EVEN THE SUN CAME OUT!
What a weekend it was with a mixture of excellent wins, hard luck stories and promising performances and even the sun shone at Weybread last Saturday afternoon for a few minutes!
Saturday’s first game at Weybread was in the hard luck category when after taking the lead through Elle Eglington with a few minutes to go the Ladies’ 6ths conceded two late goals to lose to Herlings – their first defeat since November 3 and after a run of ten consecutive wins. However, our first win of the day was soon chalked up when the Girls Development beat Watton 5-0 with goals by Eve Barnes, Victoria Findlay (3) and Matilda Warde-Aldam. When checking on the scorers’ names I was reminded that results depend just as much on the non-scorers in the team and this I readily acknowledged. But throughout the reporting of team sport it is almost inevitable that individual achievement such as goal scoring gets most publicity. As I often tell people life isn’t fair – and also there is no I in team!
We were then treated to really good performances by the two first teams and the Ladies’ 2nds. The Ladies’ 1sts got off to the perfect start against Chelmsford when Angie Wheelhouse scored a scrappy first minute goal but there was nothing scrappy about Emma Lee-Smith’s effort a few minutes later when she dribbled past several defenders before smashing the ball beyond the goalkeeper. After Chelmsford got back into the game on one of their rare attacks Angie made the three points safe after the interval with a vintage and fierce reverse stick shot. This coming Saturday the team will be defending their three point lead over Ipswich and Sevenoaks at the top of the table when they entertain Old Loughtonians (12.30) with whom they drew 1-1 back in October. The Ladies’ 2nds were quickly out of the blocks and back to winning ways against Watton eventually triumphing 6-1 with goals by Anouska Hipperson (2), Kira Wooltorton, Emily Brown (2) and Lucy Whiting and this Saturday they face their most testing game of the season in a ‘must win’ clash away to closest rivals Ipswich 2nds (12.00) if they are to retain a realistic hope of a second successive promotion.
Meanwhile the Men’s 1sts were matching the two Ladies’ teams with their own very early goal by Tom Graham against league leaders Bedford in their ‘must win’ game and they soon doubled their lead when Andy Hipwell fired in a penalty corner. Simon Hipwell put us three up at the break and although Bedford came more into the game thereafter they rarely troubled goalkeeper Rees Leonard in an accomplished home defence in which Tom Sumner was quite outstanding. Tom Graham made the final score 4-0 after a good break and pass by Jimmy Wheeler. Unlike the Ladies’ 1sts who have their fate in their own hands the Men’s 1sts must hope for maximum points from their last four games (they play Bishops Stortford away at 1.30 on Saturday) and a slip up by St Albans who having played a game more lead them at the top of the league by four points. Bedford still remain in contention trailing Magpies by the goal difference of eight resulting from Saturday’s game.
Later in the afternoon the Men’s 4ths twice recovered from going a goal down to the 5ths winning 3-2 with Deben Nelson (or OG!) and Will Main scoring for the 5ths and James Bensly and Jon Aldridge (2) finding the net for the 4ths. Umpire Andy Smith was obliged to invite a player from each side to take a breather in a sportingly contested match.
Away from home the Men’s 2nds recorded their fifth successive Premier B victory with a splendid 3-1 win (Martin Fields (2) and David Francis) over Norwich City to move into promotion contention with City but with only one team from the same club allowed in a league the Men’s 1sts would first need to be promoted back to the national league. (Second place Cambridge University 2nds cannot be promoted this season as their 1sts are mid-table in East Premier A.) But before this can be considered a real issue for our 2nds they must first do well in their remaining four matches starting this Saturday at home to league leaders Ramgarhia (2.15). Also away from home there were good wins for the Ladies’ 3rds and Ladies’ 5ths. The 3rds beat Diss 7-0 (Toni Glover 4 (again!), Lucy Ripman, Keira Booty, Georgia Pearson) while the 5ths beat Evergreens 2nds 4-0 with goals by Issie Knowles (2) and skipper Jose Tibbenham (2).
