EIGHT OUT OF EIGHT FOR MAGPIES LADIES
Played eight, won eight. What a Saturday it was for our ladies’ teams – and the men didn’t do too badly either on a day when the 1sts hit top form with an emphatic win. In all we had twelve wins, one draw and just two losses in fifteen games with 53 goals for and 20 against.
But the day belonged to the ladies and the 7ths set the ball rolling at Weybread with a 5-0 win over Carrow 2nds with all their goals coming in the first half. After her brace the previous week Evie Tibbenham went one better with a hat-trick following goals by Shirley McAllen and Karen Ray. This was Karen’s last game before her move to Spain for the winter with her partner Richard. Karen has done an enormous amount for the club and will be greatly missed. More about Karen next week.
Next on the water-based were the in-form and impressive 2nds and they were soon into their stride against Bedford 2nds with goals by Laura Tibbenham and Alice Woollatt. Following a response by the visitors Laura scored again and after the break Kara Kilbourn made it 4-1 to secure victory for her side which has taken ten points from their last four games. This coming Saturday they are away to Colchester (12.30).
On a day almost ideal for playing and watching hockey the question was could the 1sts make things even better for the club on captain Lucy Belsey’s birthday (she is a little over 21!) when they took on Southgate. The answer was ‘yes’ but they twice had to come from behind before making sure of an excellent and exciting 5-3 victory. Former South Africa Olympian Alex Fenwick gave Southgate an early lead with a reverse stick shot after initially appearing to have lost control of the ball and they continued to look dangerous before in a good spell of home pressure Maria Andrews equalised with a reverse stick chip. Fenwick scored again early in the second half but within five minutes Magpies were level when Tor Findlay took a pass from Maria before rounding the goalkeeper for the goal of the game. In the 58th and 59th minutes Lucy Whiting was on hand to convert two penalty corners before Debbie Francis made it 5-2 six minutes later. Fenwick completed her hat-trick in the final minute with another rasping penalty corner conversion. On Saturday Magpies are away to Hampstead and Westminster (1.30).
Over on the sand-based the 4ths were beating Carrow 3-0 with a hat-trick by the prolific Georgie Cantrell. Georgie scored her first from a penalty corner and after the break made the game safe for her team with two open play strikes.
Away from home the wins also kept coming for the ladies’ teams with three points each for the Girls Development and for the 3rds, 5ths and 6ths. Olivia Lapage scored both goals for the Girls’ Development (who have yet to concede a goal this season) in their 2-0 win over Yarmouth. There were encouraging debuts for Abi Lewis (in goal), Maddison Forrest, Hannah Gartland and Megan Dickson while Molly Largent was playing her second game having made her debut the previous week. The 3rds came from behind tobeat IES 2-1 with two goals by Mia King on her welcome return from injury while the 5ths beat Watton 2nds by the same score with goals by sisters Grace and Amy Collison. Grace scored in the first half after good work by Molly Warnes and Ellie Fawkner while Amy scored ten minutes from the end at a penalty corner created by captain and defender Jose Tibbenham.
Meanwhile the 6ths were having a field day beating Watton 3rds 8-0. In a dominant display by captain Gillian Stokes’ team the goals were scored by Beth Moodie (2), Izzy Slade (2), Annie Lancaster, Jenny Meyer, Julie Davy and Lydia Barrett.
————————
Avril Adams
Before the IES versus Ladies’ 3rds match a minute’s silence was held in memory of Avril who so sadly died last Tuesday after her very short battle with cancer. Our condolences go to her husband John and daughter Megan (Brown) and all members of the family on their great loss. In recent seasons Avril, who was a former IES goalkeeper and a much-respected secretary of the Suffolk County HA, has been a regular supporter at Weybread watching Megan play in goal for the club while John has managed the Ladies’ 2nds.
