MISERABLE SATURDAY FAR BRIGHTER SUNDAY

I always try to be positive in this column (although the Men’s 1st team captain says I am anything but on the touchline!) but I also have to tell the truth. Last Saturday was a miserable day climatically and it didn’t get much better for our twelve teams who were in action braving the elements as only two finished as winners. They were the Ladies’ 5ths and Men’s 5ths although there were very creditable draws for the Ladies’ 2nds and 3rds. Things brightened up considerably on Sunday both on and off the field of play with excellent wins for the U16 and U18 Girls, a very good draw for the U14 Girls and a very heartening draw for the Men’s 1sts.

I’ll start with Sunday and with away EH Cup news. After the U14 Boys’ match away to IES fell victim to the wintry weather the first cheerful news was of the 2-2 draw achieved by the U14 Girls against a very strong Cambridge City side who were 2-0 ahead at half time. Magpies then fought back to draw 2-2 with goals by Keisha Hilaire and Georgie Cantrell and with goalkeeper Alice Wiseman outstanding in a strong defensive performance. The next good news was of the U16 Girls qualifying for the regional finals beating Norwich City 5-0 with goals by Abby Gooderham (2), Millie Preece (2) and Mia King. News then came through that the U18 Girls had beaten Havering 6-1 in the first round of the EH Plate with three goals apiece by Kara Kilbourn and Maria Andrews. The icing on the proverbial cake would have been the Men’s 1sts beating Brighton & Hove away in their East Conference clash but a 2-2 draw was an excellent performance especially as Brighton won 4-0 at Weybread in early October. Magpies were twice behind before goals by MOTM Toby Price and Andy Hipwell, with his second in successive matches, and the team had chances to take all three points in the second half. After the game the Brighton side was kept back for extra training! Magpies are at home this coming Sunday (2.00) to league leaders Richmond who include Mark Pearn, one of England’s best ever players.

Back to Saturday when the Ladies’ 5ths went to Taverham to take on Broadland 2nds looking to build on their win the previous week over UEA 3rds. They were soon on the attack with Anna Kilbourn and Georgie Cantrell causing the home defence problems with their pace and stick skills and in the fifteenth minute Anna crossed for Rachel Clifford to slot home. The home goalkeeper was having a fine game but she was unable to stop Rachel from scoring again with a repeat of the earlier move. Broadland came more into the game in the second half and after Magpies’ goalkeeper Alice Gooch made a couple of good saves they pulled a goal back but Magpies held on for a deserved 2-1 win. Meanwhile at home the Men’s 5ths were beating Watton 2-0 to get back to winning ways after two defeats. Goalkeeper James Harvey made two good saves to deny Watton in a goalless first half in which Magpies made the wrong decisions in and around the opposing circle. Soon after the break Andy Johnson produced a fifty yard pass from which Alex Kilbourn followed up his first shot to score. Alex then added a second after taking the ball around the keeper before diving to reverse hit the ball into the net. James Harvey, Seth Read and Max Warde-Aldam stood out in a sound Magpies’ defence.

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CHRISTMAS FUN CASINO EVENING
(16s and over only)
Have you got your ticket(s) yet please for this prestigious event?
Black Tie. Champagne cocktail on arrival. Nibbles.
SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER (7.30PM)
STARSTON PLACE, STARSTON
Tickets are £20 each and are available at the clubhouse bar or from Katrina Sitch.
Please contact Katrina 07730 454206 or at [email protected]

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The start of the match between Bedford and the Ladies’ 2nds was delayed for fifteen minutes to give manager John Adams and his daughter and Magpies’ goalkeeper/captain Megan Brown a little more time to recover after their car was hit from behind a few miles outside Bedford. Fortunately both John and Megan were not hurt although inevitably shaken. Magpies started well before Bedford forced a fired-up Megan to make some top class saves. Magpies, who were without the injured Lauren Mickleburgh, then took the lead when Kara Kilbourn deflected in at a penalty corner and Bedford replied on the cusp of half time. After the break there was some strong tackling by Amy Hipwell, Siobhan Wooltorton and Katie Crawford to keep Bedford at bay while at the other end Magpies had chances to regain the lead. The game ended 1-1 and with it another excellent point for Magpies; their tenth from their last five games. This Saturday they have another tough game with the visit of joint league leaders Bromley & Beckenham (2.00).

The Ladies’ 3rds were away to Broadland and despite being held to a 2-2 draw still top their league. The ever-energetic Laura Betts put Magpies ahead and Katie Kinsella finally got her very well-deserved first goal of the season. Broadland got their first goal on the break and their equaliser at a penalty corner with a lob which ninety-nine times out of a hundred would not have ended in the goal. MOTM was Rachel Baynes who had an outstanding game at the back.

