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News > Newsletter 2007/08
Newsletter 2007/08
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 05-Oct-07Issue 01
With the new season upon us and the grey soggy summer giving way to a rather lovely sunny October, a hearty welcome to the first Tribune of 2007-8. There certainly were some notable highs on the first weekend of league games – particular mention to the women’s 2s who started with a victory with a paltry 10 players, more than making up for an 11th player with an awesome display of team spirit by all accounts. The Women’s 4s also showed some of this THD esprit de corps in their 1-0 victory, while the Men’s 3s dazzled in a goal-scoring spectacular. Both the Women’s and Men’s 5s also had good victories last weekend, reports which are also included.
In spite of mixed results elsewhere, teams are still settling, incorporating new players and so on and we should maintain our optimism and lofty expectations of silverware and promotion as plenty of potential and grit was shown in all the games.
As variety is, according to the age-old adage, the spice of life, the women’s reports come first for a change, following a request. (Please feel free to make other suggestions and comments.) I will also try to remember to highlight a team of the week to take headline slot to create an element of anticipation for the arrival of this cutting edge publication in your inbox.
Good luck to all this weekend (and here’s to Scotland and England’s quarter finals…) and don’t forget to get your tickets for the Awards dinner. To relive those games past, you can enjoy the multi-volumed cliffhanging, spine-tingling, swashbuckling rollercoaster ride through last season (which ended in no relegations, no promotions and 1 trophy), the report of which is currently on the website.
Sarah Longair - Editor
Reports by: Gemma Baker, Sarah Buxton & Lucy Partington, Mo O’Brien, Hayley Smith, Kate Leckie, Jessica Beach, Tom Cross, Nick Jacob, Wes Cole, Simon Riley, Billy Dowie & Mark Jones
Womens 1s v Surbiton 1s: Lost 3-2
We have high expectations following our success of last season, so it is disappointing to start the league with a loss. Saying that, with new players in and with us missing a couple of our regulars, facing Surbiton was always going to be a tricky prospect. But we took the lead after 2 minutes – Gemma passed to B in front of goal and B calmly lifted the ball over the prostrate keeper for her first goal in something like 10 years. We kept the lead for most of the half before Surbiton equalised with a well struck reverse stick shot. Surbiton’s next two goals came in quick succession after the break – we looked shaky and they capitalised on our errors…we could have conceded more, but pipes played well to keep them out and Clare saved one off the line. As the second half progressed, the defence rallied together – our new LB, Jenny, started dominating their RW and the oppo found fewer ways through. We then started putting the pressure on their goal and after several short corners Alex converted to reduce the deficit. Despite a concerted effort and a couple of goal mouth scrambles, we were unable to find the equaliser and go away from the game knowing that we need to start putting away our chances if we want to win this league. (GB)
Squad: Pipes, Alex, Kath, Clare, Jenny, Sarah, Gemma, Faye, Bettina, Lou, Sharon, Hils & Jo W Scorers: B & Alex MotM: Faye Next Fixture: Away v Buckingham 11.00am start
Womens 2s v Merton 1s: Won 1-0
There was a great excitement high with the start of the season now here, although few things have changed from last year - Kato first one there and always on time. One team member was absent as she was crossing the Atlantic not once but twice to get from NY to San Fran (Only the new Captain knows how this was managed). Another one has headed north to lead a fancy free life of a student (but left her sister to fill the gap), leaving Biba our second in command, at the helm catching the later train, old habits die hard!
So as not to distract Jacob from his morning nap we head towards
the college to do our warm-up and I note for the record that us older
members of the team are delighted to say that we can still totally
distract the young men in the boarding houses – the house master
very politely asked us to move on back to the hockey field, Kato being
the legal one reminded him that we were bookable by appointment only!
Needless to say the younger members of the team left hurriedly blushing...
Team: Dulcie, Lucy P, Sophie, Kato, Hils, Biba, Sarah B, Emma, Jo, Beth Scorer: Emma Next game: Guildford 2s away 6 Oct
Womens 3s vs Surbiton: Lost 1-0
Well, things got off to a bumpy start for our 1st league game when we discovered that we had only in fact 10 players. Thankfully Rachel, who was currently sidelined with an ankle injury, gallantly agreed to don the uniform to make up the numbers. Things didn’t really progress much better from there. Despite several excellent movements from the backs and midfielders, we were pretty much held in our own half for the first half of the game.
Highlight of the game: Erica’s rugby tackle on her player – “terribly sorry, but you see I was going for the ball. Are you alright?” - executed extremely politely. (MO’B)
Team: Rachael Biggs, Jo Clarke, Cat Dwyer, Erica Goldsmith, George Hills, Jena Kitley, Mo O’Brien, Emma Parker, Olivia Salau, Helen Shackleton, Rosie Le Voir.
Honourable Mentions: Emma, Jo, Kat, Rosie & Mo Umpire: Si Wiltshire Next Match: Saturday 6th of October v’s Spencer 11:00am @ JAGS
Womens 4s vs. Horley Ladies: Won 1-0
Well, the long awaited first game of the season was almost over before it had begun…..with only 4 members of the opposition on the pitch at 12.30. After a delayed pushback, THD fought for possession of the ball. There were some cracking hits from Spanna and superb energy from everyone, showing the rigorous training sessions are at least having some effect (though it might not feel like it at 7.30pm on a Thursday evening…!)
