THEY DID IT! PROMOTION FOR MEN’S 1STS
www.magpies-hockey.co.uk
After the results on Saturday 14 February it was six games from six for the Men’s 1sts to win to clinch the East Premier ‘A’ title and with it a return to the national league after a break of three seasons. Now it is no games with the task done and dusted against Felixstowe last Saturday at Weybread in the early start time of 11.00am. So it is many congratulations to skipper Mark Wheelhouse, vice-captain Leigh Sitch, player-coach Ben Wright (not forgetting the contribution made by former coach Les Howlett), manager Steve Leate and the rest of the squad on this outstanding achievement.
A score line of 6-0 in favour of Magpies might suggest an easy victory but Felixstowe ensured this was far from the case and especially so until just before half time. Ben Wright (who had nearly scored in the opening five seconds when deflecting a Toby Price aerial just over the bar) converted a penalty corner on twenty minutes to ease tension in the large home crowd. Three minutes before half time Simon Hipwell scored his first of the season (later claiming it was a more vital goal than the opener!) and Andy Hipwell made it 3-0 on the cusp of the break to make one’s half time coffee taste better than ever. MOTM James Baker then took centre stage scoring twice (one a trademark deft lob) before Ben made it six nil. It would have been more but for a fine performance in goal for Felixstowe by ex-Magpie Marc Lloyd. The game was well umpired by Steve Mayhew and Henry Wanchoo and afterwards the Felixstowe players sportingly joined in the applause for the home team.
This triumph for Magpies is remarkable when one considers that the team went into the season without several regulars, namely Peter Bale, Fred Merrett, goalkeeper Rees Leonard, David Ling, Tom Sumner and Stuart Leateplus Sam Moore (injured) and with Thomas Ridley travelling for the second half of season. But in the event these losses were compensated for by the very welcome return of Ben Wright (with his coaching and haul of 33 goals), James Baker, Will Martin, Andy Hipwell (for the last five games) and goalkeeper John Livings (after Christmas) plus the arrival of Max Macaulay and goalkeeper Matt Collinge and the stepping up from the seconds of Will Dunn, Martin Fields, James Meek and Sam Rowe. We’ll worry about next season in due course. For now let’s enjoy this achievement!
The club had another fine achievement to celebrate last Saturday with the U18 Girls winning the England Hockey Plate at the Lee Valley Sports Centre. In the semis they beat Plymouth Marjon 1-0 with a goal by Catherine Kilbourn midway through the first half after good work by Amy Campbell and in the final they beat hot favourites Reading 2-1, Reading having earlier beaten Alderley Edge 2-0. Magpies took the lead against Reading with an Amy Campbell deflection at a penalty corner only for Reading to equalise soon afterwards. Just before half time Magpies received a big setback with captain Kira Wooltorton suffering a dislocated right kneecap which fortunately went back in before Kira was taken to the medical centre where she received excellent treatment. Magpies regrouped and Catherine scored what turned out to be the winner after another strong run by Amy. But before they were able to celebrate their victory they were forced into some resolute defending including some excellent saves by young goalkeeper Millie Norman. Very well done to Kira and her team and to coach David Brook and manager Nigel Wooltorton.
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HARLESTON MAGPIES MAY DAY WEEKEND HOCKEY FESTIVAL 2015
(Message from James Smith)
Yes – league hockey has ended (or very nearly) but the season is not over just yet. Once again we are organising the May Day Weekend Hockey Festival. Don’t miss out on your chance to play in our club tournament. The mixed tournament is on Saturday 2nd May, starting at 10.30am, and is open to all Magpies who regularly play men’s or ladies’ league hockey. All you need to do is grab yourselves a group of friends from the club, or from schooldays etc., decide upon a name for your team and let me know.
If you are interested in playing but can’t quite pull enough players together or just don’t know who to approach to make a team let me know and I will see what I can do. The aim is to have 20 mixed teams at the event, slowly but surely whittling down numbers to a cup and plate final at around 5.00pm playing on all hockey surfaces – yes this includes grass!
