Last weekend was a mixed one for the club. On the debit side the Ladies’ 1sts and Men’s 1sts lost all their national premier indoor league matches (with relegation the consequence for both teams); the Ladies’ 3rds had enough chances for a comfortable home win over Beccles before having to settle for Jemima Jacobs’ goal in a 1-1 draw; the Ladies’ 4ths went down 5-1 (Sarah Legg) at Weybread to an impressive and smart looking Panthers team (despite an encouraging second half performance) and the Ladies’ 6ths lost 4-2 away to Norwich City 5ths.
On the credit side the Ladies’ 2nds retained their 100% record by beating Old Buckenham 6-0 away with goals by Kira Wooltorton (3), Keira Booty, Jess Howland and Anouska Hipperson and the Ladies’ 5ths kept up their good form with a 3-1 (Saffron Wilford 2, Kara Kilbourn) away win over Yarmouth 2nds. There were also wins for the two junior teams with the Girls’ Development beating Pelicans 1-0 away and the Boys’ Development beating Tango Titans 4-0 at home with goals by Kieran Peters, Jack Frere-Smith, George Hunt and Harry Haigh.
This coming weekend most of the men’s teams return to post-Christmas action led by the 2nds who travel to Colchester (2.00) looking for much needed points under new captain Martin Fields after three successive defeats while Matt Brand and his 3rds, after their first defeat of the season just before Christmas, will be looking to get back to winning ways when they entertain Cambridge City 3rds (2.15) mindful of their 1-1 draw with City earlier in the season. The 4ths are also in need of points and they have a tough home game against UEA (1.45). Meanwhile the 5ths are away to Ipswich 3rds (1.00) looking to make it five consecutive wins; the 6ths entertain Norwich City 5ths (4.00) hoping to maintain their good pre-Christmas form and the 7ths will be determined to chalk up their eighth win on the trot when they travel the short distance to play UEA 3rds (2.30). The Men’s 1sts return to outdoor league action on Saturday 4 February and the Boys’ Development play again on Saturday week.
Turning to the Ladies the 2nds have one of their toughest games of the season away to second placed Sprowston (11.00); the 3rds entertain Lowestoft Railway (12.30); the 4ths will hope to go one better than the 3rds last Saturday by beating Beccles away (12.00); the 5ths and 6ths are at home to, respectively, league leaders Norwich City 3rds (10.30) and Lowestoft Railways 2nds (12.15) while the table topping Girls Development are away to Watton (10.00). The Ladies’ 1sts resume their outdoor league programme on Sunday 5 February. Good luck to all our teams this weekend.
Other news and comment
a) The Ladies’ 1sts can take great heart from their performances in the premier division of the national indoor league. Up against the top teams in the country they were only narrowly beaten in all their four games at the weekend while the performances of the Men’s 1sts have to be seen against the strength of the opposition with Reading, for example, fielding four of the twelve players who this coming weekend will represent England in the EuroHockey Nations Indoor Championships to be held in Leipzig, Germany. Beeston also fielded two of the twelve in addition, like Reading, to other England internationals. In their pool matches England, managed by Andy Halliday (a top class indoor player in his day) and captained by Glenn Kirkham, play Netherlands and Czech Republic (Friday) and Russia (Saturday) followed by the cross-over matches or semis on Saturday with the final on Sunday. It is good luck to England who also include ex-Magpie Richard Alexander (Surbiton).
b) The U16 Girls had a good workout for the national indoor finals on 21/22 January when, without Sarah Brook (with the 1sts) and Holly Baker (injured), they came second in Sunday’s friendly tournament at Brentwood.
c) The U18 Boys have been drawn to play Saffron Walden away on Sunday 5 February in the 4th round of the EHB Cup when it is to be hoped that James Baker will match or better his six-minute hat trick in the 3rd round 9-0 victory over IES! On the following Sunday the U18 Girls play Havering at home in the 2nd round of the EHB Plate and on the same day the Men’s Over 50s entertain Reading in the quarter-finals of the EHB Masters Cup.
With kind regards
Mike Denham
