BUSY AND IMPORTANT MONTH AHEAD

I wish readers and their families (and by association all our teams) the very best for 2013 as we embark on a busy and important month for the club. This weekend sees theLadies’ and Men’s 1sts opening their national indoor league campaigns (please see more below) while on Saturday the table topping Ladies’ 2nds travel the short distance to play Lowestoft (1.00) in a rescheduled fixture looking to get back to their customary winning ways after drawing with Wisbech just before Christmas. Also in away action on Saturday will be the Ladies’ 3rds, 4ths and 6ths against, respectively, Dereham 2nds (1.30), Watton 2nds (2.30) and Loddon 2nds (12.30). The 3rds and 4ths are both riding high in their league and the 3rds will have been relieved to have turned the tables on the 4ths before Christmas (but they had to come from a goal down to do so before winning 3-1) while the 6ths will be looking for their fifth straight victory. The Ladies’ 5ths are the only team at home this week when they entertain Norwich City 5ths (12.30) and Jose Tibbenham and her squad will be keen to go one better following the 1-1 draw between the teams early in the season.

With a close eye on their outdoor season which resumes on Saturday fortnight the Men’s 1sts will be aware after Bedford’s surprisingly big win (6-1) over St Albans they now lead both teams by two points at the top of their league. Meanwhile the Men’s 2nds will be back in action on Saturday week as they look to improve on their mid-table position (which is a huge improvement on 12 months ago) when they welcome high flying Cambridge University 2nds in a re-arranged clash. The other Men’s teams resume league action on January 19 and all will be looking for much needed points to dispel the spectre of relegation. The 3rds and 5ths will have been encouraged by their performances since the last Musingswhen the 3rds got a well deserved point in a 2-2 draw (skipper Matt Brand and Philip Cobbald) with Bourne Deeping and the 5ths beat league leaders Holt Harlequins 1-0 away with Will Johnson converting a late penalty stroke.

Also over the weekend of January 19/20 the U18 Boys and Girls will be in national club indoor finals action. Congratulations to the Girls who have qualified since the last Musingsas East Champions.

It is back to the Maxifuel Super Sixes national indoor leagues where over the next two weekends the Ladies’ 1sts will be in action at Nottingham Trent University while theMen’s 1sts will be playing at the UWE in Bristol. Both teams were relegated from their respective very strong premier divisions last year and this season will be looking to consolidate in division one.

On Saturday the Ladies play Surbiton (11.30) and Brooklands Poynton (3.30) while on Sunday they take on East Grinstead (9.00) and Wakefield Bradford (1.00) while on Saturday the Men are up against St Albans (2.30) and Holcombe (6.30) before on Sunday they play Hampstead & Westminster (10.00) and Brooklands (3.00).

Teams: (Ladies) Megan Adams (GK), Bryony Lund, Katrina Warnes, Debbie Francis (capt), Sarah Brook, Emma Lee-Smith, Charlie Harrison, Lucy Miller, Lauren Barber, Hannah Palmer, Louisa Greenacre; Manager/Coach – David Brook. (Men) Rees Leonard (GK), Leigh Sitch (capt), Tristan Baynes, Andy Bedwell, Stuart Leate, Carl Sitch, Rhodri Furlong, Gareth Furlong, Tom Graham, Sam Moore, Mark Wheelhouse, Richard Larkin; Manager/Coach – Martin Fields.

Good luck to both teams and to all our teams in action this weekend.

Others news and comment

a) Congratulations to Crista Cullen (GB and England) on being awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours List and to Danny Kerry (coach of the GB and England Ladies’ teams) on being appointed the EHB’s Performance Director in succession to David Faulkner. Danny has deep Norfolk roots being a former county player and member of Pelicans HC.

b) The next event being organised by the club’s Fund Raising and Social Committeeis the Cheese & Wine Evening in Tibbenham’s Barn, Weybread on Saturday 26 January (7.30pm). Tickets are £12.50 each (including food and drink) and are available from the clubhouse bar or from me. PLEASE COME! You will be very welcome.

My only New Year’s resolution is to be briefer each week in Musings. So far I have succeeded!

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With kind regards

Mike Denham

[email protected]

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