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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 30-Nov-07Issue 09
So Sarah has abandoned the Tribune for holiday type reasons this week - and after her hard work so far... why the hell not! That sadly leaves you in my incapable hands for a short while. Unfortunatley, it would seem that along with Sarah's departure a lot of good fortune appeared to have left the sides at the weekend too...
Still let's not harp on about that it is, after all, the taking part that counts... of course you have to be there to take part - but that's another story.
Before leaving you with the reports worthy mentions should go to the 1s - both lots - as they managed to win two league games and a trophy game between them this weekend. After last year it is certainly good to see the Mens 1s challenging at the correct end of the table! Also the Womens 2s have been getting biblical on their opposition... last weeks 11-1 win was followed up by an equally impressive 7-0 win.
However, the plaudits have to be split between the Diamonds and the Womens 6s. Both are in the midst of a very impressive run of results... the 6s seems to have found the habit of winning weekly - something my memory struggles to remember them doing much of in the past - and the Diamonds who, having survived last year after gaining promotion, seem in real danger of stepping up again!
So enjoy the reports and get your tickets for the Xmas party...
Mark Jones - Sub-Editor (as in substitute not an actual sub-editor)
Reports by: Chris Smith, Tim Sylvester, Claire Montagu, Gemma Baker, Monique O'Brien, Simon Riley, Billy Dowie, Lucy Muldoon, Jacqui Kemp, Anna Stuttard, Mark Jones & a collective report from the Royals.
Men's 1s vs. Eastcote: Won 1-0
Team: Will Pigden, Richard Banwell, Alex Brown, Gareth Weir, Chris Smith, Gary Boucher, Andy Balchin, James Ireson, James Huntley, Dave Casement, Arthur Mitchell, Tom Martin
Scorer: Andy Balchin (PS)
Mens 2s vs. Wimbledon: Drew 3-3
After the epic 3-3 of last week with the added controversy of the bell of the day bringing controversy by deciding that a 66 minute game was plenty long enough (what do England Hockey know anyway?!), the season ticket holders who come to watch the THD Men’s 2s may have appreciated a break for their hearts this week. Well no such luck!!
The excitement of the fans was only multiplied by the guest appearance of the Nurse brothers (thanks to both of you) and the game started at the pace expected and despite Wimbledon shading the first half of possession, THD went in leading at half time. A second half that followed including goals, flicks and excitement for all. We led 3 times in the game but only ended up coming away with a point which looking back was probably a fair result.
A big game against fellow strugglers Surbiton on Saturday and I defy any die hard THD fan not to make to away trip when we go in search of our second maximum points of the season.
Game faces on boys!!
Team: Chris Coleman, Felix Nurse, Fergus Jagger, Will Nurse, John Craven, James Vicary, Mike Killen , Nick Jacob, Paul Harvey, Nathan Alfrey (GK), Dan Ellis , Robby Layton
Umpire: Kath Oliver and Pipes
Scorer: Will Nurse (2), Felix Nurse
Next match: Saturday 1st December vs. Surbiton - 14.00 away
Men's 3s vs. Wimbledon 4’s: Lost 4-2
Calling this match frustrating would be much like saying that farmers found the recent Foot and Mouth outbreak ‘inconvenient’. Somehow, the word just doesn’t quite cover it.
We were better than them for the first 35 and they barely got out of their own half, but we still couldn’t score. Second half started and we were better yet, and for about 7 or 8 minutes they barely touched the ball. Then they scored three in as many minutes, all on the break, before getting a cheeky fourth from a penalty stroke.
We lost our composure somewhat after this goal-flurry, but managed
to pull two back at the death – mainly thanks to their (supposedly)
first team keeper who watched casually as Toby’s shot rolled
past his left foot into the corner, and equally as casually when with
the last move of the game, John flicked from a broken down short corner
into the side netting from 16 yards.
Team: Jez, Laurie, Tim J, Wes, Sam, Conor, George, Harrow, John, Joe, Toby, Tim S, Wimbledon 1’s keeper.
Tornados vs. Old Loughtonians Foresters: Lost 5-1
I blame the early start. No, really. Meeting at 10:30 up in Birds-of-a-feather country requires an obscenely early departure from Sarf Lahndan. As demonstrated by 2 of our squad arriving 10 and 20 minutes into the game. Not an ideal start for a squad of 11. Still, Ram at least got a lift to the pitch from some lovely ladies from Bowden. Northerners to the rescue again.
Anyhow, that must be the reason we fell asleep for 15 minutes in the second half... and gifted them 3 goals in the process. Up 'til then things were looking promising - option 2 on our now infamous short corner routine (all our options involve the more portly of our squad leathering the ball goalwards at supersonic speeds) had resulted in the equalising goal and we were looking threatening with every attack.
And then.... snooze time.
