FIRST MINUTE DRAMA

There was first minute drama in both games involving the Ladies’ and Men’s 1sts as they opened their national league campaigns last weekend. At Weybread on Saturday the Ladies went ahead against Wimbledon in a goalmouth scramble (or should I say scrum with a nod to happenings later this week) with Lucy Whiting being credited with the goal while away to Cambridge City the next day the Men were falling behind to a goal after twenty five seconds to get their national league return off to a bad start.

Emma Lee-Smith

The Ladies continued to dominate the opening minutes against Wimbledon (for whom it was good to see ex-Magpie Lizzie Jones playing) with Emma Lee-Smith prominent but they could not turn their pressure into another goal before in the twenty first minute the visitors equalised with a fierce reverse stick shot. Thereafter it was Wimbledon’s turn to look the better side and early in the second half some of the home supporters were deciding they would be happy with a point. That is what they eventually got but not before Magpies had a goal ruled out after the umpires conferred (generally an unhappy omen for the home team over the years) and Wimbledon had hit the left post late in the game. In the end this was a valuable point for Magpies who this coming Saturday are away to newly-promoted Hampstead and Westminster (1.30) who last Saturday got off to a good start beating Maidenhead 4-3 with their winner coming in the last minute.

magpies-v-Cambridge-City-3

The Men were expecting a hard game against Cambridge City and that is exactly what they got. After the shock of their early concession there was more trouble to come for Magpies against a fast breaking and classy looking City side who converted a penalty corner on ten minutes and who by the twenty fifth minute were four ahead. By now gloom had settled over the sizeable contingent of Magpies’ supporters who nevertheless continued to offer support to their team and advice to the umpires! The mood changed with the best goal of the game when five minutes before half time Andy Hipwell collected a long ball down the left wing before calmly finding player-coach Ben Wright who equally calmly turned the ball inside the right post. After the break Magpies, who by now had adjusted to the quicker pace of the game at this level, were the equal of their opponents and Ben finished off another good spell of pressure to bring the visitors further back into the game at 4-2. Nevertheless the Magpies’ defence was still kept busy but some well-timed tackles by captain Leigh Sitch, Tristan Baynes and Richard Larkin and some good saves by goalkeeper John Livings kept City at bay and with ten minutes left the home goalkeeper made a vital save to deny Magpies a third goal. After the poor start this was an encouraging performance by Magpies who this coming Saturday entertain West Herts (2.00) who lost 6-2 at home to Southgate last Sunday.

Before the Ladies’ 1sts took the stage at Weybread it was the turn of the Girls’ Development and the Ladies’ 4ths who hosted the 3rds. The Development were up against Lowestoft Railway who took the lead through ex-Magpie Eva Harness with Grace Collison popping up with the equaliser four minutes from time. The Ladies’ 4ths were soon behind against the 3rds with Sophie Child, Katie Kinsella and captain Lucy Field putting them three up before Laura Tibbenham reduced the arrears and Laura scored again later in the game after Mia King had got a fourth goal for the 3rds. The fourth and final league game of the day at Weybread was between the Ladies’ 5ths and an experienced Diss team. In contrast the Magpies’ captain Jose Tibbenham was fielding a team including four thirteen year old players and one fourteen year old player. Diss were two-up at half time but Magpies fought back to win the second half with a goal by Rachael Clifford.

Away from home the Ladies’ 6ths achieved a good 3-3 league draw against Herlings with goals by Verity Tomson, Milly Scarborough-Taylor and Annie Lancaster while the Ladies’ 2nds warmed up for the start of their league season away to Norwich Dragons this coming Saturday (1.00) by drawing 2-2 with Dereham. Lauren Rowe converted a penalty corner for their first equaliser with Izzy Knowles netting their second equaliser. This season the Ladies’ 2nds are captained by Mel Ludlam with Siobhan Wooltorton as vice-captain. It is good to know that Siobhan is back playing again after missing last season through injury.

