MEN’S INDOOR HOCKEY SQUAD LEADS THE WAY INTO A BUSY FEW MONTHS FOR THE CLUB
I wish readers and their families (and by association all our teams and club officials) the very best for 2015 as we look forward to a busy and important few months for the club.
After two poor seasons which saw them drop down the national indoor divisions the Men’s 1sts bounced back last season winning Division 2 North before two weeks later finishing second in Division 2 where they were joined by the top four sides from Division 2 South. This earned them promotion to Division One where over the next two weekends – and encouraged by retaining their East Championship before Christmas – they take on some formidable opponents at the UWE in Bristol in their attempt to get back into the Premier Division. On Saturday they start against Loughborough Students (1.30) and this could well turn out to be one of their toughest games of the two weekends before they play Bournville (5.30) and on Sunday they take on Southgate (10.00) followed by Doncaster (2.00). The following weekend, at the same venue, Magpies will play Wimbledon, Brooklands MU, Old Loughtonians and Cannock.
Good luck to the Magpies squad which is – Leigh Sitch (captain), Chris Barber, Tristan Baynes, Andrew Bedwell, Matt Collinge (GK), Simon Hipwell, Richard Larkin, Stuart Leate, James Meek, Toby Price, Sam Rowe, Carl Sitch, Mark Wheelhouse, Martin Fields (coach).
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Date for your diary please!
BINGO EVENING
Saturday 24 January, 7.30pm, clubhouse
More details next week
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The Ladies’ 1sts went into the second weekend of their national Premier Division campaign last Saturday at Bromsgrove School needing a minimum of two wins from their four matches with Clifton and the University of Birmingham giving them their most realistic chances of retaining their status following their three points gained before Christmas. They duly achieved their first objective but unfortunately the second eluded them so it is back to Division One for next season. But led by skipper Emma Lee- Smith, coach David Brook and manager Louisa Greenacre they did the club proud and especially so bearing in mind they had to battle against injuries to Emma (ankle), goalkeeper Charlotte Lee-Smith (back) and Alex Smith who took a nasty bang on the top of her head.
Against Clifton a penalty corner conversion and an open play goal inside the first ten minutes by Emma gave Magpies the start they needed before Clifton came to life with three quick goals just before half time. Magpies now had to show even more determination and six minutes into the second half Bryony Lund emerged from a pile of players having got the vital equaliser. Katrina Sitch then cleared a shot off the goal line before Sarah Brook put Magpies back in front following a penalty corner switch by Emma and a minute later Emma completed her hat-trick with a cleverly delayed shot to wrong foot the Clifton keeper who had earlier made some fine saves. With eleven seconds to go and with Magpies 5-3 in front Alex sustained her injury defending a penalty corner and Charlotte, despite struggling with her injury, saved the resulting penalty stroke to go with the other saves she had bravely made. Magpies were next up against Sutton Coldfield and after a goalless first seventeen minutes, during which the Sutton goalkeeper made a series of fine saves, the next three minutes before half time produced two goals for Sutton and a penalty stroke miss by Magpies. Early in the second half Magpies missed another stroke and after Sutton increased their lead to three Charlotte just had to come off to be replaced by Katrina who put in a fine performance as kicking back. Sarah then pulled a goal back for Magpies and Katrina came close to adding a second following a quick break. Sutton then scored twice more before Maria Andrews scored in open play to make the final score 5-2 in favour of Sutton.
Early on Sunday morning the team went down 7-0 to a strong Reading side but it was the game against the University of Birmingham that really mattered and at 4-2 up at half time through a Sarah hat-trick and a goal by Katrina things were looking good for Magpies. But after half time Birmingham lifted their game against a tiring Magpies’ team to go on to secure a 7-4 win.
This event once again showed the narrow margins between victory and defeat at this level. Magpies beat East Grinstead on the first weekend and EG went on to finish second to Bowdon Hightown closely followed into the semi-finals by Slough and Canterbury. In fact one point covered the first five teams with Reading missing out on goal difference. Magpies have the ability and enthusiasm to bounce back next season.
Three of our other indoor teams were also in action over the weekend. On Saturday the U14 Girls gained some important indoor experience in the Brentwood Tournament and after narrowly failing to make the final were edged out of 3rd place in a penalty shoot-out by Havering after a 2-2 draw. On Sunday at Brentwood the U16 Girls got some useful match practice finishing fifth in preparation for the national finals in Wolverhampton over the weekend after next. Also on Sunday at Brentwood the U18 Boys just missed out on a place in their national finals. They came from behind to beat City of Peterborough 3-2 with a last gasp winner before going down 6-5, with Sam Rowe off due to a leg injury, to a strong Bury St Edmunds side who having earlier beaten Peterborough join Old Loughtonians who had already qualified.
Outdoor league hockey resumes this coming Saturday with scheduled matches for six of our ladies’ teams and re-arranged league matches for three of the men’s teams. The 3rds lead the way for the ladies when they host Dereham 2nds (2.00) who beat them 4-1 early in the season and who have yet to drop a point while the 4ths, who like the 3rds are also on a good run of form, are away to lowly Diss (11.00). The 5ths, in second place, are away to North Norfolk 2nds (11.30) who have struggled this season while the 6ths entertain 3rd placed Lowestoft Railway (12.00). The 7ths are at home to Lowestoft Railway 2nds (3.30) in what looks like being a closely fought game between two well-matched teams and the Girls’ Development will be looking to reverse their opening day defeat when they host Dereham (3.15).
Meanwhile at Weybread the Men’s 2nds will be out to continue their improved form when they play City of Peterborough 3rds (1.45) and the Men’s 5ths will be seeking the double over Bury St Edmunds 4ths (12.15). Away from home the Men’s 6ths will want to reverse their early season narrow loss when they take on Bury St Edmunds 3rds (11.00).
Please see the website for all of this weekend’s fixtures. Good luck to all our teams.
Other news and comment
- a) Best wishes to Catriona Maciver who sets out on a working trip to New Zealand very shortly.
- b) Well done to the Ladies’ 2nds who gained a vital and well deserved point in their 1-1 draw with league leaders Cambridge City on the Saturday before Christmas. Their equalising goal was calmly scored by Anna Tighe following an excellent through pass by Amy Campbell. The team has taken nine points from their last five matches and they will be back in action away to Ipswich 2nds on Saturday week.
- c) Outdoor training is gradually resuming following the Christmas/New Year break. Please see the Latest News page of the website for more details.
With kind regards
Mike Denham
6/1/15
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