Magpies Over 50s Men’s Seek Further Glory

The Men’s Over 50s have a strong claim (should they wish to make it) to being the most successful team in the club having twice reached the final of the England Hockey Cup in the past three years. Last season they played Ben Rhydding in the final at Beeston HC going down by two goals to nil. Our cause was not helped by captain Jon Aldridge carrying an injury during the game but what was even more crucial was the fact that Ben Rhydding were overall a much younger side and when you get much beyond 50 I’m told that age can be a problem!

The team’s quest for further glory begins on Sunday away to Cambridge City (1.45) at Long Road Sixth Form College (CB2 8PX) and player-manager Peter Dolton is delighted to welcome to the squad the young(er) legs, and hockey skills, of Simon Bardwell, Andy Caston and Roger Kent who are now eligible for selection. In addition England O50s international Andy Law is welcomed to the squad. Andy was a key member of the Broxbourne team in their national league heyday and his midfield skills will give a big boost to the Magpies’ squad. Andy is one of our two permitted guest players and he joins Tony Elston of Colchester (and previously Peterborough) who was a vital member of the squad last season and it is good to know that Tony has recovered from his recent surgery.

Peter is hopeful that his enlarged and younger squad will allow for more rotation and a faster pace against Cambridge City who are a largely unknown quantity but are expected to give Magpies a far tougher test than has usually been the case in the early rounds over the past few seasons.

The full squad is: Peter Dolton, Jon Aldridge, Ian Absolon, Simon Bardwell, Jerry Blackmore, Andy Caston, Phil Cobbald, Tony Elston, Peter Finnie, Murray Graham (GK), Jerry Herod, Roger Kent, Andy Law, Bob Skinner and Jon Wells. Unfortunately David Blackmore and Alistair Williamson will be missing due to injury.

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FUTURES CUP (Thursday 30 October to Sunday 2 November)
Congratulations to HMHC members Jolyon Summers (U16s), Alice Hopgood and Abby Gooderham (U16s) and Toby Price (U18s) who had the honour of representing the Saxon Tigers in this event held at Cannock HC. It gave them the invaluable experience of testing their skills playing in a highly competitive four-day tournament against the country’s other highly promising young players representing Mercia Lynx, Pennine Pumas and Wessex Leopards. Jolyon and Toby had the further pleasure of playing in the winning teams and it is also ‘well done’ to Magpie Ben Wright who had the great satisfaction of helping the Saxon Tigers U16 Boys to victory as Assistant Coach.

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At Weybread last Saturday we were reduced to just three games due to the half term break for most of the Ladies’ teams (isn’t this break outdated now?) and Pelicans 4ths conceding their game against our Men’s 5ths and this turned out to be our only win of the day home or away! The Men’s 4ths got things going at Weybread against IES 2nds and not for the first time this season the team played far better than the final score might suggest. I’m quite sure that as the young players in the team gain more experience some good results will follow in the not too distant future. IES went ahead approaching half time and doubled their lead soon after the break with what at first seemed a questionable goal. But umpire John Pestell got the decision right and together with colleague Vaughan Dearling had a good game. Particularly impressive in the home defence was Tristan Hipper and following several phases of play at the other end after a penalty corner he was on hand to fire the ball into the far corner of the net. Unfortunately despite plenty of endeavour the equaliser would not come. This Saturday the team are away to UEA (1.00).

Next into action were the Ladies’ 2nds up against Old Loughtonians who were relegated from the national league at the end of last season. Old Loughts saw plenty of the ball in the first half during which Calianne Clark was called upon to make a series of good saves in the home goal. But it was her team that took the lead when Lauren Barber calmly stepped up to put away her first ever outdoor league penalty stroke. Georgie Minta increased Magpies’ lead in the second half following a good run and shot just inside the left post but Old Loughts responded with some forceful attacks and with ten minutes to go got a goal back at a penalty corner before making it a double in identical fashion. Opinion on the touchline was divided as to whether we deserved to win or whether 2-2 was a fair result. I was in the latter camp. But whatever one’s view it was an excellent game to watch and skipper Frances Taylor and her team can be proud how they played. This coming Saturday they are away to Tunbridge Wells (1.00).