———————
Turning now to the performances of the men’s sides there is no better place to start than with the 9-2 win of the 1sts at Weybread over Chelmsford. This was a timely and encouraging victory with player-coach Ben Wright in commanding form. He scored his 75th first team goal for the club when converting an early penalty stroke. Jack Knight then opened his account for the team with a deft shot from a narrow angle before Ben scored in open play. Archie Winter fired a penalty corner high into the net with Matt Richardson making it 5-0. Chelmsford pulled a goal back just before half time. In the second half Ben took his personal tally to five (and ten for the season) while the visitors converted a penalty corner which seemed to take for ever with the home defenders one by one being ordered from their goal for breaking before the whistle. Sam Paterson completed the scoring with his first for Magpies who this Saturday are away to newly-promoted Letchworth (2.00).
FUN CASINO EVENING SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER (7.30PM)
Tickets for this prestigious black tie event are £20 each and are available at the clubhouse bar or from Kevin and Jackie Ridley 01379 854697 or 07815 199803. You will be very welcome.
The Boys’ Development, for whom Ben Waters made his debut with a strong performance in defence,moved back to the top of their league alongside Norwich Dragons ‘A’ with a deserved 1-0 win over Norwich City with a goal by Ben Emms while the 4ths were three up at half time against Norwich City 5ths before nearly letting things slip in their 3-2 win. Toby Hughes put them ahead before Kieran Peters scored with a favoured reverse stick shot and he then scored again with some assistance from his father Stuart (or so Stuart claims!). The 6ths were up against UEA 3rds who celebrated as if they had won Olympic gold when they took a first half lead but Andy Smith came to the rescue of his team with a shot he described as a reverse stick undercut. He is now one goal behind 1st team captain Leigh Sitch in their personal battle for goal scoring honours this season! The students took the lead again after the break before Greg Jagger made the final score 2-2. Will Graver played well in goal for Magpies.
Away from home the 2nds went down 6-3 to Bishops Stortford which leaves them still looking for their first point of the season and hopefully it will come this Saturday at home to Cambridge City 3rds (2.00). Magpies went ahead after ten minutes through Myles King who together with Tristan Baynes was the pick of the visiting team. Bishop’s Stortford scored two goals each side of half time before Tristan converted a penalty stroke and at 6-2 down he scored again with a late drag flick. Meanwhile the 3rds maintained their one hundred percent start to the season coming from behind to beat Bury St Edmunds 2nds 3-1. Gavin Cole brought them level with his eighth goal of the season before Phil Cobbald put away a penalty stroke. Captain Matt Brand then converted a penalty corner with a drag flick to ensure victory. The 5ths were up against Bury St Edmunds 5ths in a game which was decided by a couple of umpiring decisions. BSE took the lead before Arthur Johnson equalised for Magpies following up a save from his own shot. The home team then made the final score 2-1 in their favour converting a penalty corner when Magpies, who deserved a point, were reduced to ten players.
On Sunday the club had another good day with four of our teams playing away in England Hockey events. In their cup matches the Men’s O50s edged past Bury St Edmunds 4-3 on penalty strokes after conceding a late goal in a 3-3 draw (Phil Cobbald 2, Duncan Cogdell) in normal time while the U18 Girls beat Old Loughtonians 9-3 with goals by Hannah de Selincourt (4), Alice Woollatt, Abby Gooderham (2) and Tor Findlay (2). Meanwhile in league action the U14 Girls drew 3-3 with Norwich City with another hat-trick by Georgie Cantrell while the U14 Boys beat Bury St Edmunds 10-1. Seven of their goals were scored by Jude Pottruff in a remarkable personal performance while the others came from Ben Emms (2) and Michael Ahrens.
Good luck to all our teams this Saturday. Please see the website for the complete list of fixtures.
MAGPIES’ 300 CLUB
Please see the website for recent winners ((including September and October 2016) and for how to join. If you are not already a member you will be very welcome. NB. If you are a member have you paid your annual sub yet please? Notices went out in August. If you have paid ‘thank you’.
With kind regards
Mike Denham
[email protected]
18/10/16
