Newsletter 2006/07

Since 2003/04 the club has produced weekly match reports. From the start of the 2005/06 season this became a weekly newsletter, distributed during the season, containing match reports from each of the games played that weekend as well as other key information and a selection of adverts and offers.

Thurs 21-Sep-06

Pre-Season Issue 2

Headline news this week is the sudden departure of our social secretary, 3s captain and all round hockey hero, JT. While one might question throwing in all such accolades and gritty urban living to relocate to the West Country, the pace of life seems to be getting to him in his twilight years. We wish him all the best and thank him for his dedication and enthusiasm over the last few years. The ladies of the club will be at a loss without his care and attention, and socials will not be the same without his dulcet tones on the microphone. JT, we salute you.

More friendlies this week brought a handful of draws, a few losses and a good win for the Diamonds. Without a doubt, however, team of the week must be the Dragons with their goal fest on Sunday seeing Aido discover his inner centre forward and score his entire career's worth in one match.

Also, Tiffany Sands from the Corporate Games emailed Mark to ask if anyone is interested in earning a bit of cash to run the hockey area of their London event - email tiffany@corporate-games.com if you're interested.

Sarah Longair - Tribune Editor

match reports by: Chris Coleman, Wes Cole, Graeme Evans, MJ & Kate Selway.

Men's 1s vs. Richmond 1s L0-2

Men's 2s vs. Hampstead and Westminster 3s Lost 0-3

If football is a game of two halves then this was a game of three thirds. Unfortunately, two of these thirds belong to them! For the first twenty three and a third minutes we passed the ball around the park and had Hampstead and Westminster chasing the game. All this possession obviously ended up leading to a short corner to them which they promptly scored from. This led to us relinquishing the advantage and abandoning the flowing possession hockey that had us on top for much of the first half. Long balls where played, possession was conceded, goals were leaked, game was lost. The feeling that Hampstead and Westminster are beatable and one of the stronger teams in our league is an encouraging thought. On the upside I was able to spend all day on Tuesday speaking like a pirate on "National Speak Like a Pirate Day". Now I can't wait for the 29th of October for "National Feed the Birds Day". (CC)

Team: Will Pigden (GK), Chris Coleman, Dan Ellis, Ed Stevenson, Aidan Brock, Joe Griff, John Nurse, Matt Groom, Tom Hulbert*, Steve Reeves, Nick Jacob, Ben Wordsworth, Tim Sylvester, Ed Marland

Umpire: Steve Reeves/Aidan Brock

Scorer: Still Nobody

Next match: Saturday 23rd September vs. Old Loughtonians 2s - 14.30 away

Men's 3s vs. Hampstead and Westminster (Friendly) Lost 2-0

A tough one for the opening game of the season, even though it was a friendly, they put 7 passed us with no reply last year and many could still feel the scars. As with all first games, it was a case of introductions and remembering names then 70 minutes of painful suffering as the BBQ's and beer reminded us of why we should have gone running on Monday nights. We started off well and took control of the game early on with some of the best switching across the back ever seen in the 3's. This bought us the time we needed to plan our attacks and made them do the running. Hampstead's attacks were reduced to shots from the by-line after stubborn TH defending and went into the break 0-0 pretty happy with ourselves. After the break it was much of the same and only an excellent short corner deflected inside the far post put Hampstead ahead. As legs tired substitutions rolled well and a break away from Tim Sylvester and Lyness almost equalised was it not for a bit more sharpness in our shooting. A sloppy 2nd goal late on put us 2-0 down but not a result Hampstead will be happy with after their 15 in last 3 games against us they will not be looking forward to coming to the mighty Dulwich for the league game. Thanks to Mark for umpiring, Aido for flexing his thighs in midfield and all for putting in 100% in a difficult game. (WC) P.S . Lyness - please find and wash your kit you disgrace

Team: Jeremy Porter, Wes Cole, Aidan Brock, Robby Layton, Tom Hulbert, David Fogden, Edward Gardiner, Will Lucas, Kevin Redman, Alex McDonald, Steve Reeves, Graeme Lyness, Tim Sylvester.

Umpire: Mark Jones

Scorer: N/A

Next match: Saturday 23rd Sep vs. Old Loughts 3's - (Away) 11:30

Tornados vs Hampstead & Westminster 7s Lost 2-4

Second week of preseason and second loss - but there is no need to shout 'emergency' yet! This weekend saw a massive improvement and the prospects for this season were taken out of 'ICU'. Returning players 'injected' some much needed pace and at times the approach play was 'clinical', yet there was still place for the 'hospital' pass! But we favour the 'drip drip' approach and on the road to 'recovery' isn't long... 'rehab' from the summer will be completed by the time the season starts. Fortunately some things have remained unaffected such as the team's ability to get 'plastered' and attempts to 'doctor' fines sessions. Overall though, things are starting to look quite 'healthy'! (MJ)

Team: Jeremy Porter (GK), MJ, Roly Ferneaux, James Perrott, Arthur Mitchell, Simon Wilshire, Nick Harris, Alex Fishwick, Tom Alexander, Nick Jones, Bob Morris, Loz Mockery & Si Riley.