The final game at a very sunny Weybread was between the Men’s 2nds, for whom Andy Johnson made a sound debut, and old rivals Long Sutton and although going down 3-1 Magpies played some really good hockey in patches. This is another of our teams struggling for points this season but like the 4ths results are sure to improve as the younger players benefit from the experience of playing at this level. At three nil down Magpies launched a series of attacks and after Robbie Kinsella had a penalty stroke saved he made amends with a sparkling reverse stick shot from the edge of the circle for the goal of the day. This Saturday the team are away to City of Peterborough 2nds (1.00).

During this game we learned that the Men’s 1sts had twice come from behind to draw 2-2 away to City of Peterborough with the second equaliser coming at a second penalty corner after the final whistle with a neat deflection by Chris Barber who had also scored earlier. This was a particularly good point with Ben Wright and Toby Price away at the Futures Cup in Cannock and Tristan Baynes and Martin Fields both injured and Max Macaulay missing through illness. Despite dropping these two points Magpies stay top of East Premier A thanks to some topsy-turvy results involving the other leading teams including Cambridge University drawing 2-2 at home to Dereham who Magpies host on Saturday (12.00) in what is sure to be a highly competitive local derby.

After the half term break all our teams are in action this Saturday including the Ladies’ 1sts who are at home to Sevenoaks (2.00) and they will be looking to continue their fine run of home form which has seen them win all their three matches at Weybread this season. Also at home will be the Men’s 3rds who take on league leaders Bury St Edmunds (1.45). Last Saturday the team went into a two-goal lead away to Ipswich Cranes when Jon Aldridge converted a penalty stroke after ten minutes and Gavin Cole added a quality second just before half time. Unfortunately the team got off to a bad start after the break with Cranes soon equalising. Magpies then played some good hockey, especially by Nick Whitehead and debutant Sol Barker, in an attempt to regain the lead but it was the home team that got the winner to the frustration of skipper Matt Brand and his team.

Other teams at home on Saturday at what will be a busy Weybread are the Ladies’ 3rds who take on Thetford (3.30) seeking their third successive win; the Ladies’ 5ths who play Pelicans 2nds (3.15) determined to get back to winning ways and the Men’s 6ths who entertain Norwich Exiles (12.15) after their 4-1 (George Hunt) defeat last Saturday at the hands of Bury St Edmunds 4ths.

In addition to the Men’s O50s the U14, U16 and U18 Girls’ and the U14 and U16 Boys’ teams are also in EHB Championship action on Sunday. For more details of these and the Saturday fixtures please see the website. Good luck to all our teams this weekend.

MAGPIES MINIS (Sunday 2 November)
Congratulations to all the Magpies teams that did so well in this event and especially to the Girls’ U12 A who came first and the Girls’ U10 A (who were pipped on goal difference by Norwich City A) and the Boys’ U12 A who came second. Please see the website for Nick McAllen’s full report. I am pleased to pass on club chairman Murray Graham’s thanks to Nick, Helen Barber, Kirstin Cumming and Bex Pottruff and to all the other members, including the umpires and Young Leaders, for all they did to help make this annual event so enjoyable and successful.

TIM WHITEMAN
It is also congratulations and best wishes to out-on-loan Magpie Tim who has been selected for the England squad to play in the 2014 Hero Champions Trophy in Blubanesvar, India from Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 December. It was good to see Tim and his father Steve at the club on Saturday and it was kind of Tim to give our U10 Boys a coaching session.

FINALLY – if you have paid your subscription and have not received your club handbook it is almost certainly on the windowsill opposite the clubhouse bar.

IceniPost.com – sponsors of www.magpies-hockey.co.uk

With kind regards Mike Denham [email protected] 4/11/14

 

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