Mon-30-May-11
Issue 24
Men's Reports | Women's Reports | Mixed Reports
What an end to the season! This issue of The Tribune brings you the results of the final four matches of the season.
The Men's 1s and Women's 1s were both silver medalists in their respective England Hockey Board competitions. The Men's 2s and the Tornados won their respective London Hockey League competitions. Photos of the Men's 1s and Women's 1s can be found on the club website.
At the End-Of-Season Dinner, Graham Fotheringham (M2s) and Lucy May Maxwell (W2s) were voted Players of the Season. The Most Improved awards went to Phil Fishwick (Tornados) and Florence Symington (W4s).
We have been blessed, and are really glad that the new members in 2010/11 have contributed so much to the club. The Newcomer Awards went to Joel Langley (M1s) and Emma Reed (W3s).
The Club AGM is scheduled for 20 June 2011, Monday. In further celebration of our great year, we are having a Happy Hour at Dulwich Sports Club starting 7pm. There should also be teas (update email will follow) and the AGM will start promptly at 8.30pm. Come and have a drink on the Club and mark the end of a great season!
Club Day is scheduled for 3 September 2011. Get this in your diaries now!
On behalf of the Club and committee, we would like to express our utmost gratitude to all the players, non-playing members, volunteers, coaches, suppliers, and John and Jackie of the Dulwich Sports Club! Thank you for being part of one of the most successful seasons Tulse Hill and Dulwich Hockey Club's history!
Ramana Thirumoorthy - Editor
This week's match reports from the THD Teams in action.
Reports by: Mark Hobbs, Mark Jones
16 April
England Hockey Trophy Final
Men's 1s vs West Hampstead 1s: Lost 1-5
With Will Nurse stepping into the realms of Coach for the Final, preparations for the final included 2 training sessions, a week of healthy eating, 15 pints of water drunk by 'Captain No Sex' White and a 'groinal' massage for the age-weary Richard 'the badger' Banwell. Preparations the night before included large pasta dinners, so-called 'me' time and even a cheeky insight into the life of Forrest Gump with a friend.
With the bus leaving at 9am, any chance of a lie in was immediately dashed. Everyone seemed in high spirits for what would prove to be an awesome day out. With the girls playing at 12.15, the boys enjoyed a brief chat with 'the Nurse' before relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere of the day.
With the Ladies falling victim to two clinically taken Short Corners against Wimbledon, it was time for the Men to step up and give the travelling crowd something else to cheer about. News had also filtered through thanks to DJ Cattermole and Steve 'the groper' Rhodes that Fareham had succeeded in keeping THD in South Prem 2.
West Hampstead started the brighter of the two teams and put the THD defence under some early pressure. Mark 'the Canon' Hobbs decided that THD were actually playing in white and thus proceeded in a trademark pass to their centre forward only for Avi 'the rock' Hale to save him from his blushes.
White was instrumental down the right causing problems for the West Hampstead Defence and with the forward line of Huntley, Lyes and Broadway, THD nearly had the first goal. Half time came with the score at 0-0 and with a few tactical changes we were ready for the second. However we were not prepared for what happened next.
Chris 'Smudge' Smith was unleashed into the fray, however his first input was to lose his man and allow the attacker to enter the D and slot past the keeper. Hobbs with his best efforts tried a theatrical slide to clear the ball off the line only to see the ball cross the line off his own stick. Some may say it was going wide, but… THAT BALL WAS DEFINITELY GOING IN!
THD needed a rally, but 4 more quick West Hampstead goals burst the THD bubble and all but ended the fight. There was still time for a mazy White dribble past 6 players, a solo goal from the Binocerous and even a slight bit of cramp for our fearless leader. We came, we saw, we got Bummed. End result West Hampstead 5, Tulse Hill and Dulwich 1.
Although both teams had lost, everyone seemed in high spirits and the trip back was of epic proportion, followed by Cointreau shots at 8pm in the Goat and a 3-hour boogie in the Wessex House to round off an emphatic day which everyone will remember.
