MOCKERY MISERY AT WEYBREAD
The Ladies’ 1sts dominated the first half against Ipswich at Weybread last Saturday but after failing to trouble the scoreboard operator one had a horrible feeling that things might go wrong after the resumption as Ipswich just had to get into the game at some point. And things duly went wrong with Ipswich lifting their game and from their one and only penalty corner they took the lead and, after a spirited response from the home side, they scored again in the last minute through ex-Magpie Jess Bloom to make a mockery of the final score. Our team must not be disheartened by this defeat as they again demonstrated their improved form of recent weeks but they will know that upcoming games against St Albans and Dereham now assume even more importance if they are to move clear of the relegation zone.
A couple of hours earlier the day got off to a good start with the Men’s 7ths (on whom the sun always shines!) beating Lowestoft Railway 2nds 6-0 to maintain their one hundred percent record but after the Men’s 2nds went down 3-1 to Harpenden (in a game they could have won had their penalty corner ‘routine’ been anywhere near working) the home supporters needed cheering up. It duly came with an excellent win for the Ladies’ 2nds against high-flying Lincoln. Lucy Chubbock and Frances Taylor put them two up and after Lincoln threatened a comeback further goals by Tanya Pendreich and Lauren Barber gave them a well-merited 4-1 win. Challenge to the Ladies’ 2nds – come on girls it is about time you produced match reports for the website!
We were further cheered when the news came through that the Men’s 1sts had secured a vital 4-1 win away to St Albans, last season’s East champions, with two goals apiece from Andy Hipwell and Tristan Baynes with St Albans at one stage reduced to eight players. In a match far more even than the score line would suggest the umpires must have remembered to take their yellow cards! Although the Men’s 6ths then lost 2-1 to Watton there was a lot to admire from our team and especially the reverse stick goal by young Sam Lyne and an excellent goalkeeping performance by the youthful James Graham.
With a combination of a national league break, the Norfolk league having a week off for half term and the Men’s 5ths without a fixture due to the sad withdrawal from the league of Lowestoft Town (I remember tough games against them at Denes Oval in years gone by with the sea mist sweeping in) only six of our teams are in action this Saturday. The Ladies’ 2nds and Men’s 2nds have centre-stage at Weybread when they take on Ipswich 3rds (12.30) and Long Sutton (2.15) respectively. The Ladies will be looking to build on their win over Lincoln while the Men will be out to take three points off Long Sutton whom they beat 6-3 in a friendly in the middle of September. The Men’s 2nds are potentially far too good to be near the bottom of their league so I am expecting a morale boosting win for them on Saturday! Meantime our other teams in action are playing as follows – good luck as always to all our teams.
MENS 3s v Ipswich & ES (L) (A) 2.30
MENS 4s v Pelicans 2s (L) (A) 3.00
MENS 4s v Pelicans 2s (L) (A) 3.00
MENS 6s v Norwich City 5s (L) (H) 4.00 (W)
MENS 7s v Norwich Dragons 3s (L) (A) 4.30
MENS 7s v Norwich Dragons 3s (L) (A) 4.30
Congratulations and good luck to Sarah Brook, Will Blyth and Elliot Smith who this weekend are representing the Saxon Tigers U16s in their respective Futures Cup at Cannock. The Futures Cup is designed by the EHB to give promising hockey players (and officials) the opportunity to experience what it is like to take part in a top international hockey tournament and is the culmination of the Junior Regional Performance Centre programme over the last few months. I hope the HMHC members who narrowly failed to make the final selection will not be too discouraged. I well remember the disappointment felt by Richard ‘Ratty’ Alexander when he was not selected for the 2001 Junior World Cup in Tasmania. But look at what he has achieved since then!
Congratulations also to Katherine Ridley who recently attended a HiPAC (High Performance Assessment Camp) in Leeds as a member of the U15 Saxon Tigers’ squad.
NB. Please come to the Fireworks Spectacular to be held at the club on Friday 5 November. The gates open at 6.00pm and tickets are on sale at the bar. They are a pound cheaper if bought before the day.
Mike Denham 01603 506925
[email protected] 26/10/10
