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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.
Thurs 20-Mar-08Issue 22
Whoop, whoop this week for the women’s 4s, 5s and 6s who kept the red and green flag flying, all with convincing wins – particularly T5 who notched up an impressive tally of 8 goals. Sadly it was not to be for the men’s 2s who failed to win their must-win game and will be playing in the league below next year, but true THD determination will surely bring them straight back up next season. Elsewhere, the two promotion possibles, the Men’s 1s and the Women’s 2s, haven’t quite sealed the deal yet and keep us on the edge of our seats for two more weeks with it all still to play for. The women’s 1s end a respectable 4th but have a cup title still to defend while the Royals finish with an impressive season team list of 54 players – thanks to them all for keeping the Royals in the game.
So, a long weekend ahead for reflection, preparation or if you prefer, Augustus Gloop-esque gorging on Easter eggs, and then we enter the home straight of the 07-08 season. As we all know, our genuine strength and depth lies off the pitch and to make sure we maintain this reputation as social extraordinaires, please can we remind everyone to commit your cash to your team’s social secretaries ASAP for the season’s final flourish – the End of Season Dinner. We really need final numbers and there will be no nosh or booze for anyone who rings up in the week of the dinner asking how to get tickets. You have been warned.
Reports by: Gemma Baker, Lucy Muldoon, Lucy Snell, Sarah, Mags Aylward, Will Nurse, Chris Coleman, Wes Cole, Mark AnnearMen’s 1s vs. Banbury 1s: Lost 4-2
The men’s 1s went into the game needing only a draw to achieve promotion. The final score was THD 4, Banbury 2 - unfortunately this was the yellow card tally and playing nearly half the game with only 10 players was probably not the way THD intended to secure promotion.
THD went ahead deservedly on pressure, if a little fortuitously. A reverse stick strike missed the goal but was stopped by the umpire’s chest and Jimmy neatly slotted the ball home at the back post. A well-worked team move led to a nice finish from Andy. 2 – 0 up in less than 15 minutes and everything was looking good. Will then got a yellow card. Down to 10 for the first time, THD battled well to keep the score 2 – 0 but once they were back up to a full complement Banbury scored two goals in quick succession (perhaps Will should have stayed where he was?).
Both teams were displaying a physical side to their game as the match hotted up. Gaz was dismissed 5 minutes before half time and was quickly followed by a Banbury player. Five minutes into the second half and both teams were back up to 11. Banbury then had a second player sent off. When the game restarted, a moment of madness led to a Banbury tap-in and THD were 3-2 down. Laurent’s glasses misted up and THD found themselves back down to 10. Again, while Laurent was off, Banbury scored from another short corner. 4-2 down. With 12 minutes remaining of the game, Will received his second yellow card and spent the remainder of the game off the pitch. THD continued to battle well with only 10 on the pitch, but alas the game finished in a 4-2 loss. (WN)
Team: Piggy, Gary , Bubs, Smudger, Gaz, Laurent, Alex, Jimmy, Will , Rob, Andy, Hyphen & Fez. MotM: Rob TFC: Will Nurse (despite Piggy forgetting his towel and bringing his mum’s dressing gown) Scorers: Jimmy, Andy
Next Match: 29th March v Rover Oxford
Men’s 2s vs. Bromley and Beckenham: Lost 2-3
Entering a match that we knew we would need to win in order to maintain our chances of avoiding relegation, we started well and entered half time two goals to the good. We started the second half solidly but a poor defensive spell of 5 minutes and conceding two goals opened the game up. Pushing forward and knowing we needed a winner and being reduced to 10 men with 5 minutes to go left us short at the back and led to B&B scoring the winner with what turned out to be the last touch of the game. With that goal, our fate was sealed and we are now 5 points a drift with a game to go meaning we are relegated.
