WEEKEND ENDS IN GLORY FOR MEN’S VETS
Despite a disappointing draw for the Men’s 1sts and an away defeat for the Ladies’ 1sts it was overall a good weekend for the club culminating with triumph for the Men’s O50s in the semi-final of the EHB Cup in front of a large and vocal crowd at sunny Weybread on Sunday; but more of that later.
Saturday began with a 3-2 victory over Loddon for the Ladies’ 3rds at Weybread with goals by Catherine Kilbourn, Kara Kilbourn and Sarah Legg and although the team cannot catch runaway leaders UEA they will be out to keep ahead of Dereham 2nds in second place when they play UEA 2nds (1.00) away this coming Saturday before entertaining the league champions in their final game of the season. The Ladies’ 5ths were next into action and Jose Tibbenham and her team were soon into their stride going on to beat Broadland 2nds 5-1 to move to the top of their league with Victoria Findlay continuing her fine goal scoring run with another four and with Matilda Warde-Aldam adding the other goal. This week they will need to beat fourth placed Pelicans 2nds (12.00) away to be sure of the title in their last game of the season.
While the Ladies’ 5ths were finding the net the Men’s 1sts were unable to follow suit on the other pitch despite being on top for much of their match against Wapping for whom it was good to see ex-Magpie James Fanger in action. Several chances went begging for Magpies including a succession of penalty corners and in a second half completely dominated by the home team it looked as if we had been awarded a penalty stroke but after the umpires conferred the offence was downgraded to yet another penalty corner. Thomas Ridley then hit the bar with a rasping shot before in the last few seconds Wapping were awarded their first penalty corner only for the decision to be reversed. This rare 0-0 draw meant that West Herts had deservedly won the league (they thumped us twice) by beating Bedford 3-1. Mathematically Magpies can still win the league if they beat Norwich City away this Saturday (1.00) and West Herts lose away to Wisbech and in the process we make up a deficit of 23 goals. Shades of Bedford versus Bishops Stortford at the end of last season?!!
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Social and Fund Raising
1. It is thanks to all 110 members and guests who supported last Saturday’s Champagne Cocktails & Canapés Party and who helped to make the event so enjoyable. It is also a big ‘thank you’ to our hosts Gordon and Pat Tibbenham and Nick and Jose Tibbenham and to Bella Hall and her team for all the arrangements including the splendid canapés.
2. The Senior Awards Night is being held in the clubhouse on Saturday 5 April at 7.00pm. More information to follow next week. In the meantime please put the date in your diary!
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Next into home action were the Ladies’ 2nds against St Albans 2nds and for much of a tight game they looked the more likely winners but after a series of near misses their supporters were beginning to think it was going to be ‘one of those days’. However, Krystal Bishop found the net midway through the second half to give her side a deserved if narrow victory leaving St Albans on the brink of relegation. But far more important than this win was the news that Sevenoaks had beaten Chelmsford 3-2 meaning the Ladies’ 1sts, who were at that time trailing 2-0 away to Ipswich, were safe from any relegation play-off fears and meaning also that the Ladies’ 2nds were assured of another and very well deserved East Premier League season. What a relief on both counts! The Ladies’ 1sts had a better second half eventually losing 2-1 (Emma Lee-Smith) and this Saturday they will be able to play without any relegation concerns when they entertain second placed East Grinstead (NB. 2.00) in their last game of the season. Meanwhile the Ladies’ 2nds have the long trip to play Maidstone (12.00) looking to complete their season with a double over the Kent side.We then heard the very welcome news that the Boys’ Development had won 1-0 away to Norwich Dragons with Alex Kilbourn finding the net; the Ladies’ 4ths had won 2-0 away to Lowestoft Railway (Caz Aldous and Izzy Knowles) and the Girls’ Development had beaten Pelicans 3-2 with goals by Phoebe Ellington and Emily Woollatt. News shortly followed that the Men’s 2nds, who seven days earlier had crashed to lowly Bishops Stortford, were leading table topping Cambridge City 2nds before going on to clinch a remarkable 4-3 victory. Defender Dickon Taylor put the team ahead with a rare goal to be followed by two alleged OGs but as this column does not recognise such a description they are being awarded to stand-in skipper Robbie Kinsella and Jimmy Wheeler before at 3-2 James Meek didn’t need the same assistance to get on the score sheet. I have a theory as to why the big improvement from the previous week – the return of Adam Lascalles to the team after being dropped for taking a skiing holiday. Injured skipper Lawrence Baynes said that Adam had been forgiven as it was an away game! This Saturday the team ends its erratic season hosting Long Sutton (NB. 12.15) determined to make amends for their heavy away defeat.
