Fri 05-Feb-10
Issue 15
Match Reports | Haiti Earthquake Appeal | Race Night
The weather won a few games this weekend, with the Men's 1s, Women's 5s and Men's 6s games being cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. I thought the pitches were supposed to be "all-weather"!
The big winners this week were the Women's 4s. They thumped London rivals Richmond 6-0, at Richmond! The Women's 1s continue after Christmas in good stead, with a 2-0 win over Eastcote. The Men's 2s beat Wimbledon in another big game of the week.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Women's 6s and Saracens and suffered huge losses.
Let's hope the weather improves this weekend!
Ramana Thirumoorthy - Editor
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27-Feb-10
Race Night
All the fun and excitement of a day at the races on a giant screen. Even if you have never seen a horse race before you can't fail to understand what's going on! All that you need to do is to pick a number between 1-8 and buy the corresponding ticket from the tote. The tote is then closed and a sealed race is chosen at random and shown. Plus you can become the 'owner' of a horse for a night, 'Sponsor' a race and take part in the final 'auction' race!
Quality fun for everyone as everyone is welcome - including friends, family and any other non-clubmembers
First race at 7pm, Admission £2. |
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The devastating earthquake which struck Haiti on 12 January has shattered the lives of over one million people, with hundreds of thousands in need of urgent help. It is estimated that at least 50,000 people died.
The British Red Cross, as part of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), has launched an appeal for those affected by the earthquake.
The Red Cross has deployed seventeen emergency response units with experts in water and sanitation, logistics, IT and telecommunications, and healthcare.
We are providing medical aid and distributing vital supplies, such as shelter kits, personal hygiene kits, blankets and containers for storing drinking water to tens of thousands of people. So far, more than 220,000 litres of water have been distributed to around 24,000 people. Latrines have been built for 1,000 people.
Aid is getting through, but more is urgently needed.
You can make a donation to either the DEC appeal which fundraises on behalf of its 13 member agencies or directly to the British Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Appeal. You can also call our donation line on 0845 053 5353.
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This weeks match reports from the THD Teams in action.
Reports by: Guy Huckvale, Nick Harris, Billy Dowie, Mark Annear, Sabrina, Emily Cadman, Charlie Krasun, Katie McPhillimy
Mens Section
Mens 1s vs. Purely Walcountians: Postponed
Next match: Home vs. Wimbledon
Mens 2s vs. Wimbledon 2s: Won 3-2
The 2s have come to life in the second half of the season. After last week's win over Reading at home we travelled to Wimbledon to play their 2s, who sit 4th in our league and have ambitions and cash to achieve bigger things. A slightly scratch team as result of a lengthy absentee list meant we were travelling with a team that had not played together before, with the exception of 4 out of the back 5. A motivational warm up from me giving the team a laugh with my best Arthur Daley impression and a further iteration of my "Gaffer" approach; the Jose Mourinho definitely did not work.
Unsurprisingly Wimbledon started the game strongly in front of a home crowd and eventually this approach paid dividends as they went 1-0 up off a short corner flick to the bottom right post. We were later to discover that Andy Jarrett was covering the post, but no-one had told him what to do. something for next year if we play them again. Then we settled and began to pressure from the front with an efficient press, the end result was we were catching Wimbledon on the counter as well as working our way into the game. The pressure paid off and one short corner later, a purposeful trailing foot by the number one runner, and we had a flick and were a man up. Andy Jarrett stepped up and coolly buried the flick, and with numbers on our side we continued to press. In a flowing attack move the Wimbledon centre back panicked in front of a goal and while on the deck swept the ball clear, unfortunately with the back of his stick five metres in front of the umpire. Another flick, dispatched this time by Gav, and another yellow card, meant we went into the break 2-1.