We woke up and it was over as a contest.
As ever, the oppo skipper Renzo was as gracious in victory as in defeat. Just a pity the latter is such a rarity. So, back to the bar to raise funds for the end of season tour. Which, given the 2 late arrivals meant a substantial sum was added to the kitty and the skipper being voted DOTD for doing a runner before the fines session started - bring plenty of dosh this week Mr Jones.
Squad: Alex (GK), MJ, Ram (late arrival no. 2), Wilsh, Toby, The Vicar, Riley, Tom A, AxelFish, Will (late arrival no. 1), Nozzer
MOTM: Alex (GK)
Diamonds vs. Old Loughtonians 5ths: Won 2-1
We didn’t try to sit back on our lead in the second half, but we could never dominate the midfield sufficiently to keep them on the back foot, hence we had to survive some scary moments before the final whistle. The closest either side came to scoring in the second half was from our free hit at the top of the D, when the ball slammed into the backboards after taking a very audible deflection on the way; but, with two defenders’ sticks in close proximity to his, Tim’s animated goal celebration couldn’t convince either umpire that they’d actually seen enough to award the goal.
Royals vs. Chiswick 5s: Lost 5-0
This season has been a strange one so far for London's strongest men's team. The Royals - having ably and mightily propped up the entire Higgins League last year - have found themselves searching for a win and searching for inspiration.
The impact on this fine team has been nothing short of all-pervasive. Shorn of a wealth of knowledge and experience, we have, like some modern age collective, shared captaincy from time to time amongst ourselves (although, like Victorian street urchins without Fagin’s guidance, we have all but got our comeuppance thus far!). The experience though has been, it is hoped, educational.
This week, we have even contemplated a renaming - from the "Royals" to the "Republicans". The re-branding of a fine team of accountants, lawyers, doctors, data analysts, bankers, public schoolboys and their ilk has never been more apt.
And for a team, we are always seeking to break new ground and blood new players. In Feltham this weekend, a pair of Iains and Academy Ben (Protheroe - his first game at senior level) made their respective debuts in midfield and up front - and one (Leverett) even came within a sixpence of converting a well-timed goal from the end of a drag flick that was (almost) right on the money.
As for the new blood - well, our splendid doctor Mike McKinnon was at one time seen helping off an injured opponent who had collapsed with a pulled calf muscle in the D (the less said about the reverse incident, when Mike himself hobbled off with a similar injury and the umpire refused to stop play because he was still standing, perhaps the better). It just goes to show though - the collective makes you tougher.
But it was not enough. Though throughout the encounter we had periods where we looked like getting a reward, and had our opponents on the back foot, the pressure without goals that has been a symptom of this season thus far told once more. Redemption could not come to us, like last week, via Keith Howick’s storming short corner striking; nor the thumping force of Ben Slater as he tumbled into striking position. Alas so it was, despite stoic defending, a fine and thrusting midfield, and a forward line that tried admirably, but ultimately in vain to pressure the opposition goal, Chiswick managed to steal in one-to-many times and with some light-fingered play, pinched the game from us.
All in all, it was a brave day out. Given 24 hours to raise a team, we managed it, travelled into the silvery grimness of a West London afternoon and gave account.
The team would also like to mention the following, to whom we are indebted for this weekend:
To the team: Matheu Chambers; Ben Slater, Keith “Red Ken” Howick, Mike McKinnon, Mark Annear; Adam Bond, Doug Heard, Iain Leverett, Ian Townsend; Akash Bharadia, Ben Protheroe
Umpires: thanks to Chiswick for providing both
Womens 1s vs. Sunbury: Won 3-1
Last league game before xmas and a chance to seal our position of (at least) 3rd in the league. Sunbury have always been a tricky opposition for us and this match was no different. We started well enough, but Sunbury were dangerous on the counter attacks. Our defence played well and passed the ball around, we got the ball into the circle, but the first goal took a while to come. But a quick break down the right by Ej and Lou found Sharon in the circle, who took the ball past the keeper and slotted home to put us ahead. Shortly after, we’d doubled our lead – a goal mouth scramble resulted in Sunbury blocking a shot with a foot and a penalty flick resulted (albeit after the umpire had initially given a free hit to the oppo… enough of us threw our sticks down and toys out of the pram to warrant him having a chat with the other umpire… who fortunately saw the incident). Up stepped our ‘Rock’ to expertly convert the opportunity. However, before half time, Sunbury got one back, with what would be a contender for goal of the season… their player managing to find the ball-sized gap between Pipes and the post to reverse stick sweep the ball into the netting from the back line. It was hard to begrudge them that goal!!!