The first half brought few chances on goal, but after 15 minutes, what could only be described as organised chaos... Ash scored what was to be the winning goal. The first half ended with little communication on the pitch, but Captain Lynne and two blonde banshees tried to make up for some of that on the sidelines!
The second half of the game began as it was to end. THD took control of the ball with awesome drive and skill, Kate and Julia were like Ronaldo and Giggs on the wings with a defiant defence battling hard and nothing short of a Herculean effort from Olivia in those short corners keeping the score line down. With the final score being a well fought 1-0, THD showed fighting spirit, commitment and energy that can only get better as the season gets underway….. (HS)
Team: Maurissa Allen, Julia Butler, Mary Cook, Anna Cietak, Rona Francis, Kate Leckie, Michelle Long, Ash McDonald, Suzy Metcalf, Kathryn Oliver, Louise Renshaw, Olivia Salau, Lucy Snell. Umpire: Steve Powell MOM: Anna Cietak Scorer: Ash McDonald Supporters: Hayley Smith + Housemate and Lynne Ruddick Next match: Saturday 6th October vs. Shirley Phoenix Ladies 1 – 10.15 away
Womens 5s - No game
Womens 6s vs. London Edwardians Ladies 4s: Lost 4-5
So the new season has finally arrived and it started well when Kate got a text at 5.30 on Friday evening from Charlotte saying she didn’t have her goal keeping kit…That was certainly a fine and the season hadn’t even started, (Don’t worry Charlotte we’re keeping count of all your fines till your old enough to do them!) Thanks to T5 who lent us their kit and were up and about to give it to us at 9.30 on the Saturday morning. The opposition were organised and already on the pitch doing formation warm ups when we arrived. They are one of 3 newly promoted teams and we were 0-3 down at half time. Luckily Kate had spent the previous day practicing her rousing team talk and it obviously worked as we got it together in the second half to score 4 goals.
Unfortunately for us the opposition scored another 2, leaving the final score 4-5. Well done to everyone who made it to the pitch on time and we’ll forgive you Karen for turning up late as you did score 2 of the goals when you got on the pitch and you were late because you had been working nights! Other goal scorers where Lexi, with a drag flick from the top of the D, and Vicky for her trade mark slip in round the keepers legs. All in all it was a good start to the season with lots of good passing and attacking movement with some fantastic hits into the D that no one could quite get on the end of. Perhaps if the opposition had bought a more experienced umpire then things would have been a little different? (JB)
Team: Charlotte, Jo, Kate (Captain), Clare, Jess, Katie, Lexi, Andrea, Clare, Rachael, Vicky, Gigi, Karen, Alanna. Scorers: Karen x 2, Lexi, Vicky Umpire: Richard Mead Next Match: 6th October v UCL Academicals Ladies 2nd XI – Home JAGS 12.30.
Mens 1s vs Epsom: Lost 1-2
Not the way we had all hoped to start the season. Hopefully this time, we will learn our lesson after one game and not three. The game started with THD looking solid, pressing for that all important first goal. Short corner, slipped right, Gary hitting the ball into the backboard from about 8 yards out: 1-0 - great start. We were looking good, moving the ball around, creating opportunities, however the crucial second goal did not come. Half time, an inspiring reference to necrophilia from our coach, and back out for the 2nd half.
Again - chances - hitting the post, their keeper must have been in
hot contention for MOTM. Their only real threat came from the counter
attack. It was exactly one of these attacks, coupled with a lack of
concentration, that led to a sloppy goal being conceded 1-1. THD still
had a plethora of chances, however it wasn't to be our day, another
break away by the opposing side, led to a far post tap-in for their
CF. 1-2 down, about 15 minutes to go. Scorer: Gary Boucher. MOM: Rich Banwell TFC: Tom Cross - Yellow card. Next game: 6th October vs Trojans (Southampton) - away
Mens 2s vs. Reading 2As: Lost 1-2
Not an ideal start to the season but given that we spent the days before scrapping around for players to ensure that a full side could travel to Reading and that there were only a handful of players from the 2s of last season, it was a fairly respectable result against a Reading side that fielded 14 players. With the team having never all met, let alone played together, we started slightly on the backfoot but then managed to get a bit of shape and cause a number of problems for the opposition. Tom Lufra (given that we have 4 Tom’s in the team he has agreed to change his name by deed poll to Tino!) scored a cracking debut goal as Nick went down the right and pulled the ball back for him at the top of the D to smash into the goal. Reading then scored shortly afterwards and following this we had a number of shortcorners but John Nurse was unable to come up with any of his magic to get us back in front. Mike /Tino/Tom G and Joe all battled constantly throughout the game and we pushed forward well in the second half only for them to score a fortunate goal with about 5 minutes left on the clock. Robby Layton had a great game at centre back and Tom Matthews/Tom Mottram and Matt Davenport all held the backline together.