Wimbledon came out strongly in the second half as expected, and claimed the equaliser in identically the same fashion to the first; Andy Jarratt claiming the same defence as before. Then in a brilliant ten minute passage of play THD built up the pitch, won a short corner and to everyone's surprise, Snowy stopped the ball and then when given it back by Andy, decided the best thing to do was bury it in the corner of the goal. 3-2 up 10 minutes to play. Wimbledon then threw everything at our team, but the game had been edgy with both players and umpires. This began to boil over as Wimbledon were reduced to 9 men for the final periods for various forms of dissent. The game was seen out; credit must go to Robby Layton for stopping a late drag flick and the whole team for a strong performance. (GH)
Squad: Sheldon, Matt G, Robby L, Snowy, Andy J, Gav, Scotty, Butty, Fez, Nick J, Andy G, Ginge, Darren
Scorers: Andy J, Gav, Snowy
MOTM: Scotty
TFC: Arthur Daley
Next match: Home vs. Southgate 3s, 1230hrs, JAGS
Mens 3s vs. Reading Refills 3s: Drew 3-3
I don't know if you have seen Dancing on Ice, well this was nothing like that apart from the ice. Our warm-up was aptly named because it was fundamentally designed to thaw the East-facing 22 of the JAGS pitch. Reading Refills put forward a rather different squad from that seen at their place; largely youth, one rather conspicuous 1940s Bobby complete with bushy moustache, a random burnt out hippy surfer who grew up on long boards and one of the most foul mouthed gentlemen of a certain age I have come across - shocking example to the young lads.
Having soaked up some early pressure, THD began to put a few passes together and after a simple exchange out the back and a laser-guided drag flick pass to Ben the opener was scored. They reposted with a frankly rather showy run down the middle from some ginger munchkin who finished with a nice reverse in to the corner. Basically this was the pattern for the game. Beano got a couple, converting the first with a one handed wave past a flat out keeper and the second was one of the slowest efforts to ever cross a goal line - only the icy surface kept it going far enough to get over. Curling stones have gone quicker. Fellow strikers were sweeping furiously in front of it to help it to the target. The 'keeper who could not reach it with his outstretched foot could have got up, dusted himself down, reset and had another go at getting his foot on it, as it was he seemed to hang their in suspended animation.
A late equaliser was probably a fair reflection and we remain unbeaten since Christmas. Bring on whoever is next. (NH)
Squad: Steve, Alex McDonald, Wes Cole, Tim Jones, John Holmes, Bungle, Foggy, Joe Griffiths, Ben Protheroe, Ducky, Nick Harris, Rob Tuer, Sam Flemming, Beano
Scorers: Ben, Beano 2
MOTM: Ben
Next match: Away vs. Southgate 4s
Tornados: No match.
Next match: Home vs. Wimbledon 6s, 1530hrs, Harris Academy
Diamonds vs. Blackheath Heathens: Lost 0-1
This is absolutely the sort of game that we have to win, and we didn't. We weren't bad, but lacked the composed urgency that we needed to get past these guys. Most disappointing was our short corner routine, which looked like we'd never bothered practicing.
This week sees us up against the division leaders, Richmond Lions. We notched up a draw against them before Xmas, and maybe they're just the oppo we need right now to get us to pull our socks up. (BD)
Squad: Si Bailey, Tom Illingworth, Rob Patrick, Ben Salsbury, Graeme Evans, Simon Canter, Olly Walton, Marc Antoine, Adam Smith, Nick Allen, Sam Younger, Irfan Begg, Joe Del Greco, Tim Harris
Umpires: Billy Dowie
Next match: Away vs. Richmond Lions
Royals vs. PHC Chiswick 5s: Postponed
We had our tactics all lined up this week. We were going to have a strong defence, combative, unyielding. And we were going to be punishing in midfield - we were going to keep the ball, and not give it to the opposition. And they were going to have to ask for it, like tykes over the fence when we were teenagers asking "can we have our ball back?" and we were going to be the grumpy old neighbours, and only give it back - maybe - when it was too late to do anything with it. And runners, yes - yes that's right, runners - we were going to have runners to take the ball at their defence and seek out the magic shot and strike fear into the other side's troubled back line. And if the magic shot didn't come then yes, yes we were going to pass the ball back to midfield and keep it, and in the way that the old song goes, we were going to be mocking birds. And if those mocking birds didn't sing then we were going to run rings around them through our midfield diamond. Witty hey, it was all worked out.
