FINGERS CROSSED FOR THE WEEKEND WEATHER
After last weekend when only the Ladies’ 3rds managed to play it is fingers crossed for better weather this coming weekend when despite only three Ladies’ teams being in action on Saturday we still have a busy programme of matches including an especially hectic Sunday at Weybread with seven matches across the two pitches.
Last Saturday Julie Podd and her Ladies’ 3rds must have wondered why they were playing on a very cold afternoon when all the other matches had been called off! But play they did and they came away from Kings Lynn with an excellent 2-0 win over Pelicans 2nds with second half goals by MOTM Catriona MacIver (a member of the triumphant U16 indoor team) and Dominique Dyball. This win has moved the team up into third place in the Premier Division of the Norfolk League just behind second placed UEA who have three games in hand. The 3rds in common with two of our other Ladies’ teams now have two weekends off. But there will be no rest for the Ladies’ 1sts (weather permitting) who have a tough match away to local rivals Ipswich on Saturday (12.00) after the frustration of their postponed game against Maidstone which will now be played on Sunday week. Last season the team achieved an excellent 1-0 win in the corresponding fixture so a repeat this week would be very handy! Meantime the Ladies’ 6ths will also be looking for much needed points when they entertain Norwich City 4ths (10.30) while the Ladies’ 4ths have a home friendly against Broadland 2nds (12.15).
Silent Auction and Party (Saturday 10 March – clubhouse 7.30pm). I hope you have this event in your diary! Your support of the evening would be much appreciated. Lots are still required if we are to match the nearly £2300 we raised in a similar event in 2008. So if you kindly have an item or ‘Promise’ for inclusion, PLEASE let me know as soon as possible.
Back to this weekend’s hockey at Weybread where on Saturday the Men’s 2nds have a very demanding game against league leaders Ramgarhia (2.15) who have lost only one match all season and who won 4-2 when the teams met at the end of October. Another two or three wins are essential for Martin Fields and his team as they are only five points above the relegation zone. The Men’s 5ths (4.00) and Men’s 6ths (12.30) are also at home to, respectively, North Walsham and Dereham 5ths and a win for the 5ths is vital if they are to retain their outside chance of promotion in another very good season while the 6ths will be looking for three points to maintain their encouraging mid-table position.
Sunday at Weybread promises to provide a feast of hockey with the U16 Boys getting the ball rolling against Pelicans (10.15) in the EHB Midlands League 1 (before they play Rutland at 2.30) and next on the water-based will be the Men’s Over 50s when they host Reading (12.00) in the quarter-finals of the EHB Masters Cup. Philip Cobbald and his squad have scored seven goals in each of the three earlier rounds (all away and with only a total of two goals conceded) and another exciting match is in prospect before the Men’s 1sts take on league leaders Canterbury (2.15). The Kent team have recovered well from the disappointment of their swift relegation from the national premier league after just one season and to-date are undefeated in 2011/12 – so what better time for this record to be shattered! (After last Saturday’s postponement the Men’s 1sts now play Oxted away on Saturday week.) Meanwhile the U18 Girls take on Havering in the second round of the EHB Plate (11.00) having beaten Norwich City 4-0 in the previous round and the U16 Girls play Ipswich (4.00) to decide which team goes through to the Regional stage as EHB East League 1 winners after both sides have already qualified having won their four matches to-date.
Good luck to all our teams in action this weekend including the U10 Boys in the North Walsham Minis at Cromer HS on Sunday. Please see the Home Page of the website for the full list of fixtures.
Congratulations to the following:
a) The Great Britain women on their splendid silver medal in the Champions Trophy in Argentina. With coach Danny Kerry (ex-Pelicans HC and NCHA!) their preparations for London 2012 are going well.
b) Mark Pearn (GB, England and East Grinstead) and Alex Danson (GB, England and Reading) on being named UK Players of the Year for 2011 following the annual poll conducted amongst the British members of the Hockey Writers’ Club. Mark (my favourite England player alongside Simon Mason!) also won the award in 2000.
NB. During bad weather it is hoped to update the Home Page of the website with the latest situation regarding training.
With kind regards
Mike Denham
7/2/12
The LOFT at Bridge House – Detached apartment in Waveney Valley