In a season where we are one of only 3 teams to beat league winners Spencer while also recording good wins against East Grinstead and Surbiton, it was the games in which we badly underperformed that cost us dearly. Only registering 1 point from 2 games against Teddington who will finish bottom was a major problem in the season and we must make sure we learn from our mistakes this season and ensure we have good attendance at training and availability of Saturdays to make certain we bounce straight back up next season. (CC)
Team: Nath, Chris C, Dan Ellis, Robby Layton , Tom Mottram , Ferg , Mike K, Paul H, Banners , Arthur, Felix N, Timmy S, Umpire: Them Scorers: Arthur Mitchell x2
Men’s 3s vs. Chiswick: Lost 6-2
Some useful things did come out of this weekend: England finally figured out how to catch a ball, Lewis remembered his scalextrix techniques, Wes and Bino realised two people CAN drink a bottle of gin in an hour, Tim made first name terms with the man from Favourite Chicken on Lordship Lane and the men's 3s finally found their bogey team. Bonjour Chiswick.
Ironically all those good things had negative consequences. We now think England rugby is good (it's not), Lewis made us stay up drinking till 5am and we still hurt, gin gives you headaches, Favourite Chicken has given 3 of us Ebola and Chiswick stuffed us.
6 games, 6-0 to Chiswick. Although we sit next to each other in the league and our other results often go the same way, head to head Chiswick and THDC 3s doesn't make good reading. As often we have done this season, we've kept ourselves in the game until just after half time with two more notches on the goal post for Tobie this season (and a beauty on Saturday night). But we were broken under second half pressure and opened the floodgates. Chiswick broke quickly and effectively dragging out the lead and as always two soft goals on our part took the possibility of a turnaround well away from us. Positively we have some hockey still to play and promising new players for next year. Thanks again to the 4's for helping out. (WC)
Team: Jez, Laurie, Tim J, JP, Tobie, Wes, Joe, Tobie, Nick, Conor, Will Lucas Umpire: Seamus Scorer: Tobie x 2
Next Match: Saturday 29th 11am JAGS vs Maidenhead
Tornados - No game.
But... Richmond Deerstalkers vs. Hampstead & Westminster 6s ended as a 3-3 draw which means that the Tornados avoid relegation! A very exciting game to watch that saw H&W have a player red-carded for violent behaviour after ten minutes and Richmond race to a 3-1 lead shortly after.
Had Richmond won by four goals or more the Tornados would have been relegated. Fortunately, it was a bridge too far for Richmond (although they were also hampered severly by some very poor H&W umpiring). The end result was that, despite Richmond deserving to win (but not by the four they needed!), they were held to a draw - which sees them relegated rather than the Tornados.
Diamonds vs. Goldsmiths College (friendly): Lost 2-3
Royals vs. Richmond Redoubtables: Lost 3-1
We weren’t spectacular on Saturday. Richmond were even less so, but they took their chances and somehow converted theirs - two chances at the end of the first half, two goals. Five in the second, one goal (somehow??). We created some chances, particularly in the second half, but either blew them or had them taken away.
Riley converted a well set-up move involving Timmy and Jonesy; Keith performed heroics at the other end keeping out a shot which the wrong umpire tried to claim was a short corner for his own side. Perhaps we didn’t deserve to lose; our opponents certainly didn’t deserve to win. But they rode their luck, and did.
Story of our season perhaps. Even if, to an extent, you make your own luck. (MA)
But thanks to all those who’ve helped out this season by playing - recently established as numbering 54: Tom Alexander, Edward Allen, Mark Annear, Richard Batty, Dave Battley, Akash Bharadia, Adam Bond, Conor Bond, Aidan Brock, Matheu Chambers, Ollie Clark, Chris Coleman, Tom Cooper, Chris da Souza, Kunal Dave, James Duckhouse, Jothann Durnall, Alex Fishwick, The Younger Fishwick, Robbie Fleck, Doug Heard, Phil Holton, Ben Hopkins, Keith Howick, Stephen Ireton, Mark Jones, Tim Jones, Kim Keats, Charlie Krasun, Gavin Lawson, Iain Leverett, Mike McKinnon, Peter Malkin, Laurie Mathers, Mark Nash, Gareth Norris, Trem Parvin, Will Pendrill, James Perrott, Ben Protheroe, Xavier Pujol, Chris Richman, Simon Riley, Obi Sargoni, Jonas Schwan, David Seymour, Ben Slater, Tim Smith, Ed Taylor Jones, Ramana Thirumoorthy, Ian Townsend, Jaap van Lynden, Colin Wilkie-Jones, Mike Wright.
