TOP LADIES
If the Men’s 1sts deserved their top billing last week the Ladies’ 1sts certainly deserve that accolade this week following their double-header wins over Horsham and Surbiton which have transformed their season. Their 2-1 home win over Horsham was more comfortable than the score line might suggest and but for their faulty penalty corner routine their victory would have been far more decisive thereby preventing the nervy last few minutes after Horsham’s well hit shortie. To beat undefeated league leaders Surbiton next day, strengthened by the return to the squad of Emma Lee-Smith and Emily Wilford, who both found the net, was an even finer achievement and a tribute to the determination and fighting spirit of the squad exemplified on Saturday by the performances of Debbie Francis in the middle and at the back by skipper and goal scorer Louisa Greenacre. Those of us who have followed Sarah Brook’s progress over the past few seasons will have been delighted with her promising debut on Saturday at the age of 15 highlighted by her goal. This Saturday the team is away to Old Loughtonians (1.30) looking for more points to further distance them from the relegation zone.
In contrast it was not a good weekend for the Men’s 1sts who lost 2-0 away to Oxted on Sunday with five regulars missing due to injuries and work commitments. With other results over what was a double-header weekend for several teams going against us the bottom half of the league has tightened up considerably making this Sunday’s home game versus Indian Gymkhana (2.15) even more important.
On a splendid Saturday for the club (9 wins, 4 draws and no defeats) there were other highlights apart from the Ladies’ 1sts. The Men’s 7ths recorded their thirteenth straight win by beating North Walsham 3rds 12-1 with nine players finding the net including two from Steve Halliley on his welcome debut but questions need to be asked over the team’s failure to keep a clean sheet for the fifth consecutive week! The Men’s 6ths played really well to beat league leaders Norwich City 4ths 4-1 with all the goals coming from James Bensley supported by father Rob at the back. Confined to the bench through injury stand-in manager Jonathan Aldridge brought a new tactic to the game by starting with just 10 players with others sitting on the bench – or was this a counting failure?!
The Men’s 4ths gained a much needed win by beating North Walsham 2-1 with goals by Pete Coulthart (who has made a welcome return to the club) and Sam Ashurst with Andy Palmer starring in goal. The Ladies’ 2nds, 4ths and 5ths all won without conceding although the 2nds struggled to score against lowly Cambridge City 2nds before they took the lead through Keira Booty at the end of an extravagant penalty corner routine followed shortly by a second from Lauren Barber. The Men’s 5ths won for the seventh successive game while there were draws for the Ladies’ 3rds who conceded shortly before the end in their 1-1 game with Watton 2nds, for the Men’s 2nds who finished 3-3 against Letchworth for the second time this season and for the Men’s 3rds who drew 1-1 away to Market Deeping. In an end-to-end thriller Sam Moore with two goals, the second thrashed high into the net from the right, and Philip Cobbald with a turn and shot at the left post helped the 2nds to come from behind before twice taking the lead prior to Letchworth’s disputed third and skipper Matt Brand scored for the fourth-placed 3rds who entertain league leaders March on Saturday (2.15).
In other matches at Weybread this Saturday the Ladies’ 3rds will be looking to get back to winning ways when they play Norwich City 2nds (12.15) while third-placed Ladies’ 5ths play Norwich City 3rds (12.30) and Ladies’ 4ths, eight points clear at the top of their league, take on UEA 2nds (4.00). Also at home are the Boys’ Development who play Norwich Dragons/Watton (10.30); the Men’s 4ths who will be out to beat Ipswich 3rds (1.45) for the three points to take them further away from the relegation zone and, in what could turn out to be the most exciting clash of the day, the Men’s 5ths who are in third place welcome the 100% leaders Lowestoft Railway (3.15). Meantime the Ladies’ 2nds travel to play Lincoln (12.00), the Men’s 2nds travel to Harpenden (11.30) and the Ladies’ 6ths are away to bottom-placed Norwich City 5ths (11.30). Best of luck to all our teams in action this weekend (a full list of fixtures can be found on the website) including on Sunday the U16 Boys who are away to City of Peterborough (12.45) in the EHB Cup and the U16 Girls who are in EHB Plate action away to Old Loughtonians (1.00).
Other comments in brief
· Congratulations to the Mixed team who came from 2-0 down at half time on Sunday away to Norwich City in their EHB Trophy clash to win 4-2 with goals by Gavin Cole, Martin Fields (2) and Lauren Barber.
· I’m told that Surbiton Ladies’ loss on Sunday was their first home defeat for three years.
