KILBURN AND KILBOURN ON TARGET FOR MEN’S 4THS

It is a toss up this week between the Men’s 4ths and the Ladies’ 2nds for top billing as both gained equally impressive home wins last Saturday. But I will give it to the Men’s 4ths for no other reason than that they got the day off to an encouraging start with their 4-0 win over Norwich Dragons 3rds for whom it was good to see ex-Magpies James and Rob Goodson playing. Magpies won by virtue of taking their chances in a game far tighter than the score would suggest. Ben Kilburn put Magpies ahead in the first half from a penalty corner before Magpies scored three excellent open play goals after the break. Lewis Belsey sped down the right and his centre was converted in fine style by Alex Kilbourn. Tom Norton soon made it 3-0 with a neat finish and Toby Tibbenham, making a welcome appearance, completed the scoring.

The Ladies’ 2nds deservedly beat Norwich Dragons 2nds 3-0 to record their first win of the season after their tough last second defeat away to Dereham and their home draw with Lindum. Laura Tibbenham gave them the lead midway through the first half with a typically classy finish from a pass from Alice Woollatt and Hannah de Selincourt quickly made it 2-0 following a deft pass from Laura. Goalkeeper Holly Riches, who was in top form, then came off her line to save a certain goal before in-form Alice scored what turned out to be the last goal of the game. Magpies continued to press forward but found Dragons, who included ex-Magpies 1st team captain Donna Vaughan making a welcome return to Weybread, far more resolute in the second half of a very watchable game.

Next into action were the Ladies’ 1sts and in Cambridge City they were facing their toughest opposition of the season and this was confirmed when City took advantage of hesitancy in the home defence to take an early lead. Thereafter Magpies, with their youthful and skilful forwards surging forward, looked the more likely team to score but as chances came and went (both sides of a torrential half time downpour) the home supporters were beginning to think the game was destined to be decided by the one goal. But with fifteen minutes to go Maria Andrews was on hand with a thoroughly deserved equaliser while City rarely looked likely to add to their score against a sound Magpies’ defence in which Charlie Harrison was in excellent form. This coming Saturday Magpies are away to St Albans (1.00) where they are sure of another searching examination despite St Albans’ slow start to the season.

It was really good to see David Brook watching the City game and he knows that his many friends at the club wish him all the very best for the treatment he is receiving for his illness. We look forward to seeing David at the club again whenever he feels well enough to attend.

John Livings

By now the water-based was living up to its name and next into action on it were the Men’s 1sts who were taking on City of Peterborough. Magpies took the lead on ten minutes when Ben Wright deflected the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper. But they were soon behind, despite some good saves by MOTM John Livings in goal, when Peterborough converted a penalty corner before an aerial caused confusion in the home defence. While not appearing to be as threatening in attack as their opponents Magpies gained a host of penalty corners without any success due in no small part to some determined and skilful defending. The visitors then took advantage of a penalty stroke awarded for a clash of sticks on the edge of the circle (this column never criticises umpiring decisions!) and shortly afterwards a seemingly innocuous shot crept into the home net. Thereafter to their credit the home team fought back with goals by Matt Richardson and Robbie Kinsella but they could not find the equaliser. After two defeats in their first three games Magpies need a win away to Ipswich this Saturday (11.00).

CHARITY DINNER DANCE IN AID OF ALLERGY UK
Saturday 15 October 2016 – Sunningdale Suite, Dunston Hall, Norwich, NR14 8PQ
Magpies’ members Robbie and Katie Kinsella invite you to this event to raise funds for the charity which is very close to their hearts as their charming young daughter Evie is a severe allergy sufferer.
Tickets are £45 each with all proceeds going to the charity. The evening includes a three course dinner, auction, entertainment and dancing commencing with a champagne reception at 7.00pm. Black tie. Carriages at midnight. Tickets are on sale until this coming weekend. Please contact Robbie at [email protected] or Katie at [email protected]

THE CLUB’S ‘BACK TO HOCKEY’ CAMPAIGN
Following on from what was issued last week I am pleased to include some words from James Smith who has headed up the campaign.