Saturday’s Team was, of course, just 13: Matheu; Keith, Ram, Mark A, Tim, Ben H; Ed TJ, Colin, Riley, Mark J; Ben S, Adam, Jothann And our Scorer was: Riley And the Umpires were: All from Richmond, and three of them were quite reasonable Our Next Match is: Several months away Our Final Position in the League is: Mighty
Women’s 1s vs. Sunbury: Lost 1-0
You remember when you’ve had good umpiring during the game as you realise you didn’t really notice the umpires were there. Similarly, you remember when you feel you’ve had poor umpiring during a game as you can’t remember anything other than the umpires. Well, the latter fell upon us on Saturday as we went into our last league game against another oppo desperate for points and determined to throw everything at us.
We don’t normally get carded, but the choice of decision by the umpires (well, one of them really) on numerous occasions gave rise to incredulity, then despair and finally tempers were left riled and we started getting a bit vocal. Had this been a men’s game, it would have been overlooked, but because we are women and comments/language like that should not come from the mouths of such frail and sensitive souls, green cards were forthcoming. There were few highlights of the first half…..EJ’s ball-stuck-to-stick routine constantly foiled her opposite number as she won countless free hits and corners down the right hand side. Lou battled with their centre back to stay on her feet as the challenges came in and I believe there were quite a few stick tackles which we should have won free hits for but which somehow were awarded to the oppo. It was probably quite a good thing that Will wasn’t there as he would likely have been yellow carded (but at least that would have been one fewer than he got playing for the men!).
The second half was pretty much like the first, only Sunbury began to capitalise on the fact that we were starting to get a bit infuriated. This isn’t to take anything from their determination to secure the win – they really pushed hard for the goal although were maybe a bit lucky in getting it….a penalty stroke against us was fair – the goal being let to stand wasn’t. And needing 3 points to stay up, Sunbury weren’t going to let the lead go. As it was though, we battled on till the death. More stick tackles against us, probably a couple more talking to’s (alex had a good chat with both umpires) and Gemma nearly lost the side of her face towards the end of the game.
Not the finish to the league we were hoping for, but 4 th is more than respectable and there is still the trophy to play for. (GB)
Team: Pipes, Alex, Kath, Clare, Jen, Rach, Gem, Faye, EJ, Lou, Shaz & Martha (who came direct from NY….that’s commitment!!) MotM: Lou
Next Match: Trophy Semi-Final v Buckingham: 11.30am away on 30th March
Women’s 2s vs. Wimbledon 2A’s: Drew 0-0
This should have been at least 20-0 on Saturday but it was not meant to be. We came out with a draw even though we tried really, really hard to put a goal in the back of the net. Not going to dwell too much on the negative (as methinks there were too many!!) A million short corners and non converted by myself especially!!!! Biba - feel free to tell me to get lost when I get over confident on my strike!!!!!
Some good play round the back and Wimbledon only got into our D twice, even more so, Dulcie did not touch the ball once - I don’t think I have ever played in a game where the goalie has not touched a ball. Biba was forever committed across the middle and brings the team together so well. Sarah J ran away with MOM as she was just simply brilliant as always. Still all to play for girls - let’s keep our commitment up and no heavy drinking on a Friday night please!! Can I joke about that yet? Oh and a massive congrats to Sarah Buxton for playing her last game of the season bring on the baby bump. (LM)
Team: Lucy, Kato, Jo Walford, Sarah Jeavons, Biba, Rachel, Emma K, Chloe, Sarah Beddoes, Sarah Buxton , Hils, Sophie Umpire: Trem MOM: Sarah J Scorers: I wish
[Winner of the 'excessive use of an exclamation mark' award 2008 - MJ]
Women’s 3s vs. Wanderers 2s: Lost 2-3
Next match: 29th March vs. Mid Surrey 1s away
Women's 4s vs. Purley 3s: Won 3–0
So off we trotted to play a team that was our bane just before Christmas... It seemed a simple enough journey and yet as the time for the start of the game came and passed there were a mere 5 of the 4s at the pitch with a more than just slightly panicking Snellers frantically calling the missing members of the team... Fortunately within minutes everyone was assembled and ready for the game to begin. And after a shaky start, we stepped up the pressure and the number of opportunities gave us hope. The first goal came about 15 minutes in to the game. After a scramble around the goal mouth the ball pinged up and bounced off the cross bar... we think?! No one was certain whether it had gone in to the goal or not and everyone seemed to freeze until someone shouted "it's in play!" at which point an alert Mrs P pounced and in to the back of the goal the ball went! Woohoo! 1 nil to us!
