MAGPIES THROUGH TO NATIONAL MIXED FINALS
Congratulations to our Mixed team, captained by Leigh Sitch, on beating Burton 5-1 last Sunday at Weybread thereby winning through to the England Hockey Mixed Trophy finals weekend. In the semis at the Lee Valley Sports Centre on Saturday 6 June they will play Hampstead and Westminster and, hopefully, Bedford or Horsham in the final the next day.
Magpies dominated for long periods of the game against Burton but had to survive a spirited comeback by the visitors when leading 3-0 with ten minutes to go. Mark Northcott, Burton’s renowned goal scorer, fired in an unstoppable penalty stroke over the head of goalkeeper Matt Collinge and then forced Matt to make a fine save from a penalty corner before Magpies made the game safe with two further goals in the last couple of minutes.
Andrew Bedwell put Magpies ahead after six minutes with a firm shot at a penalty corner and twelve minutes later in-form Amy Campbell made it 2-0 following another penalty corner. Magpies, for whom Simon Hipwell was in good form in midfield, then squandered chances to add to their lead including a missed penalty stroke as they enjoyed almost total first half domination in front of a sizeable crowd in the sunshine.
Andrew, who was later voted MOTM by his team-mates, put Magpies further ahead early in the second half with another penalty corner conversion and a comfortable and routine win seemed on the cards for the home team. But after Burton reduced the arrears and then forced Matt into action the home supporters were beginning to think of last season’s meltdown against Cannock but their concerns were banished when Magpies regained their composure leading to Amy deflecting in at yet another penalty corner. James Meek added the fifth in the closing seconds to make the final score reflect the overall flow of the hard fought game. Now for the finals weekend!
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Jeremy Podd and Julie Leckonby on their wedding last Saturday with very best wishes for the future.
Club chairman and goalkeeper Murray Graham on his selection for the Scotland Over 55’s squad to play in the Home Nations Tournament at Peffermill in Edinburgh over the weekend of 26/27/28 June where their opponents will be England, Ireland and Wales. This will be Murray’s debut for the squad and follows last weekend’s practice sessions in Glasgow.
The club’s squad which in the Mixed Development Fun Tournament at Dereham last Saturday drew 0-0 with Norwich Dragons, beat Dereham 4-0 (Renee Ball, Alex Kilbourn, Georgie Cantrell, Jake Caston), beat Watton 5-0 (Alex, Georgie 2, Jack Robertson 2) before losing 1-0 to Pelicans. The Magpies’ squad was Renee Ball, Georgie Cantrell, Jake Caston, Alice Collyer, Phoebe Eglington, James Harvey (GK), Keisha Hilaire, Alex Kilbourn, Seth Read, Jack Robertson, Max Warde-Aldam, Emily Woollatt.
CLOSURE OF SHOTFORD BRIDGE
(on the B1116 between Weybread and Harleston)
The bridge will be closed for deck waterproofing, concrete repairs and the installation of vehicular safety barriers etc. from Monday 15 June until Sunday 5 July. Diversion signs will be in operation.
OTHER NEWS AND COMMENT
a) A reminder that the club’s AGM will now take place in the clubhouse on Tuesday 23 June at 7.30pm.
b) Strawberry Luncheon (Sunday 28 June) – please see the Latest News page of the website for more details including how to get tickets for this ticket only event.
c) Please see Nick McAllen’s report on the website of last Friday’s very successful Youth Presentation Evening.
With kind regards
Mike Denham
19/5/15
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