Please drop me an email at ssmith091 or ring me 01379 898767 / 07800 699074.
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In addition to the Men’s 1sts the Ladies’ 4ths and Men’s 5ths were in action at Weybread last Saturday with both teams playing their last matches of the season. The Ladies’ 4ths drew 3-3 (Laura Tibbenham, Sophie Long, Anna Harrod) with Dereham 3rds while the Men’s 5ths were up against Norwich Dragons 4ths who went into the game needing a draw to clinch the East Division 5NE title. There was little to choose between the teams in a well-contested game played in a good spirit. Magpies were caught napping in the opening seconds of the second half and they were unable to find the equaliser they deserved. Congratulations to Dragons on their achievement and good luck next season.
Away for home there were wins for the Ladies’ 3rds, Ladies’ 5ths and Boys’ Development while there were defeats for the Men’s 2nds and Ladies’ 6ths. The Ladies’ 3rds beat Diss 7-0 (Tor Findlay 2, Izzy Knowles 2, Lucy Field, Caz Aldous-Goodge, Charlotte Rourke-Beasley) to record their twelfth win in their last 14 matches to finish third in their league while the Ladies’ 5ths twice came from behind to beat Lowestoft Railway 3-2 (Millie Preece, Matilda Warde-Aldam 2) to move into third place in their league. Meanwhile the Boys’ Development were beating Pelicans 2-1 with Alex Kilbourn’s second goal going in off the goalkeeper’s skateboard which was on the pitch near one of his posts! The Boys’ Development and the Ladies’ 5ths bring the curtain down on the league season when they play Dereham and Broadland 2nds, respectively, at home on Saturday week. Please see the website for match times and best wishes to both teams. The Men’s 2nds lost 11-3 (Archie Winter, David Francis 2) against Saffron Walden to round-off their topsy-turvy season which thankfully saw them escape relegation while the Ladies’ 6ths went down 2-1 (Elle Eglington) to Dereham 4ths. The Ladies’ 6ths also played the Ladies’ 5ths in a re-arranged match last Wednesday evening losing 6-1. The scorers for the 5ths were Millie Preece 4, Alice Woollatt and Matilda Warde-Aldam with Keira Booty replying for the 6ths.
FRIENDLY REMINDERS
SUMMER HOCKEY – ARE YOU INTERESTED? IF SO THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE! We have had invitations to the Norwich Dragons and Broadland mixed leagues and Tristan Baynes would like to gauge the interest in either entering these leagues or just playing some dates at Magpies. Please contact Tristan at tabaynes if you are interested.
SENIOR CLUB AWARDS NIGHT (Saturday 11 April, Clubhouse, 7.30pm) – all members welcome. Please come. You might receive an award!
MAGPIES SUMMER HOCKEY TRAINING 2015 for Boys and Girls starts on Friday 24 April. Please Click here to view leaflet
Other news and comment
a) Congratulations to Blake Elliott on attaining his Level 2 Coaching Award.
b) It is also congratulations to the U10 Girls ‘A’ and U12 Girls ‘A’ & ‘B’ who won their events in the awful weather at the Alex Hill Memorial Minis at Dereham HC last Sunday and to the U10 Girls ‘B’ and U12 Boys who were runners-up.
c) It is ‘thank you’ to Pat Leate for the splendid photographs of the Men’s 1sts she has provided all season for the local press and club website.
d) A new LED scoreboard for the water-based pitch has been ordered for next season. No doubt this will require a further training course for my team of skilled operatives! The cost of the board has been met by crowd funding (to use a modern term) and those involved will be thanked personally in writing in due course in addition to a ‘thank you’ here and now.
e) Fizz & Canapés Evening – it is also thanks to the organising committee and to everyone who supported this event last Saturday. It was a very enjoyable evening (with the Men’s 1sts in good heart (!)) raising £800 for club funds.
Musings will be back in two week’s time with further reflections on the past few months and a look ahead at the hockey still to be played before we say goodbye to the 2014-15 season.
With kind regards
Mike Denham
31/3/15
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