LADIES BACK IN PREMIER
Pride of place this week just has to go to the Ladies’ 1sts who after two splendid weekends in Nottingham are back in the top flight of national indoor club hockey. With seven wins and a draw – the latter with East Grinstead who pipped them for the Division One title on goal difference – they return to the EHB’s Premier Division next season after a gap of one year. Congratulations to skipper Debbie Francis and coach David Brook and the rest of the squad on this fine achievement.
In contrast the Men’s 1sts have been relegated to Division Two after four defeats over the weekend in Bristol. As I expected clubs strengthened their squads for this second weekend. The vital match was the first against Havant on Saturday with Magpies going down 6-4 and after defeats at the hands of Southgate, Sevenoaks and Bournville they were left hoping that the already relegated St Albans would do them a favour against Havant. But it wasn’t to be with Havant winning thereby moving a point above Magpies. The team can take some consolation that in a strong league they were never outclassed and should be able to bounce back next season.
———————————————————
I hope you know you will be very welcome should you wish to attend the Cheese & Wine Evening to be held in Tibbenham’s Barn, Weybread on Saturday week (26 January) at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12.50 each (including food and drink) and are available from the clubhouse bar or from me. This is one of the major events in the club’s social calendar and is always an enjoyable evening. So please come if you can.
———————————————————
This coming Saturday and Sunday the indoor focus turns to our U18 squads who have qualified for their respective national club finals.
As East champions the U18 Girls will be action at Cocks Moor Woods LC in Birmingham in Pool B where they face Wakefield, East Grinstead, Isca and Stourport while the Boys, as East runners-up, play Beeston, Team Bath Buccaneers, Wycombe and Doncaster in Pool A at Whitgift School in Croydon. The winners and runner-ups of each pool will play off with teams from the other Pool. Best wishes to both our squads.
U18 Girls – Phoebe Charnley (GK), Katherine Ridley, Jess Howland, Lizzie Jones, Sarah Brook (capt), Emily Brown, Fiona Mackenzie, Holly Baker, Catriona McIver. Coach – David Brook. Six of the squad were in the Magpies team, also coached by David Brook, which won the U16 title last season.
U18 Boys – James Graham (GK), Will Blyth (capt), Tom Graham, Giles Flatt, Thomas Ridley, Mitchell Tompkins, George Anthony, Dominic Absolon, Rhodri Furlong. Coach – Martin Fields.
While our 1st teams were in the relative comfort of their indoor surroundings Irene Bicker and Merna Merrett, the club’s hard working fixtures secretaries, were concerned at the very unwelcome frost which claimed five ladies’ matches last Saturday although conditions had improved sufficiently later in the day to allow three matches to be played at Weybread. In the first the Men’s 2nds took an early lead against Cambridge University 2nds through Fred Merrett and kept the lead with some excellent (if robust on occasions) defending until near the end of a high class game with the students stepping up their pressure. Two quick penalty corner conversions won the game for Cambridge but the Magpies’ team can be pleased with their performance against impressive opponents. It was good to see skipper Lawrence Baynes back in action following a long term injury and Jimmy Wheeler back from his travels. Fred Merrett was very worthily voted MOTM by his peers while Kevin Ridley (looking dapper in boiler suit) for once found himself in agreement with me (!) when we both thought that Nick Dyson must have been close behind Fred for his wholehearted and skilful performance in the middle of the defence.
The Men’s 7ths were next in action and after going a goal down just before the interval against UEA 3rds had to force the pace and paid the price conceding a second despite an impressive team performance in which veterans Ian Absolon, Keith Alexander, Peter Finnie and Stuart Peters were in top form. Meanwhile with the temperature dropping again theLadies’ 6ths beat Hornets 1-0 (Vicky Blackmore) to record another good win – their ninth in their last eleven games. With a minute to go the ball broke and was replaced by yet another coloured one. I must say I wish all our teams used white balls but I’m prepared to concede that the players’ views are more important than mine on this matter! In the only away game to be played the Men’s 6ths were edged out 1-0 by UEA 4ths.
This Saturday, weather permitting, the Men’s 1sts return to outdoor action away to Wapping (1.00) fully aware they dropped two points to the London side early in the season despite forcing a host of penalty corners while the Men’s 2nds will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they entertain Letchworth (12.30). The Men’s 3rds, 4ths and 6thsare all at home to, respectively, Pelicans (2.15), Ipswich Cranes (1.45) and IES 4ths (4.00) and all need points with the threat of releation hanging over them. Meanwhile the Men’s 5ths, encouraged by their excellent win before Christmas over league leaders Holt Harlequins, are away to Pelicans 2nds (3.00) and the Men’s 7ths travel to play Norwich City 5ths (10.00).
After their postponement last Saturday the Ladies’ 2nds have another week off with over half of the side away playing for the U18s while the Ladies’ 3rds are away to Norwich City 3rds (11.30) leaving the 4ths as the senior ladies team at home after their frustration of getting to Dereham last Saturday only for their game to be called off due to the conditions.Please see the Home Page of the website for the full programme of matches this weekend which includes on Sunday (2.00) the Men’s Veterans hosting Bromley & Beckenham in the EHB’s O50s Cup. Good luck to all our teams – and fingers crossed regarding the weather.
With kind regards
Mike Denham
15/1/13
