magpies hockey

ROCKET BOOST FOR MEN’S 2NDS

The Men’s 2nds knew they had to beat Waltham Forest at Weybread last Saturday to maintain their good run of form and to continue their move away from the remaining relegation spot in their league and they did so in fine style winning 7-3 thanks in no small part to four goals by Duncan ‘Rocket’ Steven. Following his very welcome return to the club this season Duncan continues to show he has lost none of his speed and eye for goal as he proved as the 2nds set about consigning to distant memory their 9-4 loss when the two teams met way back in early October. Duncan put Magpies ahead early in the game following a flowing move and after Waltham Forest were gifted an equaliser the home team responded with goals by Andy Hipwell and Phil Cobbald before Duncan made it 4-1 at half time. He completed his hat-trick early in the second half before the visitors hit back to put a few doubts in the minds of the home supporters. We were then treated to one of the goals of the season when James Baker found himself on the edge of the circle at the clubhouse end with the Waltham Forest goalkeeper to beat. Instead of trying to blast the ball past the keeper James had the presence of mind to attempt an audacious lob. For a split second the ball seemed destined for the roof of the net but to James’s delight and that of the crowd it went under the bar to ensure a well-deserved victory for his team. But even then we had more goals with Waltham Forest making it 6-3 before Duncan rounded off a splendid personal performance with his fourth goal. Also on form in an excellent team effort was goalkeeper Tom Yallop who pulled off some fine saves for Magpies who this coming Saturday are away to Saffron Walden (1.30) who beat them 7-2 earlier in the season!

With the weather behaving as forecast all our scheduled matches were played at the weekend – when the club had a good number of wins to celebrate – much to the relief of our fixture secretaries, Dawn-Wenda Harvey (Ladies) and Yvonne Long (Gentlemen), who are working hard to rearrange the fixtures already ‘lost’ to the elements. Please see website for updates.

The Ladies’ 4ths got the ball rolling at Weybread last Saturday coming from two down to draw 2-2 with UEA 2nds with both goals scored by Kathryn Bullen. After the match I was amused to be told by one of the students that being a Fresher she had been sent back to the pitch to retrieve a missing water bottle!

Next on the water were the Ladies’ 2nds and like the Men’s 2nds they had a ‘must win’ game with their opponents being Wapping with whom they drew 0-0 earlier in the season. Magpies dominated the early stages of the game but despite a half dozen penalty corners they could not find the net. After the game I helpfully suggested to coach Jerry Herod that that was something he should get the team working on! The breakthrough came 10 minutes into the second half when Ellie Tennant was on hand to score from close range. That turned out to be the only goal of the game with Magpies defending well when called upon although there was a scare when the umpire awarded a goal to Wapping only to change his mind after consulting his colleague. The shot was from outside the circle. Magpies deserved this narrow win and this coming Saturday skipper Frances Taylor and her team are away to Broxbourne (3.00) in another vital match.

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HMHC’S 80TH ANNIVERSARY BALL – SATURDAY 13 JUNE 2015
PLEASE NOTE THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY. Details to follow

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Meanwhile on the sand the Men’s 6ths were up against a very strong Ipswich 3rds and in the game between the teams earlier in the season Magpies had come third! Magpies were, however, boosted by scoring the first goal of the game and in fact they scored the first goal of the second half before going down 10-2 with their goals coming from James Webster. As soon as I saw perennial goal machine Andy Cook was playing for Ipswich I feared the worst. He scored four times. Later he told me it was his first game since the end of September due to work commitments. Before the game the 6ths knew they had another three points – following their two recent wins – with the withdrawal of Pelicans 4ths from their rearranged match scheduled for the next day. This Saturday the 6ths have another stern test away to IES 4ths but they will be boosted knowing that they have moved up the table into 9th place following the nine points they have gleaned this month. Next on the sand were the Ladies’ 3rds and they maintained their excellent run of form beating Loddon 3-0 with their goals coming from Laura Betts, Katie Woollatt and Kara Kilbourn and on Saturday they face UEA 2nds (3.15) who will be paying a quick return visit to Weybread.