Purley then came back with some gusto and the battle well and truly commenced with the midfield having to put in quite a few lengths of the pitch and the defence having to work hard. Not to say that all was rosey, the defence took some time to settle in to the new emphasis on the game, but we eventually fought back, including a number of short corners that went unconverted and we went on to create another goal courtesy of Michelle which meant that we went in to half time 2 nil up.
Now I have to say that following that kind of lead we tend to get a bit relaxed when we restart the game but for once we started the second half as we'd finished the first - with some good control and fighting spirit which created our third goal again by Mrs P. We then reverted to type and had a wobbly 10 minutes in the middle of the second half, of which Purley took full advantage. The left hand side of our team was put under of lot of pressure and there was an incredible amount of work done by Mary. Slowly but surely we regained control and created yet more short corners, but still they went unconverted. After a lot of hard work by all we held on to our clean sheet with Olivia only having to touch the ball on a handful of occasions - well we couldn't have her getting bored could we?! (LS)
Many thanks go to James Perrott for umpiring.
Team: Olivia, Rona, Lindsey, Lou, Lucy, Katie, Mary, Michelle, Ash, Julia, Emma and Claire. Scorers: Claire x2 and Michelle MOM: Mary for her ridiculous amount of running
Next game: 29th March, Away v Cranleigh
Women's 5s vs. University of Surrey 1s: Won 8-2 So the Vengagirls came to Dulwich – albeit half an hour late, still drunk from the night before and 2 players and a ref short.
Women’s 6s vs. Addiscombe Ladies 2: Won 1-0
We began the week with a 14 man squad, but this had dwindled down to 11 by the 2nd half. Jess had to run at half time, Kate the captain had an unfortunate splinter incident and Katie ended up umpiring whilst filling us in on the rules afterwards (don't intentionally clear balls from the back line, and we pass the ball backwards in Rugby….a revelation to some!).
Eager to win this fixture (and rumour had it we beat them last time!), we started off well. Addiscombe were definitely out for revenge and were a much better side than we had played last time. We had most of the possession and survived a very hairy moment before half time to keep the score at 0-0.
Lex’s encouraging words of wisdom at half time inspired us to get straight into it: “What we really have to do is score a goal!” Made perfect sense! Despite our steady streams of passes down the right and left wing, and apparent jig by myself around the ball (just keeping with the St Patricks Day tradition!) we decided to leave the goal till the end for a “Roy of the Rovers” style finish! With just 40 seconds to go, Lex swooped in to grab the only goal of the match - the dramatic climax wasn’t appreciated by all, as Charlotte our goalie said: “That match was a bit boring for me!” Ah well, a testament to the defence! (MA)
Team: Charlotte, Jess, Clare M, Shona, Len, Helen, Amy, Mags, Claire D, Lex, Gigi Scorer: Lex Umpire: Katie
Next match: Saturday 29th Away Thames Valley Ladies 2nd XI
Dragons vs. Oldsmiths: Drew 3-3
Team: Piggy (GK). MJ, Tim, Wes, Charlie, Will, Wilsh, Tom, Snellers, Ellie, Cat, Michelle & Shazza Scorers: Will (2), Ellie Umpire: Si Riley
Next match: Sunday 30th vs. Sinners @ Battersea Park
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.
End of Season Dinner Saturday 5th April
see www.thehockeyclub.co.uk/social/events.shtml for more details... |
