years later and after a lot of hard work by Shirley McAllen (again) assisted by David Brook, Fiona Cadman and Kirstin Cumming the club has very recently been re-accredited with the status. This involved assessing the club under the headings of developing your club, developing your people, safeguarding and protecting young people and knowing your community. It is thanks and well done to Shirley, David, Fiona and Kirstin. The presentation of the award will be made by Charlie Farrow of England Hockey during the Magpies’ Minis on Sunday 13 October.
Other news and comment
a) England Hockey has submitted a bid to the FIH to host the Women’s World Cup in London in 2018.
b) HMHC subs and training fees are due. If you have already paid it is ‘thank you’. If you haven’t it isn’t!
c) Efforts are being made to raise Norfolk O40s and O50s Masters’ sides. If you are interested would you please contact Peter Dolton ([email protected]) in the first instance and he will pass your name on. Peter tells me that the ages of the front four playing for the 7ths last Saturday didn’t add up to his age!
d) It is good to know that Tom Graham played for the University of Durham in their 6-1 national league win over Olton and WW last Saturday and that Verity Blyth scored for Doncaster in their 5-3 win over Boots. Both Tom and Verity are merely out on loan!
e) If you have you any old hockey records, items or memorabilia for the National Hockey Museum or would like to become a Friend of the Museum please go to www.hockeymuseum.org
f) Gorleston have unfortunately withdrawn from East League 3NE. Over the years we have enjoyed some memorable clashes (almost literally on occasions!) with this long established club. Another sad day for local hockey.
g) Date for your diary please – Bingo Evening (Saturday 12 October).
IceniPost.com – sponsors of www.magpies-hockey.co.uk
With kind regards
Mike Denham
18/9/13
To find out more about Lowestoft College ring 0800 854695
