Leigh at last!

Last Sunday the Mixed team played their first match in this season’s EH National Trophy when a strong squad took on Long Sutton away resulting in an 11-1 win for Magpies. Angie Wheelhouse put Magpies ahead early in the game following an excellent pass by Artemis Clark. Thanks to a remarkable performance by the Long Sutton goalkeeper, who throughout the game must have made 25 saves, the second goal took several minutes to materialise. Thereafter goals came at regular intervals in a very sporting match. The highlight for the six Magpies’ supporters (in the ‘crowd’ of nine at its peak) was the tenth goal. It was something the vast majority of his devoted fans have never seen and most still haven’t – a goal by defender Leigh Sitch! He picked the ball up on the edge of the circle and smashed it high into the net on the reverse stick after which he immediately left the pitch to contemplate his achievement! Scorers were (subject to revision) – Angie 3, Artemis 2, Tristan Baynes 3, Gavin Cole 2 and (lest we forget) Leigh. In the next round we play Bedford away on Sunday week.

We also had plenty of goals to enjoy at Weybread last Saturday with the Ladies’ 2nds beating Dereham 2nds 3-0; the Men’s 2nds, for whom Louis Steven made an excellent debut, defeating Wapping 2nds 6-2; the Ladies’ 4ths easing past Old Buckenham 2nds 3-1 and the Men’s 3rds getting back to winning ways by beating Norwich City 3rds 6-1 with Matt Brand scoring twice to take his tally for the season to a superb 33. But as I said to him after the game two goals is only one goal every 35 minutes!

Away from home the Men’s 1sts played extremely well in beating Cambridge City 7-1, with a remarkable five goals by Andy Hipwell, to move to within seven points (from seven games) of retaining their East Premier A title and with it promotion while the Ladies’ 1sts moved a little closer to safety at Staines despite the frustration of conceding another late equaliser in their 2-2 draw. Meanwhile the Ladies’ 3rds extended their unbeaten run to eleven games by beating Watton 2nds 4-0 and the Ladies Development made it 15 wins from 15 games with a 5-0 win at Pelicans.

This Saturday’s home matches include the Men’s 1sts taking on fourth placed Blueharts (2.15) and the Men’s Veterans entertaining Shefford and Sandy (1.45) in their most eagerly anticipated match of the season. Most, if not all, of our squad have never beaten S&S who could well be without their injured mastermind and chief tactician Mike Tipper. On Sunday (12.30) the Ladies’ 1sts host second placed Barnes Hounslow & Ealing. Best of luck to all our teams in action this weekend including the U11 Girls in the Norfolk Minis at Norwich City HC on Sunday.

Congratulations to Nigel Bedingfield (the club’s website sponsor and expert) and son Logan and wife Sue who did very well in last weekend’s Taekwondo Welsh Cup. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and Nigel and Logan are Welsh Open Champions for individual sparring in their categories while Sue got a silver medal for patterns (as did Nigel) and a bronze medal for sparring. Patterns are a series of moves that have to be shown in the correct stances and in sequence while sparring is meant to be semi-contact but does involve making contact with the head or body with kicks or punches to score points!

POLITE REMINDERS

1. If you have not already returned your Spring Prize stubs and money to Tracy Reeve (thank you if you have) would you please do so by this Saturday (7 March) – either direct to Tracy or over the clubhouse bar.

2. Please come to the Wine Tasting Evening at the club this Saturday (7.30pm). There is no obligation to buy any wine!

Best wishes to all members, supporters and friends of HMHC.

Mike Denham Tel: 01603 506925 E-mail: [email protected] 4/3/09