With the season now over, we have had our ups and downs. We survived the relegation playoff (Thanks Fareham) and with both 1st Teams making their respective finals there really is something to look forward to for next year. Thanks must go to everyone who has helped out this year. Justin King for taking over coaching role after Hilton's short stay. Will Nurse for stepping in to coach the final (chin up about the two losses mate) and hopefully you will be playing with us next year. Thanks must also go to all the supporters who ventured down to Tonbridge School on Saturday, it was an honour to represent Tulse Hill and Dulwich and couldn't have done it without your support.
And finally a massive thank you must go to the Captain Martyn White who has been so influential this year both on and off the pitch. He has stepped up and led us through thick and thin, so I hope you all buy this man a drink at the Club Dinner and I look forward to next year.
The General over and out!! (MH)
Squad: Pigden M, Banwell R, Nurse F, Hobbs M, Hale T, Hann M, Rhodes J P, Lyes J, White M, Broadway S, Huntley J, Bewick G, Sheldon, Smith C, Casement D.
Scorers: Bino
MOTM: Everyone
TFC: Hobbs for scoring a goal!
9 April
London Higgins League Division 1 Cup Final
Men's 2s vs. St Alban's 2s: Won 2-0
No match report.
9 April
London Higgins League Division 5 Cup Final
Tornados vs. London Wayfarers Vikings: Won 2-0
It was the last game of the season and the first time the Tornados have legitimately made Finals day. Having already won promotion - by coming second in the division - this was the Tornados' chance to prove their class. The previous week saw them beat 3rd place Richmond in the Semi-Finals, giving them a record of 2 wins & 1 draw against that team. The only real final the division needed was a rematch between the Vikings & the Tornados to settle which team really was better. With the league matches between them resulting in a flattering 3-0 win for Wayfarers on the first meeting, and a 0-0 draw contrived from a mass of missed chances by the Tornados in the second meeting. This was a match poised evenly in the balance with both teams having something to prove.
The Tornados won the toss and started the brighter in a heat sapping day on the sand at Old Loughts. But after a few minutes of possession with little penetration - with the exception of a wayward shot being worn in the face by one of the Wayfarers players - the domination began to shift the other way. A plethora of short corners and circle penetrations were defended by THD to leave the sides even at half-time. Fortunately, Wayfarers had overplayed their hand, pushed too hard had little of substance to offer in the second half. A short corner against them saw the Tornados take the lead at the third attempt with a ripping shot from Alex Bristow flew across the keeper and into the inside netting. Then shortly after, a mazy run from Russ Young gained a flick after a deliberate foul by the goalie - who escaped a deserved yellow card - but Alex Carse spurned the chance to take a 2-0 lead by putting the ball well wide.
This reprieve saw Wayfarers lifted and renewed but an almost immediate turnover of possession resulted in the Tornados going straight back down the other end and doubling their advantage with a precise pushed ball just inside the post from Russ. That goal broke both the hearts & resolve of the opposition and the remainder of the half belonged to the Tornados as Wayfarers increasingly tried to force openings and went a man down after a lack of discipline. All of which played into the hands of the Tornados who deservedly boast the 2nd best defensive record in the whole of the London League, not just Division 5. With few scares, the Tornados played out the remainder of the half.
The full time whistle went and THD lifted, what was to be, the first of two Trophies that day as the 2s also went on to win their final that afternoon.
A fitting end to a season's endeavour & the end of an era. Promotion & Cup Final winners - the most successful season ever for the Tornados (M4s). (MJ)
Squad: Simon Bailey (GK), Richard Austin, Tom Alexander, Simon Wilshire, Phil Fishwick, MJ (c), Alex Bristow, Alex Carse, Mark Pulford, Phil Fishwick, Will Lucas, Rich Fenton & Russ Young.
There in spirit: Wesley Cole, James Casey & Samuel Thompson
Scorers: Bristles & Russ Young.
Coaches: Aidan Brock and Oli Clark
Umpires: Essex CHUA
16 April
England Hockey Women's Trophy Final
Women's 1s vs. Wimbledon 1s: Lost 1-2
No match report.
Dragons: No match.