Dear Magpie

Following the success of the GB Women’s Hockey Team in Rio the Hockey family is keen to spread the word about the attractions of our sport. We hope you can help promote the club and the enjoyment of hockey by circulating the poster issued last week (and which is also on the club’s website) to any friends, neighbours, relations or work colleagues who might be interested in taking part.

Alternatively if you are able to display a copy of the poster in your local post office, village stores, sports centre, library, supermarket, primary school notice board please do. Either print a copy issued last week or from the website or collect a hard copy from the bar in the clubhouse.

The poster has already gone live on the club’s Facebook page and twitter account. Please look out for this and then “Like It”. The more we ‘Like’ our promotions the wider our message spreads.

Thank you    James Smith

On the other pitch two goals by Georgie Cantrell gave the Ladies’ 4ths a 2-1 win over Norwich Dragons 4ths and the Ladies’ 5ths won by the same scoreline against Pelicans 2nds with goals by Molly Warnes and Janna Freeman. Between these games the Men’s 6ths were lucky to be only one down at half time to Watton. But after conceding two more goals soon after the break they mounted a determined fight back with goals by captain Eric Davy and Mark Ash before losing 3-2.

Away from home the Men’s 3rds recorded their third successive win beating Norwich Dragons 2nds 5-1 and they are now three points clear at the top of their league assuming positions count for anything at this early stage of the season. Their goals were scored by Luke Edwards, Jon Aldridge, Phil Cobbald, Greg Jagger and Gavin Cole. The young Men’s 5ths dominated the early stages of their game against Sudbury 3rds before having to survive torrential rain and a break due to lightning with the score at 0-0. Against the run of play Sudbury scored from their only penalty corner before Magpies responded quickly through Andy Caston but they were unable to find the winner with the very enjoyable game finishing 1-1. Meanwhile the Ladies’ 6ths won for the second time in their three games beating Pelicans 3rds 1-0. Magpies, who made several changes from the previous week due to illness, were the stronger team throughout with Jenny Meyer earning the MOTM accolade for her impressive left wing performance. Lydia Barrett scored the second half winner on her debut.

The Development sides both played well in Norwich in their first competitive matches of the season with the young Boys side (aged 10-13), with Joe Wicks and Ollie Currie and others making promising debuts, drawing 4-4 with Dragons A with their goals coming from Sam Emms and Ben Emms with two apiece. Meanwhile the Girls had the majority of the play against City winning 1-0 with their first half goal scored by Georgie Gardens.

The Men’s 2nds went down 4-1 (Tristan Baynes) to Long Sutton and they will hope for better luck when they entertain East London on Saturday (2.00) and the Ladies’ 3rds lost 3-0 against Watton.

Well done to all our teams who did so well in last Sunday’s Norwich City Minis.

magpies-u12-minis

Magpies U12 Girls ‘A’ – winners of Gold Tournament

magpies-u10-minis

Magpies U10 Girls ‘A’ – winners of Gold Tournament

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

CONGRATULATIONS and best wishes to the following members who have progressed via Tier 1 of England Hockey’s development system (i.e. the Single System) to the Saxon Tigers’ teams (i.e. the East).

U18 – Hannah de Selincourt (non-travelling reserve), Abby Gooderham. U17 – Martha Lawrence, Archie Winter. U16 – Lottie Summers, Rose Winter. The U18s and U16s go forward later this month to the Futures Cups while the U17s go forward to HIPAC (High Performance Camp).

It is to be hoped that our members who have not made it through to the Futures Cups or HIPAC will remember that they did very well to reach Tier 1 from the Bury JRPC and it is also hoped that the experience they have gained will help them to further develop their hockey skills for future advancement.

QUIZ NIGHT – this event last Saturday was a big success and thanks are due to the many members and friends who attended and to organiser Joe Cooksey, the chairman of the club’s fund raising and social committee.

It is ‘best wishes and thanks’ to Mike Eastaugh the club’s gardener who has gone to live in Lancashire. Mike has given first class service to the club over the past three years and he will be greatly missed not only for his gardening but for the many other tasks he has skilfully carried out at the club.

With kind regards

Mike Denham
[email protected]
4/10/16

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