A slightly disappointing result in that we felt unlucky to have lost but lots of positives in what could be an exciting season if the captain and captain of vice decide to play hockey instead of going for a surf and for a jog on the first weekend of the season! (NJ)
Team: Nathan Alfrey, Tom Matthews, Tom Mottram, Robby Layton, Matt Davenport, Joe Griffiths, Mike Killen, Tom Lufbra, Tom Goricke, John Nurse, Nick Jacob Umpire: Reading supplied both (dubious) Scorer: Tom Lufbra Next match: Saturday 6th October vs. Hampstead & Westminster - home
Mens 3s vs. Reading 3As: Won 6-4
Not quite what we expected. First game of the season a ten goal thriller!
For the neutrals it was simultaneously entertaining, frustrating and
hard work, for those on the pitch it was even more so. In the second
half it was almost a game of basket ball! Moments of sheer genius
such as Nick Harris's belter off the cross bar and the full pitch
four-pass team winner, were sandwiched between Pythonesque comedy
defending from all involved. Typical first day of the season stuff
at the back but if we can keep the work up front and improve at the
back then a top four spot is on the cards.
Team: Jeremy, Tim, Laurie, Wes, Ed, Foggy, John Holmes, Bungle, Timmy, Harrow, Bino, Arthur Umpire: Adam Taylor & Alex Brown Scorer: Timmy x 2, Harrow x 2, Bino, Arthur Next match: Saturday 8th October vs. H&W - 10.30am away
Tornados vs Old Loughtonians: Lost 2-3 (Friendly)
A game of 2 halves (lost the first 2-0, won the second 2-1), a battling performance, the boys done good.... yeah, all the old cliches came true. Blood was spilt by the 4s - a deflection from Axel into Will's jaw - a great save, pity it was in the oppo's D. A goal from the flick spot on debut for one of our international imports and an own goal from the OL sweeper, although I'm sure Pully will be claiming that one. Plenty of positives to be taken from the game and I thought I'd never say this about the 4s, but we had the edge on them in terms of fitness. Yes, the side with a higher average weight than most RWC scrums were running til the last whistle - if I'd given them 10 minutes of injury time a draw or a win was on the cards. (SR)
MOTM: Alex (GK) - simply awesome between the sticks Scorers: George, Pully Team: Alex, Toby, MJ, James, Ram, Tom, George, Axel, Norris, Wilsh, Pully, Will, Loz Umpire: Riley
Diamonds vs. Blackheath Heathens: Lost 1-3 (Friendly)
Our final friendly before the League starts next week. We’d scored a shedload of goals in our three previous games, but this was the first match we’d had something like our proper line-up – and we promptly fell flat on our faces.
The first half saw us without a central midfield, leaving Graeme & the defence horribly exposed to their fast attacks. 0-2 down at half time, we plugged that gap, but couldn't convert numerous chances in the second half. Old story. But we're getting used to some new faces, and some old faces in new positions, and the most positive thing is that we're looking comfortable on the ball... although we're going to ban dribbling altogether outside the oppo's 25 if our current success rate carries on – that was far & away the most common cause of our losing possession.
The Heathens have just been promoted into the Division below us, so they were suitably fired up to “show us”. Two of their players were a good deal better than any we played last season, so I suspect that their team will do well this year, and next season we may well be playing them in the same Division – we’ve just got to make sure it’s Div 6. (BD)
Team: Jeremy Porter, Olly Walton, Stuart Craig, Adam Smith, Graeme Evans, Simon Canter, JD, Conor Bond, Warren Holme, Stephen Ireton, Laurie Shotton, Tim Harris
Royals - No game
Dragons vs Spencer: Won 5-3
Riding high from last match's no show by the ever fearful Wayfarers the Dragons were keen (Ratty's favourite word) to 'take it to' Spencer... so to speak. Over the next 70 mins the bizarre drunken style of Dragons hockey proceeded to take to everyone and everywhere! When the dust settled those in THD colours were victorious and James Perrott was prone and bleeding. You can't have a victory unless you are willing to suffer sacrifice... and short of a King Herod-style-baby-slaughtering-escapade there isn't much the Dragons wouldn't do to win.
So in the words of the Bee Gees (sorta)... "We Won Again."
Scorers: Tim (2), Sharon, Ed & Sarah Team: Piggy (GK), MJ, JP, Tim, Jimbob, Ed, Ratty, Wesbian, Sharon, Sarah, Ellie, Cat, Alanna, Emma & Kath. Umpire: Si Riley
Social Events 2007/08
Regardless of what happens on the pitch this season we have a massive amount of social stuff already planned to help you celebrate/commiserate away from the pitch.
Trials & BBQ Saturday 01 September Awards Dinner Saturday 13 October Bonfire Night Saturday 03 November Quiz Night Saturday 17 November Xmas Party Saturday 08 December Dragons' Drinks Saturday 15 December Kurry-Oke Night Saturday 26 January Race Night Saturday 23 Februrary End of Season Dinner April
see www.thehockeyclub.co.uk/social/events.shtml for more details on each events. |