But we picked up where we left off in the second half, and our third goal was something to be admired… EJ, Sharon and Lou all linking once again on the break to create a 3-on-1 with the Sunbury keeper, with Lou the goal-scorer. It was something off the training ground. Well, kind of… not sure we even train that effectively. But despite Sharon getting a green card for making one of their players bleed and tempers fraying a little towards the end (and did they go down to 10?) we kept our composure to secure our 6th win of the campaign.
Team: Pipes, Alex, Kath, Clare, Rachel, Jen, B, Gemma, Faye, Eeej, Shazza, Lou & Martha
Scorers: Sharon, Kath & Lou
MotM: Sharon
Next match: Sunday 25th v Chichester (trophy): 1.30pm at DC
Womens 1s vs. Chichester (Trophy Round 3): Won 4-1
We weren’t helped by the fact that more than half the team had helped Will celebrate his 30th birthday the night before and that the ‘locker-room’ chat was more focused on the fact that Alex woke up with her boots still on, that B (despite her good intentions of drinking water) had found the mojito glasses particularly heavy, or our desire to find out about Sharon’s exploits with a member of the men’s section. Will tried very hard to get us to focus, but unfortunately that didn’t really happen until the second half. Needless to say, the first half was slightly lacklustre, our tackling was a bit off and we tended to pass more to the supporters or the opposition than to our own players. Chichester, on the other hand, brought the game to us and looked like scoring before we did… somehow, though, we hung on until half time.
A bit of water at the interval obviously did something to help the dehydration and a revitalised THD sprang to action in the second half. A fantastic ball in from Alex was deflected by Sharon to open the scoring and 10 mins later Lou deflected in a cross from Faye to double our lead. 3 goals in 2 minutes ensued. Bettina got our third with a great strike from the top of the D, before Chichester got one back 2 minutes later when we were caught napping at the back and they worked the overload effectively. But we were straight back up the other end, Gemma intercepted the oppo’s hit out from the back and found Martha who kept her cool and slotted home for our 4th. Certainly a game of two halves… huge thanks to our supporters who we made to suffer in the first half – hopefully we made up for it in the second. Round 4 has been drawn… home again against Henley! Details to follow nearer the time and certainly no (well, limited) drinking the night before next time!!
Team: Pipes, Alex, Kath, Clare, Rachel, Jen, B, Gemma, Faye, Lou, Sharon , Martha & Eeej
Scorers: Sharon, Lou, B and Martha
MotM: Faye
Next Match: (friendly) Sat 5th Jan v Holcombe (away)
Women’s 2s vs. Old Georgians Ladies 1’s: Won 7-0
WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO! Another great victory for the ladies 2’s. 7-0. I won’t bore you all with how amazing all the goals were as that would take forever, but I will make a few comments.
Sarah B started it all off with a smack and a great finish from a short corner routine (at last they are working girls), and this led the way for us all to have a good hit at the ball, myself included scoring my first ever goal for THD. Biba our other captain has to have a great mention as she pulled some wonderful short corners off and some awesome goals from open play. Massive well done Biba. Rachel T should have been one of the goal scorers as you had a great game at LW and some good shots on goal, or did you? Sorry - I'm rubbish, I can’t remember.
Women’s 3s vs. Old Kingstonians: Lost 7-0
Apologies if this report is very brief but there is not a lot to say that the score line doesn’t. Bearing in mind Old Kingstonians have only been beaten by Raynes Park who are top of the league we were completely outplayed, outran and outscored. One we would rather forget. (MO'B)
Team: Rachel Biggs, Jo Clarke, Lou Curry , Cat Dwyer, Erica Goldsmith, Ellie Johnston – GK, Jena Kitley, Rosie Le Voir,, Emma Matabalawu, Mo O'Brien, Emma Parker,Helen Shackleton
Umpire: Tim Sylvester & Wesley Cole
MOTM: Rachel Biggs
Women’s 3s vs. Raynes Park: Lost 3-1 (Rescheduled match)
After our drumming yesterday by Old Kingstonians - who are second in the league - we didn’t expect much out of this one as Raynes are top. But we really battled them and refused to lie down. They opened the scoring typically enough but we kept them at 1-0 until half time - in no short measure to Dulcie’ s incredible goal keeping. Come the second half we stepped up a gear and with a well won short corner we levelled the scoring with a perfect first strike from yours truly (ahem). Like last year where once we scored they really punished us by scoring 7 in quick succession so we were expecting quite a backlash. But our defence held firm; their second was unfortunate with a bit of fumbling at the post; their third was admittedly a great deflection. Still we refused to go down and kept them out for the rest of the game. Although we lost we did play well and to be honest it was really good score line against the top of the league. Well done everyone! (MO'B)
Team: Rachel Biggs, Jo Clarke, Lou Curry, Dulcie Davies, Cat Dwyer, Ellie Gardener, Erica Goldsmith, Georgie Hills, Mo O'Brien, Helen Shackleton, Jena Kitley, Emma Matabalwu.
