SUPER SEVEN FOR LADIES
The Men’s 2nds wanted top billing this week after their splendid 4-1 win over Norwich City last Saturday but it just has to go to the ladies’ teams – all seven of whom won to maintain their excellent form over the opening two months of the season.
The 5ths got the ball rolling at Weybread beating Evergreens 2nds 4-0 (Anna Harrod 3, Issie Knowles) to record their third successive win and the 1sts beat Horsham 2-1 with a performance far more convincing than the scoreline would suggest. After a goalless first half Angie Wheelhouse showed the value of shooting on sight when her firm but mishit effort bemused the Horsham goalkeeper and Emma Lee-Smith followed up with a shot that almost broke the backboard before Horsham (captained by ex-Magpie Emma Whipps) converted a shortie with the last hit of the game. (This coming Sunday the 1sts are away to Sevenoaks (12.00) in a top of the league clash.) During the game the news came through that the 2nds were being held 1-1 at half time by a spirited Watton team and that manager Nigel Wooltorton had received a green card! It was later revealed that this had been awarded to Georgie Minta while she was in a sedentary position but she had the last laugh adding a goal to those scored by the welcome fit again Anouska Hipperson (2) and Kira Wooltorton in their eventual 4-1 win. This Saturday the team entertain Ipswich 2nds (12.30) in their eagerly awaited top of the league meeting.
The Ladies’ 3rds also won away beating Beccles 8-0 (from 1-0 at half time) with goals by Lucy Ripman (2), Toni Glover (3), Jemima Jacobs (2) and Catherine Kilbourn to record their seventh successive win during which they have amassed 47 goals with just three against! The 4ths travelled to play Pelicans 2nds with a much changed team and still won 4-1 (Sarah Legg 2, Rachel Bicker and Sophie Long who celebrated her birthday on Sunday while helping the U16 Girls beat Norwich Dragons 3-0 in the EHB Cup) while the Ladies’ 6ths 3-2 away win (Laura Schultheiss, Clemmy Ardley-Forder 2) over Herlings was marred by skipper Jodie Guest unfortunately sustaining a broken thumb. All the best Jodie for your recovery. To round off a remarkable day for the ladies’ teams the Development beat Norwich City at home 1-0 (Lauren Rowe). Well done to all concerned!
Now for the Men’s 2nds (still unfortunately without injured skipper Lawrence Baynes) who recorded their fourth successive win. Toby Price converted a penalty corner in the first half to which Norwich City replied just after the break thereby denying keeper James Graham his first clean sheet of the season and the winning of his bet with Martin Fields! By now yellow cards were being handed out quite liberally in a thoroughly entertaining but fairly fought game. Martin Fields was dismissed (alongside Dickon Taylor) but after Toby scored again Martin deigned to return to score a splendid goal, created by Richard Larkin and Toby, before being invited to take another five minute break! Fred Merrett completed the scoring just before the end. This Saturday the team will require eleven players on the pitch for all seventy minutes when they travel to play league leaders Ramgarhia (2.15) who last Saturday brushed aside early season pacesetters Wisbech 7-1. Meanwhile the Men’s 1sts were securing a good point with a 0-0 draw away to Bedford (they are at home to Bishops Stortford this Saturday at 2.15) and at home the Men’s 3rds were giving league leaders IES their toughest match of the season going down 3-2 (Gavin Cole 2) when Matt Brand and his team deserved a draw and the Men’s 5ths were using their greater experience to beat the 4ths 3-1 (James Goodson, Will Main, Chris Thornton with Nick Whitehead replying for the 4ths). The Men’s 6ths and 7ths both had narrow defeats while the Boys Development beat Dereham 2-1 with Keiran Peters scoring both goals. Please see the website for all last weekend’s results, which included two good wins for the U16 Boys, and for this weekend’s fixtures which include the U18 Boys (12.00) and U18 Girls (2.00) playing away on Sunday to Norwich City in the EHB Cup. Good luck to all our teams.
News and comment in brief
a) Congratulations and best wishes to Caroline and Richard Gill on the birth early yesterday morning of Bertie.
b) Congratulations and best wishes also to Amy Campbell, Toby Price and Saffron Wilford who have been selected for further England trials following the recent Futures Cup at Cannock HC and tough luck on our members who have missed out. It is to be hoped that they will see this as a challenge for another season.
c) It is a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who supported last Saturday’s highly successful Fun Casino Evening and to our host Philippa Taylor and her fellow organisers Bella Hall, Tracy Reeve and Frances Taylor and to all other club members involved with running the event before and on the evening including Simon Bardwell, Graham Clark, John Pestell and Mary Wright.
d) It was quite shocking to hear booing greet Peter Dolton’s penalty stroke conversion during the O50s 12-1 EHB Cup win over Broadland Exiles last Sunday. The conversion denied the crowd the chance to cheer his anticipated miss! All good fun sportingly accepted by Peter whom it was good to see playing again. It was also good to see Peter Finnie back in action following his recent head injury and Keith Alexander scoring the vital eleventh goal in what he threatens to be his last season. You are too young to retire Keith! The team is at home to Ipswich in the next round on Sunday 2 December.
e) The recent and very successful Bonfire Night produced a profit of £2100 (after setting aside £5000 for the purchase of next year’s fireworks) resulting in a very welcome ‘dividend’ of £700 (up from £350 in 2011) for each of the organising groups, namely the Harleston Lions, Scouts and Magpies Hockey Club.
IceniPost.com – sponsors of www.magpies-hockey.co.uk
With kind regards
Mike Denham
14/11/12
To find out more about Lowestoft College ring 0800 854695
