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News > Newsletter 2008/09
Newsletter 2008/09
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 26-Sep-08Pre-Season Issue 1
Match Reports | Notices | Social News | AGM News
Welcome one and all to the first episode of the Tribune for the 2008/09 season. We've started off easy this week with some reports from a few of the pre-season games - not the best of results but nothing counts for less points than a friendly! Teams were busy 'blooding' new players and generally trying to run off some of the summer cobwebs. Its this weekend that the action really starts.
Speaking of this weekend you'll find two very important bits of information below... firstly some important information if you are playing at Dulwich College and want to avoid a parking ticket and secondly, all you need to know about the first two socials of the year - namely, tomorrow nights pub crawl and the upcoming golf day.
So, good luck to all who play tomorrow... welcome to all those new people out there and welcome back to those who have been here before! Finally, please be gentle on the new Tribune editor - Ram Thirumoorthy - who starts his very first Tribune next week.
Reports by: R. Banwell, T. Sylvester, W. Cole, K. Hunter, J. Beach.Mens 1s: Pre-Season Tour, Cardiff
The squad assembled on the Friday night having travelled variously by car and train. After social beers and pizza (the restaurant had also provided balloons upon request), most were tucked up at the Holiday Inn under the shadow of the Millennium Stadium by midnight. Others felt compelled to carry out early reconnaissance of ‘Flares’ niteclub. Reports suggested that it only served to reveal the true horror of local mating customs.
Some say that 9am training sessions are against certain human fundamental rights and freedoms, however, on a sunny morning, on a brand new pitch we made a very useful start to our weekend. Lunch was spent strolling in central Cardiff. Fashions varied throughout the squad, ranging from ‘acid house’ (always good to see a classic look return Andy Jarratt), to ‘Man at C & A’. Either way, National League opposition awaited.
Sat, 4.30pm v Whitchurch, W 3-2
Three 18 yr olds turned up with John Craven as their chaperone to compete the squad. We had to get stuck in and hard running was the name of the game from the start in very hot conditions. We were caught by a slick counter attack following the breakdown of our own attacking penalty corner so we trailed 1-0 at half time. Speculand equalised with (another) cracking shot from the top left D, off the inside of the far post. We then took the lead through a penalty corner; Hopkin’s reverse stick shot drilled in after the dummy drag flick had been executed well at the top D. The writer is tempted to make comparisons between Hopkin’s celebrations and certain characters from Sesame Street, but shall refrain from doing so. Later on, Jarrett’s diagonal run into the D was completed with a reverse stick shot, wrong footing the ‘keeper to make it 3-1. Pigden was then beaten by a slightly mis-hit shot which looped over his pads to make it 3-2. Remarks from the sideline suggested that Pigden collapsed like a teenager jumping out of a young girl’s bedroom window on a school night, but I can’t remember that long ago and therefore am unable to comment. A very satisfying result for a team on a sharp curve of progression. Fitness work immediately followed the game; thank you for coming Mark.
MOTM: Smith (solid performance)
Sat, 8pm to 3am
Sun, 11am v Whitchurch D2-2
Pigden punched Hopkin’s stick out of the way to allow a drag flick from a penalty corner into the top left and we again began 1-0 down. A missed penalty stroke (put wide of Pigden’s goal) gave us a good chance to re-double our efforts. Jarratt equalised from a lifted slap, after a series of short range attempts hadn’t been effectively cleared by their ‘keeper. A further goal from a deflection, putting into effect an important part of our Saturday practice gave us the lead at 2-1. A converted penalty stroke meant that we had to try and keep control of the game to earn a draw, which we more or less succeeded in doing albeit with increasing pressure from the opposition. A tremendous effort against National League opponents on both days has moved this emerging side forward. More hard work awaits before the games begin to count, but all signs are good. Watch this space. (RB)
Squad: Pigden M (GK), Hopkins M, Smith C, Brazell B, Morris J, Banwell R, Weir G, Enright J, Heath R (C), Penman S, Speculand A, Broadway S, Alford T, Huntley J, Craven J, Jarratt A.
Next game: Saturday 27th September v Blackheath, Dulwich College 2.00pm
Men’s 2s vs. Surbiton: Lost 9-1
The final pre-season friendly against Surbiton 3s at their place. It would be easy to be very downbeat about this game, especially given the crushing final score; but for those that weren’t there I think it’s much better to point out that we actually didn’t play that badly, and were just out-manoeuvred by a team that had been playing together for longer than an hour.
