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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.
Fri 15-Dec-06Issue 12
The much-needed Christmas break draws near, the newly invented tradition of Celebrity Come X factor winners soon to be announced and with it the promise of a soupy and forgettable Christmas number 1 – not like it used to be, oh for the days of Cliff and Mr Blobby. Some players sensibly depart for warmer climes and the emotional rollercoaster entertainment of England vs. Australia (with the new and possibly dubious tactic of pinning hopes on the tail to wag to reach 200, c’mon Monty…) Anyway, back to the hockey, and without a sparkle of frost in sight, none of the standard cancellations expected at this time of year and none of the draws of last week – it was highs and lows all round, leading to jubilation or drowning of sorrows at the Christmas disco – hard to discern in the end really.
The men’s 1s notched up a vital pre-break win, while the Men’s 2s and 4s both enjoyed several goals for their wins - early season goal-scoring hero Aido back on form (and no doubt delighted to be namechecked once again…) For the rest, Christmas parties were taking their toll which is really where we excel as we proved once again at the Clubhouse – thanks to Kate Vickery for an impeccably organised evening, and to Jackie et al for putting up with us yet again. Only a smattering of games next week, while the rest of us head for seasonal lard and lethargy.
First training sessions 2007:
Reports by: Duncan Holmes, Alex Brown, Wes Cole, Mark Jones, Billy Dowie, Chris Richman, Kate Selway, Emma Parker, Claire Whitehead.
Men’s 1s vs. Banbury: Won 1 - 0
We caught Banbury sleeping and capitalised in the first 15 min. Banbury came out very strong in the second half applying immense pressure on the Tulse Hill defence. Tulse Hill soaked up the pressure enough so to hold off Banbury to a very good 1 nil victory. Tulse Hill dug deep for this victory, one in particular a Mr Richard Banwell whom I have been informed is still in much agony. (DH)
Team: Duncan Holmes, Gary Boucher, Andrew Eames, Chris Smith, Gareth Weir, Richard Banwell, Tom Cross, Andy Balchin, Will Nurse, Rob Heath, James Huntley, Jimmy Ireson
Scorer: Jimmy
MOM: Wendell Sailor
TFC: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor…….Barmaid
Next game: 13th Jan vs. Gore Court
Men’s 2s vs. St Albans: Won 4 - 1
TH finally got back to winning ways after a record run of draws. Good quality hockey played at a fast pace was far too much for a pretty ordinary St Albans side.
Goalscorers included
Goal conceded - Will's fault obviously
Highlights
Good time had by all, rounds of tequila, THD ladies on the prowl, music??, Brixton, Kebab … (AB)
Team: vice captain can’t remember
Motm: Nick Jacobs
Scorers: John Nurse 2, Nick Jacobs 1 and Aidan
Umpire: James P and Jonesy
Next game: 16th December vs. Hampstead and Westminster
Men's 3s vs. Chiswick 2's Lost 4-2
Well that's half way through the season and we know who we should beat and will beat after Christmas. One final game this Saturday vs. Hampstead and Westminster.
Let's hope there's a team available or it'll be 5 a side.
Team: Jeremy Porter, Wes Cole, Alex McDonald, Ed Gardiner, John Holmes, Tim Sylvester, Nick Harris, Stephen Higs, Arthur Mitchell, Ollie..?. Ben Wordsworth
Scorer: Ben Wordsworth x 2
Next match: Saturday 16th Away vs. H&W 4's.
Tornados vs. PHC Chiswick 3s: Won 3-2
To the tune of 'The Christmas Song' by Nat King Cole.
Chiswick
roasting on an open fire,
Everybody
knows a win and some goals,
They
know that Santa's on his way
And
so I'm offering this simple phrase,
Team: Lee Tearle (GK), MJ, Roland Ferneaux, Charlie Krasun, James Perrott, Will Lucas, Alex Fishwick, Simon Wilshire, Si Riley, Tom Alexander, Loz Mockery & Nick Jones.
Scorer(s): Tom Alexander (2), Alex Fishwick
MOTM: Tom Alexander
Umpire: Si Newell & Chris Coleman.
Next game: Saturday 13 January vs. London Wayfarers Men's 4s
Diamonds vs. St. Albans 5: Lost 0-2
After the previous week’s draw against high-flying Spencer, and with Graeme back after his broken thumb, we were up for our first three points of the season against St. Albans, just above us in the League. Except we weren’t up for it. At all. And they were.
Gus & Hamza had outstanding games, but the rest of us didn’t. That’s it. We’re not going to get cocky or confident again. Playing the League leaders this weekend; they’ll probably hammer us. A good opportunity to change things around a bit. (BD)
Team: Paul Reid, Tom Illingworth, Billy Dowie, Gus Barnard, Graeme Evans, Seamus Betts, Hamza Begg, Simon Canter, Warren Holme, Conor Bond, Bob Morris, Irfan Begg
Next game: Saturday 16th December, Hampstead & Westminster 6s, Away at 10.30
Royals vs. Reading Rovers: Lost 0 - 6
From the highest high to the lowest low in the space of one week we finished second, badly. In short we sucked worse than a prominent, cigar smoking member of the Tornado's mum. Looks like I am going to have to bring back messers Kurly, Sherwani and Batchelor.
