HOCKEY TALK


Number 43

 

16 November 2015

Our next edition will be uploaded during
the afternoon of Monday 23 November

International

Men’s Conferences Highlights

Men’s Cup

Inestec Women’s Premier Division

England Hockey League

Investec Women’s Conferences Roundup

LATEST PREMIER DIVISION REGISTRATIONS AND MOVES

 

Men

 

  • Sam Barrett – Canterbury (New registration)
  • Rowan Poots – North Downs to Brooklands MU

 

Women

 

 No movements noted since last edition

 

LEAGUES’ TOP SCORERS

(All Divisions)

 

Men:

 

Despite a disappointing weekend for our leading goalscorers’ clubs, the two in the top places managed to consolidate their positions.  Charlie Ellison knocked in two from penalty corners against Sevenoaks, whilst Surbiton’s Alan Forsyth added one more to his tally when playing Hampstead & Westminster. Euan Gilmore manages to hang onto his third place, despite not scoring over the weekend. However, he is being strongly challenged by Conference North Luke Taylor of Loughborough Students, who has netted 12 this season.

 

1. Charlie Ellison (Con. East, Richmond) 16 penalty corners, 1 penalty stroke.

 

2. Alan Forsyth (Premier Division, Surbiton) 13 field goals, 1 Penalty Corner, 1 Penalty stroke.

 

3. Euan Gilmour (Con. East, Cambridge City) 11 field goals, 2 penalty strokes.

 

Women:

 

Slough’s first defeat of the season, and a goalless one at that, means that Amy Sheehan has not added to her total this week.  She remains in top place, but her position is under increasing pressure from Vicky Woolford. Woolford’s goal against Oxford Hawks on Sunday means that she is also on 13 goals, and only takes second place by virtue of the ‘penalty corner’ rule. Sophie Robinson was on target twice for Beeston on Sunday, which keeps her in third place, but only one goal behind our leaders.

 

1. Amy Sheehan (Con. East, Slough) 12 field goals, 1 penalty stroke.

 

2.  Vicky Woolford (Con. West, Sutton Coldfield) 5 field goals, 8 penalty corners.

 

3. Sophie Robinson (Con. North, Beeston) 10 field goals, 2 penalty strokes.

 

NB: Where there is an equality of goals we use the standard convention of giving less value to penalty corners and strokes than field goals.

 

 

 

THE NAUGHTY BOYS’ (AND GIRLS) BRIGADE

 

The weekend saw the season’s first red card, shown to Oxted’s Oliver Whitely for a second yellow card offence in their match against Teddington. That places Oxted at the head of the naughty boys’ brigade with one red and nine yellows. Canterbury are in second place with 14 yellows, six ahead of the nearest Premier Division club, with Teddington now joining the hall of shame with 13. Five of those came from the same match in which Oliver Whitely won his two yellows and a red.

 

If you are looking for naughtiness in the Investec Women’s Leagues, head North. Conference North Brooklands Poynton and Whitley Bay & Tynemouth are both on six yellows. University of Durham are only one behind them, as are Conference East Cambridge City.

Neither of the Premier Division front-runners can claim that it was a successful weekend, but one point was all it needed for places to change at the top of the table.

 

Holcombe, who were in second place at the start of the weekend, came within less than a minute of recording their first defeat of the season when they found themselves 0-1 behind at home to Hampstead & Westminster. H&W’s Matthew Botha had scored a 65th minute penalty corner in what had been a scoreless game. Just in the nick of time Nicholas Bandurak found the net from open play  to end the match 1-1.

 

Remarkably, the one point was enough to move Holcombe one place up the table to top spot. Hampstead & Westminster keep their fifth place, but a five point gap has opened up between them and the side in fourth place.

 

Holcombe should be good for three points next weekend when they visit bottom placed Canterbury.  H&W will be at home to Surbiton.

 

Surbiton Suffer Second Defeat

 

Surbiton had enjoyed an unblemished 100 record, with seven straight wins, until they played Holcombe a week ago.  On Saturday they suffered their second consecutive defeat when they played Wimbledon at Sugden Road.