There were only a handful of recognised faces from the 2s team that was relegated at the end of the last season, the majority of the squad being made up from new club members and recent additions – many of whom were playing out of position as and where was necessary. Hardly surprising therefore that Surbiton were often able to pass around us with ease, and broke through the ranks quickly and effectively.
More surprising is that at times, we were capable of doing exactly the same to them; Ferg, Guy, Seamus and Felix moved the ball about at the back calmly and quickly under pressure, and thanks to Brownie and Ian’s efforts in midfield we managed to link up well with Darren and Nick up front, but Surbiton covered quickly and it was hard going to get shots off in the D.
The one goal we did get was from a fantastic run by Nick Jacobs who picked out Darren who with great composure, turned to flick it passed the diving goalie into the net, but unfortunately it proved to be little more than a consolation.
I’m not sure it was a great way to prepare for the season, but it has certainly given us a few points to work on before next week away at Hampstead & Westminster, when there are actually points at stake. (TS)
Team: Sheldon, Guy, Ferg, Seamus, Felix, Ian, Alex, Nick, Darren, Timmy, and finally a big thank you to the guy they lent us to make up numbers who we think missed an open goal on purpose, the cheat.
Goal: Darren
Umpires: Theirs
Next Game: H&W 4s, away
Men's 3s vs. Old Loughts 3s: Lost 0-1
Preseaon is fun isn't it? We have 6 weeks of fitness training, internal club games, a battering of some lower league opposition and then just as we're feeling good someone organises us to play a team that finished mid table in the league above last yr. And 7 people are on holiday. And 3 minutes into the game Adrian pulls his hamstring. And 10 minutes into the games Jules turns up. But I always say it's best to get these things out of our system before the league kicks off proper. With our front line missing we set out to defend tightly and improve our communication across the back and in the middle to win everything that was 50/50. And for the most part it worked pegging Old Louts back to 0-0 at half time and only being separated at full time by a well taken goal from their midfield running through.
So we completed our objectives in the most part and onto next week Surbiton at home who have come up from the league below. 3 Points needed to start the season as we mean to go on.
Welcome to all the new players who did a top job at the game and in training, thanks to Graham and Jonesy for helping with stellar performances. And please please please Richard buy some astros!!! (WC) Team: Stephen, Wes, John, Mark, Rob, Rich, Tom, Nick, Jules, Conor, Graham, Adrian (well kind of)
Umpires: Both from Old Louts
MOTM: John H
Tornados vs. Old Loughts Foresters: Lost 3-5This was the first real hit-out for the team which is bedding in a few new players for the upcoming season. Against a team who have been promoted out of our division the Tornados hit the ground running showing great ball movement and positional play for the first 20 minutes during which time we managed to slot home a couple of goals. Team: Jez (GK), MJ, Wilsh, Grant, Pully, Riley, Gaz, Fishy, Will, Tom, Nick M & Keith.
Women's 4s vs. Spencer 4s: Lost 1-2
Women's 5s vs. Hampstead & Westminster 6s: Lost 0-5
Women’s 6s vs. Addiscombe 2s: Lost 1-5
So at 10.30 last Saturday we started turning up at JAGS, it was looking like it was going to be a beautiful sunny day. Then we get the message that there was a slight problem…Our opponents, Addiscombe Ladies 2’s, now weren’t turning up till 12. So we had a 90minute warm up and plenty of time to put sun cream on as the day turned into a scorcher. You might think that this would mean we would be on top of our game. Well we were for the first half enjoying the majority of possession, at half time the score was 1-1. So after a pep talk in the shade by Clare (stand in Captain, whilst the 2 Kate’s use various excuses from running a marathon to a broken collar bone for not taking part) we were ready for the 2nd half. This is perhaps where the 90minute warm up did us no favours. Energy levels began to fall and even with all the rolling subs we had they got the better of us and the game finished 1- 5 . Still was a good game and hopefully gave everyone the chance to get used to playing with each other again and the chance for the newbie’s to slot in before the season starts proper next week. (JB)
Team list: Clare, Jess, Mags, Claire, Charlotte , Hailey, Annabelle, Ellie, Lex, Gigi, Fatima , Martina, Helen F, Helen.
Supporters: Shona, Kate, Katie.
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