magpies-hockey.co.uk
PLEASE COME HUNGRY!
It may have something to do with my age but it doesn’t seem twelve months since the last Harleston Fireworks Spectacular organised jointly by Harleston Lions, Scouts and Magpies HC. But it is and members and their family and friends will be very welcome at the club this Friday (4 November) for what promises to be another enjoyable evening. The gates open at 6.00pm with the bonfire at 7.00pm followed by the fireworks. Please come hungry to enjoy the hot dogs, burgers etc.
With only three matches at the club last Saturday what we lacked in quantity our men’s teams more than made up for in quality with three good wins. The 4ths got the ball rolling by beating Dereham 3rds 2-1. Neil Toulson, making a rare but very welcome appearance, put us ahead in the first half before Dereham equalised on the cusp of half time. But encouraged by the words of coach Bob Skinner (who hopes to be playing for the team again in two weeks following injury) the team continued to play some really good hockey with all 13 squad members playing their full part including Felix Trash who had an excellent game in goal. The winner came from an exciting flowing move involving Neil Toulson and Jake Morton and finished off in fine style by the in-form Paul Shelley who lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.
Next up were the 3rds (and league leaders) against fellow high fliers Dereham 2nds and we were soon a goal up when Gavin Cole, who is enjoying a fine season, fired home and he made it 2-0 before half time. Midway through the second half the team lost all shape and focus and skipper Matt Brand had to drop even further back to restore some organisation. This done he popped up at the other end to score from close range to make the game safe before Dereham converted a late penalty corner. One of our players was spot-on when after the game he said ‘We played quite well but we also panicked quite a lot’! A notable hat trick was achieved when skipper Murray Graham led his younger than normal 7ths (if one discounts the ageless David Alexander, David Blackmore and Peter Dolton!) to a 2-1 victory over Sudbury 4ths with goals by Marc Lloyd, looking very spritely after his good display in goal for the 3rds, and James Graham.
Away from home the Ladies’ 2nds maintained their 100% record with an excellent 6-1 victory over North Walsham with goals by Kira Wooltorton, skipper Frances Taylor, Anouska Hipperson (2), Krystal Bishop and Lucy Chubbock. Meantime the Men’s 6ths, under skipper Tiger Young, were maintaining their excellent start to the season with a 3-1 win over Dereham 5ths and the Men’s 5ths were gaining a good point with a 3-3 draw against high flying North Walsham thanks in no small part to a hat trick by Chris Thornton. It is to be hoped that skipper Eddie Thorne will soon be back to full fitness following his torn achilles. Congratulations to the Over 50s Men’s Vets on their 7-2 win over Colchester on Sunday. They are now through to the 3rd round of the EHB’s Masters Cup.
With half term out of the way there is an almost full programme of matches this weekend headed by the Ladies’ 1sts away to Horsham on Saturday (1.30) after their run of three very productive home matches and the Men’s 1sts looking to maintain their improved form when they entertain Wimbledon, who are expected to include ex-Magpies James Osborn and Matt Riches, at Weybread on Sunday (2.15). The Ladies’ 2nds and Men’s 2nds have top billing at home on Saturday when they play, respectively, Christchurch (12.30) and St Ives (2.15). After two successive defeats three points for the Men’s 2nds are needed to help move them up the table. Please see the Home Page of the website for the full list of matches including the U18 Girls and U18 Boys who are in home action on Sunday.
I am sorry to record the death of club vice-president John Hewitt. In his younger days John, who for some years was manager of Barclays Bank in Harleston, was an active supporter of Magpies for whom he also umpired.
Congratulations and best wishes to:
a) Katie Mound and Jason Devereux on their marriage last Saturday.
b) Frances Sumner and Graham Burrell who were also married last Saturday.
c) Lizzie Jones who was selected to play last weekend for the Saxon Tigers U16s in the EHB’s Futures Cup at Cannock HC. The event is for the country’s most promising young players.
Finally, it is a ‘big thank you’ to Harrod UK Limited of Lowestoft for the new set of goals on the water-based pitch. Harrods are very good friends of the club and we are delighted to continue to test their goals for them – at the correct end of the pitch I hasten to add!
With kind regards and best wishes
Mike Denham
1/11/11
Elm Villa, British Bike Specialists