Meanwhile the Men’s 3rds will be out to banish memories of their defeat last Saturday at the hands of IES 2nds when they wrap up their season with hopefully a win over visitors Norwich City 3rds (1.45); the Men’s 5ths travel to Lowestoft Railway (2.30) following their 3-1 home defeat (Matt Judge penalty stroke) by IES 3rds; the Ladies’ 6ths have another tough game when they play Diss (10.00) away and the Ladies’ 7ths entertain Pelicans 3rds (3.15) after their meritorious 3-1 loss (Imogen Barnes) to Beccles who have a 100% record with one game to play!
Now to last Sunday and what a day we had! It started with the Men’s O60s (including several guest players, in view of the later game, and the welcome return to action of Harry Flatt and the annual appearance of former club president David Alexander) who beat the LX Club squad 3-0 in their friendly.
It was then the turn of the Men’s Over 50s who welcomed Indian Gymkhana for their England Hockey Masters Cup semi-final in front of a large group of enthusiastic and increasingly vocal home supporters. It was soon apparent that Magpies were in with a chance of victory but they were thankful for some excellent saves by club chairman and goalkeeper Murray Graham and lack of accuracy of some of the visitors’ shooting. Early in the second half Jon Wells fired Magpies ahead with a thundering shot from the edge of the circle following a breakdown of a penalty corner and skipper Jonathan Aldridge made it 2-0 with a superbly well worked goal featuring simple and accurate passing down the pitch leaving him with an empty net. Jonathan made no mistake to the delight of the jubilant home crowd and he nearly made it 3-0 with a couple of minutes left. This was a really good win over a strong Indian Gym side who had beaten Jersey 8-1 in the previous round. Yesterday morning player manager Peter Dolton received a sporting email from the Indian Gym manager thanking the club for their hospitality and wishing the Magpies’ squad well in the final against Ben Rhydding of Yorkshire at Beeston HC in Nottingham on Sunday 4 May.
Congratulations and best wishes to
a) Lucy Hayman and Duncan King on their wedding last Saturday. For new readers Lucy was an outstandingly successful 1st team goalkeeper for many seasons before her retirement some four years ago.
b) Grace and Richard Allcock on the birth of Jodie (8lbs 7ozs), sister of Noah, on Friday 7 March.
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Peter Hogg
The many friends of ex-Magpie Peter will wish him and his Australian partner Jenny all the very best following their decision to make a new life for themselves in Australia. They left yesterday. Peter was born in Zambia before moving with his parents to Zimbabwe. He went on to play 33 times for Zimbabwe including against England at Eaton Park in August 1980 as part of the Norfolk Wanderers’ 50th anniversary celebrations. England won 2-1 on a superbly well prepared natural grass pitch. Peter’s parents returned to England in 1981 and he joined them in 1985. He joined Norwich Exiles and he made an immediate impact on the local hockey scene, including several seasons with the county team, with his speed and skill. I remember thinking where has this chap come from?! After three years with Exiles he had two seasons playing for Cambridge City during the first two years of the national league. In Cambridge City’s first game in September 1988 (just after GB’s Olympic triumph) he scored the winner against East Grinstead.
He then joined Dereham before playing for Magpies in season 1995/6 in the national league scoring 14 goals, mainly from coming off the bench to hit penalty corners as was then allowed. Since then Peter, who is also a good golfer, has concentrated on coaching including a spell as a full time coach in Manchester where he met Jenny. He coached Dereham for several years playing a big part in raising the status of the club. Last season they finished fourth in East Premier A claiming the scalp of Harleston Magpies in their 2-1 home triumph. Thanks for that Peter! Very best wishes Peter to you and Jenny.
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It was good to see Jeremy Podd at the club last Saturday following his double hip operation. Jeremy is making good progress while still being grateful for the help of a painkiller or two during this stage of his recovery.
Finally, for this week, good luck to all our teams in action this weekend.
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