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Auction of Promises to be held on Saturday 16 March (7.15). The details of the 65 Lots kindly donated to-date are posted on the website and may I respectfully remind you that should you not be able to come on the night the organisers hope you will make ‘postal’ bids before the day. Please see my email address at the end of this article. I will be pleased to receive your bid(s)!
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We even had twelve teams in action on Sunday with the most significant performance coming from the U18 Girls who beat Leicester away to reach the EHB national semi-final where they play Surbiton at Old Loughtonians HC on Sunday 14 April with, hopefully, the final against Teddington or Canterbury later in the day. This was a really splendid performance with first half goals by Sarah Brook and Georgie Minta putting them on the way to their 2-1 triumph. Congratulations to skipper Sarah and the rest of the squad.
Meanwhile the U18 Boys were up against Beeston in Nottingham hoping to join the girls in the semis. After James Bensly put us ahead in the fourth minute a very strong Beeston side was in front after 13 minutes and with two more goals by the hosts just before half time Magpies had a lot to do in the second half. Unfortunately they were unable to convert a barrage of shorties soon after the break but led by skipper Giles Flatt they did the club and themselves proud matching Beeston in a goalless second half. Tom Graham troubled the Beeston defence throughout the game with his running and mesmerising stick skills but defender Tim Alexander got the MOTM accolade from his team-mates following an impressive defensive performance.
Our two U16 teams were also hoping to reach the finals of their respective EHB cups on Sunday but is wasn’t to be. The Boys beat Bury St Edmunds 2-0 and lost 6-0 to Southgate at Culford School while the Girls beat Belper 3-1 and Spalding 3-0 at Weybread before they cruelly failed to reach the finals on the strength of their opening 2-1 defeat at the hands of Banbury after the two teams finished level on points and goals.
Meanwhile at the Norwich Dragons Minis we were fielding eight teams with the U10 Boys ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams winning, respectively, the Gold and Silver events, the U12 Girls ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams doing likewise finishing joint first in their events and theU10 Girls ‘A’ team winning the Gold event with the ‘B’ team in second place in the Silver competition.
Well done to our teams.
Please see the Home Page of the website for other results last weekend and the full list of this weekend’s matches which include on Sunday the Mixed away to St Albans (1.30) in the EHB Trophy and our U10 and U12 Boys’ and Girls’ ‘A’ teams in the Norfolk Minis at Pelicans HC. Good luck as always to all our teams.
Congratulations and best wishes to:
a) Robbie Kinsella and Katie Adcock on their recent engagement. Robbie celebrated by being the inspired MOTM in the 2nds’ excellent win over Norwich City last Saturday.
b) Nigel Bedingfield, the sponsor and manager of the club’s invaluable website, on winning triple gold at the GTUK Taekwondo British Open in Coventry at the weekend. This was Nigel’s last major championship as he has decided to retire while at the top!
c) Bobby Crutchley on succeeding Jason Lee as head coach of the England and Great Britain men’s teams. Bobby, who is 42, has been an assistant coach to the England team since 2005 and was part of the GB coaching staff at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
Other news and comment
a) Five members of the England and GB squads have recently announced their retirement from international hockey. They are Beth Storry, Crista Cullen, Ben Hawes, Mark Pearn and Ken Forbes. I am sure that readers will join me in wishing them well for the future and thanking them for their services to our teams. Ben and Mark will continue to play club hockey in England while Beth will play in Holland.
b) When Tom Graham scored twice for the 1sts last Saturday and brother James scored for the 3rds was this the first time twins had recorded a ‘hat trick’ for the club? James and Rob Goodson might have something to say on the matter!
c) Talking of James and Rob they organised the annual calorie fuelled Men’s 5th team cake competition held last Saturday after their big clash with the 4ths. Fabian Mitchell’s entry won for ‘appearance’ and Rob’s won for ‘taste’ with Fabian’s concoction being the overall winner!
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With kind regards
Mike Denham
5/3/13