And then one by one, we were going to win short corners, and all that practice we were going to put in before the match - the ones we missed last week when we didn't practice them against Richmond - was going to pay dividends, and we were going to go one, no two, no three nil up, and then we were going to play havoc, and win back our precious goal difference and put the frighteners up Spencer once more. Even though we weren't going to play Spencer this week they'd have heard about our magic work and been frightened to concede anything in their D, and then we'd have been away. And all the pieces would have fallen into place, and for the rest of the season we could have been pushing and pushing, urging, clawing ourselves expertly match by match, from fourth place into third, and then who knows - almost as though we were dab hands at it, even though for three long seasons we've propped up the London leagues. And the boost for the club itself would have been immeasurable - knowing that if such lowly minnows could do as we had done, then there would be nothing that could stop us now. And all because we had our plan.
And then it snowed.
(MA)
Squad: Jon Bayliss (c), Ben Slater, Ed Taylor Jones, Adam Bond, Ollie Norris, Steve Walsh, Rob Thomas, Robbie Fleck, Adrian Leung, Keith Howick, Tim Smith, Oli Carruthers, Si Bailey, Mark Annear (14)
Scorers: loads of people would have scored, especially from short corners. If we'd had a penalty flick though, Steve wouldn't have taken it.
MOTM: It would have been a brilliant team effort and everyone would have done superbly.
Special Moment of the Day: The special moments would have been only celebratory ones.
Umpires: Charles Norris and maybe Steve Butcher - and they'd both have been excellent
Next match: Away vs. Spencer Spitfires, 1400hrs
Saracens vs. Southgate Goblets: Lost 0-8
No match report.
Next match: Home vs. Hampstead & Westminster Thirsts, 1330hrs, Harris Academy
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Womens Section
Womens 1s vs. Eastcote 1s: Won 2-0
No match report.
Next match: 6th Feb, Home vs. Henley 1s, 1300hrs, Dulwich College
And: HA Trophy, 7th Feb, Home vs. Teddington 1s, 1200hrs, Dulwich College
Womens 2s vs. Oxted 3s: Lost 1-3
It’s not often losing 3-1 feels so good. First having dragged ourselves down to near Gatwick, we were pretty sure the game would be cancelled after arriving to see the pitch covered in snow. However, after a truly impressive effort from everyone with brooms and various other snow clearing devices we started only 20 mins late. Secondly, we were playing the unbeaten top of the league who had a squad of 14 and a coach and so our expectations were fairly low.
Over the next hour or so, the team played better than we have all season. Work rate was excellent and the backs did an great job cutting down the waves of Oxted attacks. A few got through, though thanks to Olivia, who played out of her skin, we managed to keep the score line respectable. By half time we were 0-1 and unfortunately they managed to get another one passed us at the start of the second half. The team responded with real feistiness and determination though and we were rewarded with a couple of short corners… one of which resulted in a goal from a slicky executed straight strike from Kate. It is worth pointing out this is only the 4th goal Oxted have conceded this year.
Unfortunately Oxted managed to get one more goal passed us in the final stages of the game, but we came off the pitch encourage by our performance and with a new confidence which a loss rarely instills.
Team: Olivia, Kate, Ellie, Muldoon, Traffs, Biba, Beddoes, Georgie, Alice, TTT, Julia
Scorer: Kate
Mom: Tie: Olivia, Tash and Alice
Next match: Home vs. Wimbledon 2s, 6th Feb 1100hrs, JAGS
Womens 3s: No match
Next match: Home vs. Reigate Priory 2s, 1200hrs, Crystal Paalce
Womens 4s vs. Richmond 4s: Won 6-0
Simply put, this was a clinical performance. Richmond were nowhere near as bad as the scoreline suggests, THD just put in a solid performance in every area of the pitch, particularly in attack. Gone from this match were the litanies of chances missed from previous performances, backed-up by an almost error-free defensive operation - indeed we were unclear whether Richmond got a single clean shot on goal!
