Fri 22-Jan-10
Issue 13
Match Reports | Haiti Earthquake Appeal | Quiz Night
This week, the Men's teams were in action. The only victory came from the Royals, a resounding 3-0 victory too. The Men's 3s drew 1-1 with Spencer 5s. The rest of the Men's teams lost in their games.
The Women's sides were more successful on average. The Women's 6s started the year on a high, with a 4-1 win over Surbiton. The Women's 4s drew with Old Kingstonians ensuring that none of the Women's sides lost.
Also, we have the annual Quiz Night in Dulwich Sports Club on 30 January. It promises to be a fun night where you and your teammates pit your knowledge against the rest of the club. It is also open to Dulwich Sports Club members, so feel to bring your non-hockeying friends too. We hope to see as many of you there as possible!
May this year bring more playing success and more memorable off-pitch antics!
Ramana Thirumoorthy - Editor
Back to top <<<
|
 |
30-Jan-10
Quiz Night
Test your knowledge against the finest brains in the land. Rounds include current affairs, Art and literature sport, the music round and the famous picture board.
Teams max 5, £3 per person.
For further information contact fundraising@thehockeyclub.co.uk |
Back to top <<<
The devastating earthquake which struck Haiti on 12 January has shattered the lives of over one million people, with hundreds of thousands in need of urgent help. It is estimated that at least 50,000 people died.
The British Red Cross, as part of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), has launched an appeal for those affected by the earthquake.
The Red Cross has deployed seventeen emergency response units with experts in water and sanitation, logistics, IT and telecommunications, and healthcare.
We are providing medical aid and distributing vital supplies, such as shelter kits, personal hygiene kits, blankets and containers for storing drinking water to tens of thousands of people. So far, more than 220,000 litres of water have been distributed to around 24,000 people. Latrines have been built for 1,000 people.
Aid is getting through, but more is urgently needed.
You can make a donation to either the DEC appeal which fundraises on behalf of its 13 member agencies or directly to the British Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Appeal. You can also call our donation line on 0845 053 5353.
|
Back to top <<<
This weeks match reports from the THD Teams in action.
Reports by: Chris Smith, Wesley Cole, James Casey, Billy Dowie, Mark Annear & Elenid Price.
Mens Section
Mens 1s vs. Chichester: Lost 0-3
You are only as good as your last game, well we won that but unfortunately that was before Christmas, and no one had played since and it showed.
In the first game of the season THD shocked Chichester with a smash and grab 3-2 win, so we definitely had it in us to do the double over them and games against Chichester were always a battle. However a very lacklustre display by THD saw us falter without so much as a wimper, poor distribution, poor receiving, poor fitness and poor dribbling resulted in giving Chichester 80-90% possession, which must have felt like christmas to a team that thrives on having the ball.
THD's circle in the first half was like the Alamo.with us barely able to get past the half way line. Miraculously we reached half time only 1-0 down. Any better in the second half? Unfortunately not, THD stretched to find something, but all we discovered was how to concede 2 more soft goals. 0 shots, 0 short corners and 3 goals conceded..we didn't deserve any better.
However, the opportunity to score goals and get confidence presents itself this weekend when we play bottom of the table Ashford at fortress DC.
Squad: Pigden, Smith, Hopkins, Banwell, Jarrett, Hann, Huntley, Foey, Broadway, Mowat, Bewick, Alford
MOTM: Will Pigden - Mostly voted for by Chichester's female supporters!
TFC: Chris Smith
Next match: Home vs. Ashford (Middlesex)
Mens 2s vs. Spencer 3s: Lost 0-6
Tough uphill battle for the rest of the season to ensure survival…
Next match: Home vs. Reading Mens 2As, 1100hrs, JAGS
Mens 3s vs. Spencer 5s: Drew 1-1
With the snow cancelling the previous week's game it had been 5 weeks since our last run out and we all had the fear that it would show.
In the warm up our fears were realised. We had all become like an odd Gordon Brown / Gazza love child over Xmas; fat, slow, slightly drunk, partially sighted and offensive. But as we got into the game we actually had some moves, probably more than pre-Christmas. A decent goal from the opposition on the break frustrated us as we had most of the possession and high work rate. Solid running from Andy and Potty up front tired their defence allowing Sparky to run rings around their back line.
Our make shift defence coped well with the pressure and allowed us to build moves through the whole pitch. A goal felt inevitable. In the end everything but a goal happened. Andy deflected a hit around his body onto the post and in the second half a diving stick onto the far post deflected another ball onto the same upright.
