DO YOU HAVE THE ANSWERS?

I commence this week’s Musings with two questions – as firmly instructed by two senior lady members who I would not dare disobey!

1. Have you got the no. 3 red Hunton Legg men’s shirt? If so please return it to Kirstin Cumming this week.
2. Did you as a member who is not a team captain take an East Handbook from the clubhouse recently? If so please leave it behind the bar as Jose Tibbenham wants to ensure that all relevant team captains have a copy.

Last week I gave top billing to the Men’s 1sts but this week it has to go to the Ladies’ 1sts following their outstanding 3-1 win last Saturday over Southgate to get their season up and running. They dominated the game almost from beginning to end – as evidenced by goalkeeper Lucy Hayman only touching the ball twice (both times in the first half) throughout the game – and they should have been out of sight by half time instead of being level thanks to a superb reverse stick shot by Clarissa Goodwin for Southgate. Angie Wheelhouse steadied any nerves with a goal seconds after the resumption and Artemis Clark’s second goal in the final seconds gave the team – for whom Anna Toulson had an excellent game following her injury against Sevenoaks – a thoroughly deserved three points. This Sunday (12.30) the team are away to newly-promoted Cambridge City who are still looking for their first points of the season.

Unusually six of our seven Men’s teams are at home this Saturday with the 2nds, after their excellent 4-2 win over Pelicans in which Lawrence Baynes as in sparkling form, entertaining Cambridge City (NB. 12.15) who showed last weekend by beating Ipswich 2nds 8-0 that they intend to return to East Premier A at the first opportunity. Next up will be the 1sts who play Holcombe (2.15) after their encouraging but narrow losing performance away to Southgate. Holcombe, who come from Rochester in Kent, beat Indian Gymkhana 6-2 last weekend thanks in no small part to four goals by ex-England international David Mathews who a few seasons back was a prolific scorer in Dutch club hockey.

Another eagerly awaited game is that between the Men’s 3rds and the 4ths (4.00) with the 3rds looking to reverse their 1- 0 defeat in the second half of last season. The 3rds go into the game in fine form having beaten Ipswich 4ths 7-1 with Martin Fields doing a ‘Fernando Torres’ by netting the first three goals paving the way for Matt Brand to weigh in with the rest with all the hard work done! In contrast the 4ths lost 3-1 last Saturday not helped by a back injury to Colin Wheelhouse who was making a very welcome reappearance having retired as the coach to the Ladies’ 1sts at the end of last season. In other games the Men’s 5ths entertain Thetford Town (10.45) while the Veterans open their league season against friendly rivals Shefford & Sandy (3.15). Last season honours were even with S & S winning at home before having their team talk at Scole Inn on the way to a 3-1 defeat at Weybread! The Men’s 6ths, after their very promising 3-1 win over Ipswich 6ths, are away to Norwich Dragons 3rds.

The Ladies’ 2nds are away to Cambridge City 2nds following their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Bury St Edmunds. The team conceded two very unlucky goals but were cheered by a superb effort (an early candidate for goal of the season) by Jaz Bartlett who ran down the left wing before taking the ball into the circle and firing in from a narrow angle. Meantime the 3rds, encouraged by their excellent 6-2 win over Norwich City 2nds, are away to Pelicans 2nds and the 4ths are away to Pelicans 3rds (hoping to build on their good 2-1 away win over Reepham) while the 5ths are at home to Pelicans 4ths (1.45). The Ladies’ Development entertain Dereham (12.15) after their splendid 9-0 win at Pelicans and the 6ths play Loddon 3rds in a friendly at home (10.30).

Good luck to all our teams this weekend – including the U18 Boys who play Bury St Edmunds on Sunday (12.00 at home) in the first round of the EH Cup.

With kind regards and best wishes

Mike Denham 01603 506925 [email protected] 29/9/09