Goal Scorer: Mo O’Brien
Umpire: Si Riley, Simon Wilshire
MOTM: Dulcie Davies
Women's 4s vs. London Edwardian's 2's: Lost 1-0
I like the fact we can lose a game but still go up a place to 3rd in the league - top work! A sterling performance by all on Sat against a strong 2's side with everyone playing well and determination plentiful. Solid work by Olivia again in goal, the defence continued to work well as a unit with Lou in particluar having a good game. In the midfield Anna C and Michelle were cool-headed as ever and Mary deserved MOTM with her fiery passion on the left. Up front we tried our hardest to score but the oopo's size 6's kept getting in the way unnoticed. Boo.
Hopefully before the mince pies and mulled wine distract our attention we'll pull together and show our potential as a team by giving an oppo a good thrashing! My money's on Purley or Byfleet... please.
Team: Olivia Selau, Anna Stuttard, Anna Cietak, Rona Francis, Linds McLaren, Louise Renshaw, Sioned Horton Evans, Michelle, Mary Cook, Ash McDonald, Claire Perrott, Julia.
Umpire: Steve
Next game: Sat 1st Dec vs. Purley 3s @ DC 11am
Women's 5s vs. Cheam: Won 2-1
Team 5’s Formula for Success
The night before the match ensure about half the team celebrate Thanksgiving with our American goalkeeper playing host, then carry the party on to Rach and Faith’s place and make a proper night of it. The next morning kick Alanna off the sofa with just enough time for her to make it to the pitch as we’re running on, joined by Del who although arriving on time has forgotten to bring the balls so does a mad dash home to get them to end up also arriving back as we we’re running on.
During the game make sure you have at least one player that is gutsy/hungover enough to give the Ref a bit of grief for his sometimes misguided decisions, Faith fulfilled the role this week and received a Green Card as a token of the Ref’s appreciation. For good measure score a goal somewhere in the first half, Jacqui was lucky enough to be at the top of the circle at the same time as the ball and put it past the goalie to take us 1-0 up at half time.
An optional extra if you want to spice thing up a little, let the other team score a goal off a penalty stroke, just to keep them interested. Then give Del the ball so she can literally smash it in two (luckily due to her previous efforts we had plenty spare). This acts to scare the opposition back into submission, allowing Helen B on the wing to score a beautiful team goal within the last few minutes to seal the match 2-1. (JK)
Team: Sally, Nicole, Rachael, Fatima, Charlie, Alana, Faith, Jacqui, Andrea, Del, Helen B, Kate.
Women's 6s vs. Berrylands 1s: Won 4-3
We're getting quite used to this not-losing malarkey. Berrylands
are towards the top of the league and have some very fast forwards,
but we showed them how to attack with some great interplay upfront
converted by Lex to a stonking goal within the first ten minutes,
swiftly followed by another from Vicky. The oppo fought back and our
normally solid defence were caught napping a couple of times by some
pretty aggressive play, but as soon as Berrylands scored, our trusty
forwards were taking the ball up the pitch again to keep our lead.
There was a kerfuffle in their D and we got a p-flick. Vicky to her
great credit stepped up and succeeded where Frank Lampard and so many
others have failed. Berrylands came back fighting in the second half,
and our defending got shakier, though Charlotte made some fantastic
saves, including fighting off a one-on-one from one of the nippier
forwards. But we managed to hold them off - a well-deserved victory.
Dragons vs. Daquiris: Won 3-2
As I've been busy editing the Tribune this week it was time to delve into wikipedia for some more knowledge in the stead of an actual match report of any consequence. So, who wants to learn about the town of Ware? Which is where? Well read on...
Ware is a town of around 18,000 people in Hertfordshire, England, close to Hertford (the county town).
The modern name of the town dates from the Anglo-Saxon period when 'weirs' were built to stop the invading Vikings from escaping in their longships after defeat by Alfred the Great in a battle near Ware. In the Domesday survey of 1085 it was the second largest town in Hertfordshire. It was also a great coaching town, being on the Old North Road, less than a day's journey from London. In the seventeenth century Ware became the source of the New River, constructed to bring fresh water to London. England's first turnpike (toll) road ran from Wadesmill to Ware. The town was once a centre of malting.
During two weeks of the summer, Ware Council holds the 'Ware Festival' culminating in the 'Rock at the Priory' a one day open air Music Festival that grows each year in popularity. (MJ)
Team: Piggy (GK) & Alex Timmer (GK), MJ, Chris Coleman, Wes, Tim-one-arm, Jacobs, Eddie Webfeet, Stutts, Hoots McLaren, Nicole, Sarah Evian & Alanna.
Scorers: Tim, Sarah & Coleman
Umpire: Mark Annear
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.
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... |