The cold and wet day at Weybread began with the Ladies’ 4ths losing 4-3 to UEA 2nds in a game they should have won. Laura Tibbenham twice brought them level before early in the second half Rhe Coleman put them ahead. The home team then squandered some good chances to increase their lead before the students equalised following a good run at the home defence and with time ticking down they got the winner at a penalty corner. Phoebe Preece played well in defence for Magpies with some good interceptions. The Men’s 6ths were next into action on the water-based against Norwich City 6ths and they were soon behind when a defensive pass across their circle was gratefully accepted by the opposition. As the game progressed the cry of ‘Goals will come Magpies’ could be heard to which the pessimistic reply from a Magpies’ player was “No they won’t!” The player (who will remain nameless but could well do with a new shirt!) was correct and City added their second and final goal of the game after some good saves by Magpies’ keeper and skipper Eric Davy.

Next into action were the Ladies’ 1sts against Hampstead & Westminster for whom ex-Magpie Emily Wilford was making a welcome return to Weybread but in the role of team manager following further recent damage to her right thumb first injured playing for Magpies four years ago. Magpies were hoping to build on their superb win the previous week over Slough and leading at half time with a goal by Susan Wessels, who it was really good seeing playing for the first time this season, a point or even three were in prospect. But the visitors looked the stronger side in the second half and after they converted a penalty corner many of the home supporters would have settled for a point despite another sparkling performance by Emma Lee-Smith. It wasn’t to be with H&W converting another shorty five minutes from time. This Saturday Magpies play their last outdoor game until early February when they are away to in-form Sevenoaks (1.30).

In other games and in brief – at home the Men’s 2nds never fully recovered from a fast start by Long Sutton losing 3-1 (Elliott Ashurst) and the Ladies’ 7ths lost 4-0 to a strong Breckland side while away from home the Men’s 3rds and Men’s 4ths played some of their best hockey of the season before losing, respectively, 5-1 (Luke Edwards) to league leaders North Norfolk and 3-1 (Kieran Peters) to Bury St Edmunds 2nds. The 4ths were not helped by their three outfield adult members all receiving cards!

The club’s indoor season started last Friday with the U16 Boys just failing to qualify for the East finals as the Norfolk representatives. They had a good 6-0 win over Norwich Dragons with goals by Jack Hobbs (3), Cameron Woodcock, Kieran Peters and Jolyon Summers before going down 6-5 to Norwich City. In a thrilling game Magpies’ scorers were Jack (with another 3), Cameron and Matt Bensly. Manager Stuart Peters was very grateful for the input of coach Richard Larkin who continues to do much appreciated work on the youth side of the club. This Friday it is the turn of the U18 Boys who at Norwich School take on Norwich City (7.55) and Norwich Dragons (8.40).

Good luck as always to all our teams this weekend (please see the club’s website for the full programme of matches)including the Men’s O50s who entertain Bury St Edmunds on Sunday (12.00) before the Men’s 1sts take on Richmond (2.00). Unfortunately Bob Skinner (injured) and goalkeeper Murray Graham (sadly both injured and ill and prior to these setbacks due to play for Scotland O55s) will be missing for the O50s who welcome Andy Palmer (who in a rare appearance played well for the 4ths last Saturday) in place of Murray. O50s manager Peter Dolton left the clubhouse last Saturday muttering about resigning as he accused me of trying to influence his team selection. Is there anything else I can say Peter to help you with your final decision?!

300 CLUB WINNERS
November 2015 £20 June Ridley, £20 David Cobbald, £15 Gordon Nichols, £15 Anthony Webster, £15 Charles Whipps, £15 Derek Dack December 2015 £20 Liz West, £20 Michael Barber, £15 Val Tolhurst, £15 Keith Phillips, £15 Jane Ray, £15 Janet Seaman

If you would like to join the 300 Club (£12 per number for club members and £13 per number for the year for non-club members) please contact Angie Wheelhouse at [email protected] YOU WILL BE VERY WELCOME! The names of all the monthly winners going back to September 2012 are on the club’s website.

MYSTERY OF DISAPPEARING KITCHEN MUGS
Mr Jason King of M.R. King and Sons kindly donated 170 china mugs (adorned with the logos of his motor car business and the club) at the beginning of last season and a few days ago only 41 remained in the club’s kitchen! Jason has kindly donated a further 100 mugs but the mystery remains. Where have the 129 mugs gone? Answers on a postcard please to ….. . In the meantime it is a big ‘thank you’ to Jason for his generosity.

OTHER NEWS AND COMMENT
The club’s deputy president Mike Barber kindly bought me a drink on Saturday to celebrate his recent hole-in-one at Halesworth GC. I thanked Mike saying I hoped I wouldn’t have to wait for a repeat of the achievement before he bought me another drink!

Cans of the LifePaint when sprayed on bicycle frames and rucksacks etc. (invisible in daylight) can make you or a member of your family visible in car headlights are still on sale at the club’s bar for £10. It could be the best £10 we ever spend.

Another long Musings!

With kind regards
Mike Denham
[email protected]
24/11/15

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