Team: Alex Timmer, Keith/Ken Howick, Mike McKinnon, Tom Shaw, Rich/Ricos, Tim Smith, Dom Peyton, Ed Allen, Colin, Kim Keats, Hamza, Stephen Ireton, Mark Annear, Chris Richman
Next Game: 16th Dec, Maidendead away 12noon
Women's 1s: No game
Women’s 2s vs. Spencer 2s: Lost 5-1
4-0 down at half time is a tough one to come come back from, although the glimmer of a rematch beckoned for a time when a bunch of DTCAs* turned off the flood lights after 45 minutes. (* Delinquent teenagers craving attention - no not Rosie and Emma).
A couple of daft early mistakes put us 2 down after only a few minutes. They played consistently well in the first half. We had many more short corners than they did but they defended them particularly well and our pace was never quite quick enough. Their first short corner was perfectly executed and sped in an inch inside the right post. Just couldn't manage that one myself this week.
We were better in the second half. EJ (having won us numerous short corners) got us a consolation flick which I managed to net (good job the keeper didn't know I only have one variant!) and they only scored once more. (I should mention that their 4th goal was a flick - awarded after my shins fended off the ball on the goal line - a somewhat neutral contribution to the game from me, therefore!)
Everyone put in 100% (not least because of a text received before the game which read "Go on - do it for the Thumb"). Mention to George in particular who, after her early error, made some particularly fine saves. It was an enjoyable game but the oppo were well deserved victors this week (and were a decent, friendly and fair team too). We are left pondering the might have beens as the first half of the season draws to a close: could have had 5 more points from the previous two matches - definitely should not have lost to Wimbledon, and the draw against Croydon I'm still finding hard to think of as anything other than unforgivable after such an excellent first half. But looking on the bright side - apart from those two games we have played with spirit, gusto and even skill! We are 3rd with 19 points, but the 2nd and 1st placed teams above are only one and two points ahead respectively, and we are 3 points clear of 4th placed Reigate.
May I venture to suggest that we are capable of being promoted this season? (KS)
This week's lovely losers were: George, Kato, Clare B, Lucy P, Lucy M, Shorty, Rosie, Sarah B, Emma, Wardy, Zoey and EJ
Scorer: Kato
POTM (not democratically decided but I'm nominating): George
Umpire: cheers Pipes.
Next game: friendly on 6 Jan TBA
Women’s 3s vs. Mid Surrey 1s: Lost 1- 0
Being the last game before Christmas there were, understandably, some sore heads among the ranks from the half dozen Christmas drinks parties that had already been inflicted upon us – so our warm-up and game preparation was not at its best. But ensuring we had appropriate kit seemed a given – or not as it turned out. Our illustrious captain earned herself a fine for failing to acknowledge, from pre-match research, that the opposition played in (almost) identical kit to us. So we did the best we could with a few splashes of green sock here and there, but confusion was upon us and to top it all the pitch resembled a stretch of beach (always easier to blame it on the pitch….).
Unfortunately we just didn’t play with much conviction and only really pulled the stops out in the last ten minutes. There were some promising moments but sadly no sign of the fighting spirit from last week. It was only a matter of time before the opposition took advantage of this and secured a 1 - 0 win despite some impressive saves from Dulcie throughout the game, and to whom we owe a lot for not being 15 - 0 down, together with some convincing play from our defence line.
All was not lost though with the Christmas party to look forward to. Altogether a good turn out, although at some point in the evening we lost trusty Mo, only to be replaced with some tart in a Mrs Santa Claus outfit… But nevertheless, festive fun was had by all (loved that disco…….).
Team: (As pictured - Top: L to R) Kate Vicary (Didn’t play), Emma Parker, Lou Curry, Helen Shackleton, Jen Watson, (Bottom: L to R) Rosie Le Voir, George Hills, Mo O’Brien aka Mrs Claus, Beth Little, Stacey Sellman, Rachael Biggs (Players not pictured: Sophie Carter, Dulcie Davies) [*ED - no picture!]
PoM: Dulcie Davies and Rachael Biggs
Umpire: Kath Sowter
Next Game: Saturday 13 January v. Merton 1s (Away)
Women’s 4s vs. Leatherhead Ladies 1’s: Lost 4-2
Playing the league leaders out in Leatherhead after an intensive night of office parties did not really augur well for Saturday’s game. We arrived at a building site/rubbish dump that was their home ground, and braced ourselves. The team we played really did not look like top of the league material, but they got 2 early goals while we slowly got used to the idea of just being on the pitch. The half time oranges seemed to help and the second half was much better. We even had a moment where it looked like we might turn things round with 2 goals in quick succession. Sadly they had us sussed, and got 2 more themselves, and chopped Ash on the ankle for good measure. Ah well, we’ll sort it after Christmas.
Team: Olivia Salau, Nikki Smithies, Lindsey Maclaren, Anna Stuttard, Suzy Medcalf, Lucy Snell, Lynne Ruddick, Mary Cook, Jena Kitley, Ash McDonald, Marie Smith, Kate Lievesley, Emma Billsdon, Claire Whitehead.
Goals: Claire Whitehead, Jena Kitley
Umpire: Penny Ganser
MOTM: Anna and Claire
Next Match: 13 January vs Cranleigh
Women's T5: No game
Women's 6s: No game
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