But we didn't resign ourselves to another loss and kept the pressure on and just reward came when a great dive from Andy saved a ball running off the back line and his wobble around the D ended in a cross which was slammed into net by Bungle.
Overall one of those games we felt we should have won and see it as points lost rather than won. However you don't argue with a point when rooted to the foot of the table.(WC)
Squad: Steve, Wes Cole, Tim Jones, Rob Hughes, Foggy, Franky, Joe Griffiths, Bungle, Sparky, Andy Gandell, Nick Harris, Potty
Scorers: Graeme Fotherington
MOTM: Andy Gandell
TFC: Wes Cole
Umpires: Billy Dowie, Mark Annear
Next match: Away vs. Reading 3s, 1200hrs
Tornados vs. Spencer 6s: Lost 0-1
The Saturday morning downpour seemed to perfectly coincide with the men's fours game at Battersea Park.
The first of these fixtures was a fraught 2-2 draw and had it not been for the inclement weather it could have been another firey game. Instead it was hard slog from both sides with few opportunities going to either team.
A goal line scramble was as close as the Tornados got to going one-nil up. The opposition rather misguidedly congratulated each other on their superb hockey.
In fact it was THD who were playing the better hockey in the first half and going into half time one to the bad was not a fair reflection of the game.
We went into the beginning of the second half knowing there was a small hill to climb but we didn't manage it. A great run put Rob through but the goal keeper saved well to deny him. So too at the other end Bailey stopped us going two down with a nifty bit of work.
The equaliser didn't materialise and it seemed that Spencer's tactic of scoring one and throwing themselves behind the ball had once again paid dividends. (JC)
Squad: Si, Wilsh, Fents, Jonesy, Tom, Charlie, Rob, Big Fish, Little Fish, Pully, James, Aido, Ben
Next match: Home vs. Reading Renegades, 1230hrs, JAGS
Diamonds vs. Reading Renegades: Lost 0-1
OK, so we lost again. And to a side near the bottom with us. And yet again, we did not play to our best. But for all that, it was an entertaining game, played in a wonderful spirit. and maybe we learnt something.
Reading turned up with their Vets team, explaining that the old Renegades had been disbanded. These guys were too wise (and old, but that's not the point) to run with the ball and played the sort of hockey I wish we would - their first thought was always to look for a pass. And since we had not yet sorted out our marking in the new formation, they did always have someone to pass to. They scored early, and gave us very little in the first half.
After the break, we upped our game considerably, creating several chances and we looked like we could actually win it. But a lack of fitness - and at least three injuries - saw us peter out. They themselves then missed a few of their own chances to extend their lead. So we lost 0-1, and are a mere two points off the bottom. (BD)
Squad: Steve Butcher, Trem Parvin, Rob Patrick, Ben Salsbury, Graeme Evans, Simon Canter, Olly Walton, Marc Antoine, Adam Smith, Sam Younger, Nick Allen, Irfan Begg, Joe Del Greco, Tim Harris
Umpires: Billy Dowie
Next match: Away vs. Wimbledon 6s
Royals vs. H&W Thirsts: Won 3-0
An excellent team performance begat this satisfying victory - the more so in the light of a disheartening pre-Christmas run.
From the very off, whilst we gifted our opponents an encouraging opening, we yielded nothing but skittish breaks for twenty minutes before forcing our way into their own territory. Within two short corners we found ourselves in the lead - a Steve Walsh drill from a tight angle. By half-time, we were two to the good as a fine drill from James Perrott into the D found the opposition defence floundering, enabling Steve to double his tally with a dart around both last man and his confounded keeper.
What followed was one of the more satisfying of second half performances, as our midfield and defence held back much of the Hampstead threat, and our attack held camp in our opponents' final third. Ed Taylor Jones - with his first ever goal for THD in an adult competitive game - added the honours by slotting the ball through perhaps five players' legs, sticks and pads crowded before him: an impressive finish. Four or five short corners followed, one of which led to a penalty flick as a Hampstead body found itself the last protection of the Hampstead line, but we had to rest happy with "just" three.
There is of course plenty to work on - but it is good to start 2010 with victory.
(MA)
Squad: Jon Bayliss (c), Ben Slater, Paul Reid, Keith Howick, Adrian Leung, Ed Taylor Jones, Tim Smith, Robbie Fleck, James Perrott, Adam Bond, Ollie Norris, Oli Carruthers, Steve Walsh, Mark Annear (14)
Scorers: Steve Walsh 2, Ed Taylor Jones
MOTM: An excellent team performance. Were we willing (or had remembered) to award "team votes" we would almost certainly have done, but distinguished performances were made by Jon Bayliss, Robbie Fleck, Ben Slater and James Perrott, while the "honourable mention" category was taken in a noteworthy performance by Ed Taylor Jones. Winner though was Steve Walsh, a consistent threat in the final third.
