JOURNALISM 0 NAGGING LADIES 1
For once I am forsaking one of journalism’s most important rules and not starting with an eye-catching opening paragraph – assuming I ever do!
So at the behest of the nagging ladies on the Social & Fund Raising Committee (I was outnumbered four to one at our meeting last week!) I draw your attention to the following:
· You are invited to stay behind after this Saturday’s match between the Men’s 1sts and St Albans (2.15) to watch England play France at Twickenham (5.00). Sausages, baked potato and beans will be served during half time at the attractive price of £2.50.
· Soundings are being taken regarding the format (disco or dinner etc) and date and venue (possibly Friday 6 May at the Apollo Club in Harleston) for the End of Season Party. Would team captains please seek the views of their team-mates and let Tracy Baker, Jackie Ridley, Philippa Taylor or Jose Tibbenham know their views as soon as possible.
· Please come to the Fun Quiz Evening (with questions to suit all ages and brains!) to be held in the clubhouse at 7.30pm on Saturday 12 March in teams of up to six people – at £2.50 per head.
· During the evening the Spring Prize Raffle draw will be made so please sell your books and return with counterfoils and money if you have not already kindly done so.
· The club is holding a Ball on Friday 6 July 2012 to mark the opening of the London Olympics – please put the date in your diary.
· If you would like to book the marquee for any suitable function, e.g. wedding reception or birthday party, on either of the two succeeding days please contact Philippa Taylor (01379 852210).
And as for the hockey chat there is no doubt that last Saturday’s best performance at a cold and wet Weybread was the Men’s 3rds splendid 6-1 victory over Ipswich and East Suffolk. After an evenly contested opening few minutes Tiger Brice put Magpies ahead and thereafter there was no stopping the team with Tiger and Leigh Sitch commanding the mid-field assisted by some excellent work from skipper Matt Brand who added a second. Thereafter a hat-trick by the hard working Gavin Cole and the sixth scored near the end by Quentin Baynes ensured a vital win for the team as they seek to avoid (despite currently being in fourth place) the four relegation spots with some really tough matches looming.
Earlier the Ladies’ 1sts all but ensured their national league survival with a fourth successive win by three goals to one over Cambridge City who have had a really miserable run of results. However, City scored first with a crisp shot from the edge of the circle before Sarah Brook was on hand two minutes later to tap in the equaliser. Second half goals by Frances Sumner and Artemis Clark gave the team victory summed up later by one of the players as ‘We got there in the end’ with the host of missed chances in mind. Meantime on the other pitch the Men’s 4ths were going from 3-0 up to 6-4 down against Pelicans 2nds and the team now has a relegation fight on its hands while the Men’s 6ths had an excellent 6-2 win away over Norwich City 5ths.
The sun usually shines on the Men’s 7ths but in literal terms it didn’t last Saturday although the temperature did rise by the odd degree as the rain eased – but not by enough to attract more than the three hardy spectators who could well have been discouraged by the absence for a second clean sheet week (!) by the absence of Peter Dolton. The eighth and final goal of the game and the 90th of the season for the still 100% team was, in a clubhouse discussion, credited to Tom ‘Magic’ Miller. With five matches left and the 100th goal on the horizon one can visualise it coming through a penalty stroke converted by inspirational skipper and ‘keeper Murray Graham after denying the opportunity to PD!
While the Men’s 1sts were picking up a vital and excellent point away on Sunday to Wimbledon (and only denied all three through a very late equaliser) with Andy Bedwell and Marc Lloyd making their national league debuts two weeks after Robbie Kinsella, Murray Graham was having his most testing game of the season as the Men’s Veterans went down 3-2 away to Bishops Stortford in their EHB Cup clash. In a spirited match which saw two yellows (one apiece), the captains brought together by the umpires to cool passions and Stortford recover from 2-1 down at half time (after goals for Magpies by Martin Reader and Roger Kent) the visitors were harshly denied an equaliser by Jonathan Aldridge for third party obstruction in a crowded circle. But well done to Simon Bardwell and his squad on their fine run in the competition.
With space limited I briefly comment that in addition to the Men’s 1sts entertaining St Albans on Saturday (2.15) when a win would banish still possible relegation concerns the Men’s 2nds host Pelicans at 12.15 (before playing Cambridge University 2nds (2.00) away on Sunday) and the Ladies’ 1sts are away to table topping Ipswich on Sunday (2.00). Good luck to all our teams in action this weekend including the Mixed team who are at home on Sunday to Brentwood (time to be confirmed) in the EHB Trophy.
Finally, congratulations to skipper Kristina Erith and the Ladies’ 4ths who beat Yarmouth 2nds 1-0 away last Saturday to clinch the Martin & Acock Norfolk League Division 1 title.
Mike Denham 01603 506925 [email protected] 22/2/11