Later on the water it was the return match between the Men’s 4ths and the Men’s 3rds (for whom it was good to see Deben Nelson playing again) and it turned out to be a well-contested match shaded 3-2 by the 3rds. Skipper Matt Brand put the 3rds ahead and after the break Jon Aldridge increased their lead when he nudged the ball over the line from six inches out before Greg Jagger deservedly pulled a goal back for the 4ths for whom forward Myles King was in impressive form. Gavin Cole then restored the 3rds’ two-goal lead and in a tense finish Tom Innes gave hope to the 4ths with a late goal. Next day the Men’s 3rds played well despite losing 5-3 (Gavin 2, Nick Whitehead) away to high flying UEA.

Encouraged by their performance against the 3rds the Men’s 4ths deservedly clinched their first win of the season the following day beating Ipswich Cranes 3-1 in a splendid match. Magpies dominated the game in the early stages with the visitors’ keeper making some fine saves including one from a fierce shot by Tristan Hipper. On twenty minutes and against the run of play Cranes went ahead but a few minutes later Jon Wells thumped in a penalty corner before Harry Haigh made it 2-1 to Magpies at half time. The game was notable for a Masterclass from Richard Gill on his return to the team. His stopping, ball control and aerial passes were a delight to watch as he controlled the game from the middle and he was on hand midway through the second half to score from close range having injected the ball at a penalty corner won by Greg Jagger. Cranes then put Magpies under considerable pressure although goalkeeper Andy Palmer, who had played very well the previous day, was rarely called into action. The game was excellently umpired by Peter Butcher, who had sportingly stepped in at the last minute, and his daughter Nikki.

In another home game on Saturday the Ladies’ 7ths beat Carrow 3rds 4-0 with Mia King scoring a fine hat-trick and with Shirley McAllen also scoring while away from home the Ladies’ 5ths (for whom Anna Kilbourn sportingly volunteered to play in goal) were drawing 2-2 (Alice Woollatt and Millie Preece) against league leaders Evergreens who as earlier in the season were defensive minded! Also away from home were the Ladies’ 6ths who went down 2-0 to Reepham, the Girls’ Development who beat Yarmouth 1-0 (Keisha Hilaire), the Boys’ Development who maintained their unbeaten record drawing 1-1 (Jude Pottruff) with Norwich Dragons who equalised with 15 seconds to go and the Men’s 5ths, for whom Jamie Hinsley played well on his debut following his promotion from the Development team, who beat Dereham 4ths 6-3 (Matt Bensly 2, Jack Newberry 2, Andy Caston and Stuart Peters) despite going 3-2 down early in the second half from 2-0 up.

Sam Rowe, Leigh Sitch, Matt Collinge(GK), Richard Larkin, Ben Wright
Sam Rowe, Leigh Sitch, Matt Collinge(GK), Richard Larkin, Ben Wright

I’ve got this far without mentioning the Men’s 1sts who unfortunately lost their ‘six-pointer’ away to leaders Wapping on Saturday by two goals to one (Ben Wright). This was a severe blow to the team’s promotion hopes but after their encouraging 6-2 away win (Martin Fields 2, Ben Wright, Chris Barber, Toby Price, Will Martin) over Cambridge City 2nds the next day there is still a glimmer of hope. This coming Saturday the team host Felixstowe (12.00).

Good luck as always to all our teams this coming weekend including the Mixed team against Norwich City away on Sunday (1.00) in the 1st round of the EHB Trophy. Please see the Latest News page of the website for the complete list of this weekend’s fixtures. Fingers-crossed for the weather.

Congratulations to

a) The Boys’ teams which did well in last Sunday’s Watton Minis, namely U12 ‘A’ (winners in the Gold group), U12 ‘B’ (3rd in the Silver group) and U10 Boys ‘A’ (4th in the Gold group). Very unfortunately the Girls’ events were cancelled due to the early morning frost.

b) East Grinstead and Bowdon Hightown who won, respectively, the men’s and women’s Hockey 5s finals at the Wembley Arena last Sunday.

With kind regards

Mike Denham

[email protected]

27/1/15

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