Scorer(s): Nick Jones & Bob Morris

Man of the Match: Roly Ferneaux

Umpire: Wes Cole

Diamonds vs. Hampstead & Westminster Thirsts Won 2-1

Thankfully, the horrific detail of the previous week's defeat was deemed unsuitable for a family publication such as the Tribune. At least, after such a mauling, the season could only get better. And it did, with a much more convincing performance against H&W Thirsts, the team that the Diamonds beat last season to secure promotion. The game in March was played at a blistering pace and on something that resembled a hockey pitch, rather than the bouncy football pitch which this second astro at Paddington Rec has become since being relaid. The Diamonds still boast a few players with experience of playing on the natural green stuff, although mercifully the average age of the side was reduced on Saturday by an intake of students, all of whom performed brilliantly. They included flying Dutchman Thomas de Waal - scorer of both THD goals - and defenders Seamus Betts and Stephen Higgs, who played with composure beyond their years. Unfortunately, Thomas is only here for a couple more weeks, but in light of his goals, which included a fine short-corner strike in the last minute, there may yet be a call to Amsterdam at some point this season. (GE)

Team: Will Pidgen (Gk), Graeme Evans, Richard Batty, Warren Holme, Simon Canter, Dominic Peyton, Tom Illingworth, Thomas de Waal, Seamus Betts, Tom Shaw, Stephen Higgs, Warren Bannister, Mark Annear.

Scorer: Thomas de Waal (2)

Umpire: Si Riley

Next game: Saturday 23rd September. Home to Old Loughtonians 5s. JAGs, 11:00 am.

Ladies 1s v Reading 1A (friendly) Drew 3-3

Following a sodden training session Wednesday night, much of the pre-game chit-chat was comparing mouldy gloves, soggy handles and damp astros. But with this being our last training game ahead of the league starting next week, we wanted to go out and put on a good performance, so we made sure we paid attention to Will's pep-talk and focused on what we were aiming to do. We welcomed back the lovely Hils, plus two new additions, Lisa and Sharon, who have already proved they are going to be an asset to the team. The game started well enough - Reading, being in the league above, were going to be a tough opposition and they came out hard. But we reacted well and EJ gave us the lead with a shot from an unbelievably tight angle that surprised not only the keeper but both teams and most likely EJ too. It was fairly short lived though and Reading's organised attack caught us on the break and we were all square going into half time. The second half was much of the same, albeit slightly more tired and more wayward passes! But everyone battled hard, we used our sub well, and two goals from Sharon cancelled out Reading's two successful short corners to give us a well earned draw.

Team: Pipes, Alex Crawford, Kath Sowter, Clare Byrne, Hilary Collins, Nicky Prior, Bettina Wolff, Lisa Cox, Gemma Baker, EJ Barry, Lou Morgan & Sharon Smith

Scorers: EJ & Sharon (2)

MotM: Alex

Umpires: Marilyn & Ferret (many thanks to you both)

Next match: Away v Maidenhead 12pm start (league)

Womens 2s vs Womens 3s Drew 0-0

This was a game full of Kates and Lucys, except that one of the Kates wished she was called Penny (which would have meant she might have scored 7 goals rather than missed them all) and the other Kate was simply reduced to a number in the second half - not that being called 28 did for our Blumes in the slightest - what with her sights being on South East Asia and all. The Lucys were stalwart across the back line. In fact Shorty is soon changing her name to Lucy Too so that we can have 4 of them. That leaves only the midfield, but we've yet to find a universal moniker for them so until then they will have to be referred to as individuals - Sarah, Biba, Claire, plus Harriet on the right wing. We did everything but score, but that was mainly my fault. Have the goal posts got closer together since the last time I played up front? Still, a good competitive inter-club training match played in a fine spirit. Now, ... I know Penny's 9 months pregnant, but where's her phone number .... ? (KS)

Team: Kate Kate Lucy Lucy Lucy Cuthbert Dibble Grub (plus Pipes, Biba, Longgers, Claire, Harriet & Shorty)

And thanks to the 4 umpires; Kath, Gemma, Marilyn and Ferrett

Next game: 11.00 DC, 23 Sept v Old Georgians, 1st league game.

Womens 4s vs Womens 5s Draw: 2-2

Dragons vs London Edwardians Won 8-6

There were three fish stuck in a tank... and the second one turned to the first and said... "Y'Know we should get out of here before the US army finds us!"... later on that day there were two buddhist priests and a buddhist gorilla dressed in an orange robe wandering down the road, the first buddhist said to the second one "Shall we go to the zoo?", to which the second said "What if it's locked?". "Don't worry" said the first one "We've got a monk-key!". A little girl sat on her Gran's lap and said "Will you tell me a story?". Her Gran replied... "Of course... how about the one with 13 Dragons playing in snow white and a dwarf that scores 7 goals?"... "Well..." said the girl, "...I was only being friendly but if you're gonna take the piss out of me I'll go out instead!" (MJ)

Team: Jeremy Porter (GK), MJ, Aido, Wilsh, Ratty, Camel, Robby, Selina, Lucy S, Cat, Lou C & Jo Lee.

Scorer(s): Aido (7) & Ratty.

Man of the Match: Aido

Umpire: Si Riley

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