Meanwhile the Boys’ Development were preparing for the start of their league season this Saturday away to Dereham (4.30) by playing increasingly well at the Norwich Dragons Triangular Tournament last Sunday. They opened with a 0-0 draw against Dragons before beating Dereham 1-0 (Tom Caston) and in the return games they beat Dragons 2-0 (Morgan Manley 2) and Dereham 3-0 (Jake Caston, Hugo Lewis, Archie Derbyshire). Andy Caston was the team’s adult player covering for the injured Roger Sweet. The return games were played without adults. Despite the good results Manager Mark Emms has identified a few areas where the team needs to improve!

All our 15 teams will be in league action this Saturday including (and in addition to the teams covered above) the Men’s 2nds, captained again by Dickon Taylor, who open with a home game against Norwich City (12.00) and the Men’s 3rds, under the continued captaincy of Matt Brand, who are away to Pelicans 2nds (3.00). Meanwhile the Ladies’ 3rds will hope to build on their success last Saturday when they entertain Norwich City 2nds (3.30) and the Ladies’ 4ths travel to play Dereham 3rds (3.00). Please see the Latest News page of the website for the complete list of fixtures. Good luck as always to all our teams.

BEST WISHES TO KRISTINA SMYTH

Former club captain Kristina has left Magpies to join Norwich Dragons. This was an extremely difficult decision forKristina to make but living in Norwich, with husband Ali a member of Dragons, with young daughter Florence to look after combined with her other commitments it is understandable. Kristina joined the club in the 2008/9 season when she moved to Norwich after graduation and during her time with us in addition to serving as club captain she captained the 4ths, captained the 3rds, helped run other teams, had the distinction over the years of playing in goal for all of our seven ladies’ teams and served on the social and fund raising committee. The ever-cheerful Kristina goes with our thanks for all she did for the club and with our very best wishes to her and to Ali and Florence. She will always be very welcome back at Weybread either playing for Dragons or just socially.

MESSAGE FROM JAMES SMITH (BOYS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER)

The Boys’ coaching sessions are being held on Monday evenings this season and are run by Richard Larkin, Matt Brand, Andy Johnson, Andy Palmer and me with some 70 lads from age 5 to 14 attending – a number the club is looking to increase. However to achieve this we need your help please. It may be as simple as encouraging youngsters to come and give hockey a go, or you may be prepared to come and assist on a Monday night supporting a coach, or you may be interested in doing some coaching at the club or in local primary schools. Alternatively youth team management may be your preference or even being part of the youth committee.

Whatever you can give will be appreciated to help keep moving the club in the right direction. If you are interested please get in touch with me at [email protected] with any offers or ideas.

OTHER NEWS AND COMMENT

At this time of the year we bid farewell with our best wishes and a feeling of sadness (we will miss them) to members going off to the exciting unknown of university. So it is all the very best (with our thanks for their services to the club) to Amy Campbell, Alfie Fawkner, Harry Haigh, Rachel Herod, Catherine Kilbourn, Catriona Maciver, Dan Middleton, Sonny Molloy, Jack Newberry and Kira Wooltorton. They will always be very welcome back at Weybread during their holidays or permanently in the future. Once a Magpie always a Magpie! Please let me know if there are any omissions from this list.

In the recent Sainsbury’s 2015 School Games in Manchester (comprising a total of 12 sports, 1600 athletes, 800 volunteers and opening and closing ceremonies) we had three members competing in the hockey. Donnie Archer (England Blue) finished with a silver medal losing out to Ulster in the final while Toby Price and England White came 4th narrowly losing to Scotland and Maria Andrews and England Red finished 5th beating Wales in their classification match.

More good news – Thomas Ridley is back playing for the 1sts following his time working in Sydney; Lawrence Baynes is playing again after his long-term back injury and Sam Moore, who missed all of last season due to his knee injury, is back in training and hopes to be playing again in two weeks.

With kind regards

Mike Denham

[email protected]

15/9/15

 

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