The tone of the match was set seconds in, when the ball was passed up field from the pushback into the D, where a straight strike from Vicki from a sharp right hand angle saw us 1-0 up.
And from then on, it was a story of goals. We were 3:0 up by halftime, 6:0 with 15 minutes to go, whereupon we fell asleep a little.
Congratulations all on a fine performance - and let's try and remember where the finishing came from! (EC)
Squad Emily, Hattie, Helen F, Abbie, Cat, Kath (c), Ash, Mary, Sarah, Vicki, Helen B, Susannah
Scorers: Vicki (3), Ash (2), Kath (1)
MOTM: Vicki
Next match: Home vs Horley 1s, 1500hrs, Crystal Palace
Womens 5s vs. London Wayfarers 4s: Postponed
Next match: Home vs. Surbiton 6s, 1030, Crystal Palace
Womens 6s vs. UCL Academicals 2s: Lost 0-6
Unfortunately we got off to a bit of a bad start this week - partly due to one hangover, one cold and one case of travel sickness within the team. The freezing cold weather and long journey there didn't help either. So, therefore, this week's match report will actually be a second half match report.
After an encouraging talk and some jelly babies at half time, we were ready and raring to go for the second half. We were playing UCL Academicals who are second in the league, but we had a cracking half and really made them work for their second-half win. With some excellent passes and two-on-ones (much improved after practicing them in training), and some brilliant clearancess from the defence, we were really getting the ball up the pitch.
Sadly, we didn't quite make it into the goal - although there was several good attempts - one close one from Claire, and one from Jenna which almost scraped the post. The opposition did make it past us twice in the second half (I'm not mentioning the 4 goals in the first half) - including one amazing goal from an impossible angle that even we applauded.
More drama followed after the match when Jenna and Sinead got lost on the way back to train station. They wandered along dark roads, fell into pot holes and eventually ended up in the middle of a golf course. After climbing over bunkers they found their way to a train station - although not the right one.
On the plus side, we had no injuries this week, although we had several spectacular falls - the best from Len and surprisingly none from Gemma.
Now we've got the 2 hardest teams out of the way, the rest of the season WILL be full of success for us! (KP)
Squad Charlotte (GK), Mags, Gemma, Ellie, Jenna, Katie, Sinead, Len, Claire, Olivia, Rachel, Jocelyn
Next match: Home vs. London Edwardians 4s, 1330hrs, Crystal Palace
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Mixed Section
Dragons vs. Sinners: Lost 1-3
It was a freezing afternoon at Battersea Park for a late-starting match against a fairly, well, tubby-looking Sinners side who seemed to have had a good Christmas. We started well and made a good few chances, but none were tucked away.
Finally, Felix drove into the area, pushed himself wide on the back stick and smacked it straight into the far side of the goal. A reasonable effort.
So we wandered into half time 1-0 up, and had barely broken a sweat. We lined up for the second half against a completely different Sinners' side - the same eleven, but they had switched most of their attack to defence and vice versa. A cunning tactic that saw them dominate the second half and score three unanswered goals. Time enough at the end for Ben Slater to fail to convert an open goal and for Gaz to remind us that he's more famous for showing filth on the hockey pitch than being employed by it (a happy return).
Everyone just looked a bit cold really. Good thing it's all for fun!
Squad Ellie, Charlie, Felix, Ben, Tim, Oli, Gaz, Cat, Sunny, Lucy, Kathryn, Snellers, Furlong
Scorers: Felix
Next match: HA Mixed Trophy, Home vs. Horsham Mixed, DC 2.30pm
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