Special Moment of the Day: No questions here. Although the skipper's ability to email himself rather than his team was worthy of the "special" label, as too Adam Bond's (in)ability to count between "two" and "four" whilst trying to recount the scoreline, the (dis-) honourable mention was reserved for Ed Taylor Jones' injuring of a teammate moments before the start, and Tim Smith's rather close relationship with London Transport. The winner though, by an overwhelming margin, was Steve "hat-trick avoidance by missing a penalty flick" Walsh.
Umpires: Steve Butcher and Mark Jones
Next match: Away vs. Richmond Redoubtables
Saracens vs. Indian Gymkhana: Postponed
Next match: Home vs. PHC Chiswick 5s, 1500hrs, CPB
Back to top <<<
Womens Section
Womens 1s: No match
Next match: 30 January, Away vs. Henley 1s
Womens 2s vs Old Kingstonians 1s: Postponed
Next match: Home vs. Wanderers 3s, 1430hrs, DC
Womens 3s: No match
Next match: Home vs. Old Georgians 1s, 1030hrs, CPB
Womens 4s vs. Old Kingstonian 2s: Drew 2-2
Well, with a bitterly cold wind and driving rain greeting our appearance on the pitch, the warmth of Christmas seemed a distant memory. Although the lead in our legs seemed to indicate a good time had been had (eaten and drunk) over the festive period.
Our bête noir this season has been playing against teams without goal keepers and the jinx struck again!
Facing a team with 11 outfield players (and a sub) we struggled to make any decisive moves, for all the pretty passing in the midfield.
Then we went one-nil down. And then two-nil. Not what the doctor, or indeed Will, Gemma and Felix shouting from the sidelines had ordered!
But, a cracking strike from Vicky playing her first game for the 4s got us back in contention. Then Alanna, with one of her trademark chips, sent the opposition players on the line diving for cover to take us level.
From then on the performance stepped up a gear and, bar a few scares, we started to dominate the game. But that winning goal just wouldn't come with multiple near-open goals missed, and Vicky taking Gemma's suggestion to just run the ball across the line a little too literally…
But overall, a very positive first game back!
Team: Kat (c), Emily, Lucy, Alanna, Vicky, Helen F, Helen B, Lynne, Suzi, Suzanna, Mary, Michelle, Ali
Scorers: Vicky, Alanna
Next match: 10.30 v Epsom 4s, away.
Womens 5s: No match
Next match: Home vs. Purley Walcountians 2s, 1200hrs. CPB
Womens 6s vs. Surbiton 7s: Won 4-1
Well, there was no chance that a few extra pounds, a slight lack of exercise, an early start or a large amount of snow was going to hold us back for our returning match after Christmas....!
Following a promising training session, and actually arriving at Surbiton on time (I don't know who's fault that was?!) there was a positive buzz to the dewy 10 'o clock air we were all breathing!
The first half was adrenalin packed with an amazing goal from the lovely Claire Dees. We were forced back down to Earth when Surbiton scored an early equaliser but Bridget followed up with x2 lady-like winners - one of which a beautiful knock into the goal from a slick pass from Mags off a short corner. To ensure our safety Claire Dees then slapped another into the mix! The match didn't come without injuries though as the wet astro proved controlling the ball wasn't actually that easy, resulting in both forwards for both teams acquiring the same knee injury. (Get well soon Jenna!)
By half time we were 4-1 up, and although there were no more goals in the second half, GK Emily was on great form and we managed to keep up the good play and kept possession preventing Surbiton from scoring again.
Our first win couldn't have arrived on a better day if we'd actually organised it, as we moved on to our '6's Christmas Social' that evening. Through many shots and fines, wigs and photos we all survived and had a very 'merry' evening celebrating our success!
All we need to do now is continue with more of the same, so that every Saturday can be celebrated in a similar manner! (LP)
Squad Emily(GK), Alison, Hannah, Sinead, Len, Olivia, Bridget, Ellie, Mags, Gemma, Jenna, Sarah W, Katie MC, Claire D.
Scorers: Claire Dees (2), Bridget Easton (2)
Umpires: Andrea Beattie.
Next match: Home vs. Old Freemen's Women's 1s, 1330hrs, DC
Back to top <<<
Mixed Section
Dragons: No match.
No match report.
Next match: 31st January, Home vs. Wanderers Sinners, 1230hrs, BP
Back to top <<<
|
General News