 

The only goal in the first half was scored by Wimbledon’s Casper Phijffer, with Alan Forsyth equalising five minutes into the second half.  James Jewell and Phil Ball restored Wimbledon’s lead. An Andrew Hayward penalty corner conversion for Surbiton came too late to start a revival and the match ended 2-3 to Wimbledon.

 

The defeat means that Surbiton remain on 21 points, which allows Holcombe to move ahead of them on goal difference. Wimbledon remain in fourth place.  Wimbledon’s next match is at home to Brooklands MU next Sunday.

 

Reading Move Into Contention

 

Whilst the two leaders were dropping points over the weekend, Reading closed the gap with their sixth win of the season, and did it with style.

 

Playing away at Cannock, Reading had taken a 0-6 lead before they allowed the home side a look in. Tom Carson opened the scoring, followed by goals from Andy Watts, Simon Mantell, Dan Shingles, and Ben Boon. Carson scored a second to round off Reading’s total.

 

Late goals from Cannock’s Thomas Morris and Peter Jackson resulted in a 2-6 final scoreline.

 

Reading are at home to East Grinstead this weekend. EG are one of only two sides to have beaten Reading this season, although the Sussex club continues to have a disappointing run.  Cannock will be visiting Beeston.

 

Saturday’s win means that Reading are now only two points behind the top place.  Cannock remain in sixth, one point behind Hampstead & Westminster.

 

‘Grinstead Slip Back

 

After two wins on the bounce, East Grinstead might have hoped their season was about to improve, particularly as they were facing eighth place Brooklands MU on Saturday.

 

Unfortunately, the hoped for points did not materialise. Goals either side of the break came from Brooklands’ Richard Salter and Aiden Khares. Adam Seccull pulled one back for EG, But the match ended 1-2.

 

EG and Brooklands swap places, with Brooklands moving up to seventh and EG moving down to eighth.

 

Success But No Movement For Beeston

 

East Grinstead is not the only top club to be having a worrying season. Until Saturday Beeston only had one win under their belt.  They will probably not be boasting about Saturday’s win, as it was against pointless Canterbury.

 

Two penalty corner conversions from Mark Gleghorne gave Beeston a first half lead, with the dependable Wei Adams pullling one back for Canterbury.  The match was put beyond doubt when Stuart Pilgrim scored Beeston’s third. Final score 3-1.

 

Canterbury remain firmly rooted at the bottom of the table with zero points. Beeston’s win leaves them in ninth place – in the unwelcome relegation play-off spot – but they are only one point behind Beeston in eighth and Brooklands in seventh.

 

 

SOUTHGATE MOVE INTO CONTENTION – INDIAN GYM ON THE SLIDE – GOALS GALORE AT THE TOP OF THE NORTH

 

Conference East

 

The East is taking on a interesting complexion after Saturday’s matches. High flying Richmond had their wings clipped for the second weekend running when they could only draw against challengers Sevenoaks.  The 3-3 result means that Richmond remain top, but the gap between them and the second placed team is down to two points. Southgate, who now occupy the second position, saw a spectacular rise up the table from fifth to second following a 4-3 win at home to Cambridge City.

 

Those results mean a bit of a shake-up at the top of the table with Cambridge City slipping down from second to fourth. Another of the top teams to have a disappointing weekend was Oxted. They move from fourth to fifth after losing 3-6 at home to Teddington.

 

The bottom of the table is looking like it will be a close fight to the end. Bottom, and with one point, is Harleston Magpies, who lost 2-3 to Bromley & Beckenham.  Above Harleston are three clubs all on nine points. They are Bromley & Beckenham, West Herts and Teddington.  West Herts lost 3-5 to a visiting Brighton & Hove. The south coast side move up one place to sixth with 11 points.

 

Conference West

 

It was a mixed weekend for the top sides in the West.  Cardiff and Met continue to rule the roost, although they could only draw 1-1 at home to Cheltenham.  Whilst Cardiff & Met retain a comfortable lead, five points ahead at the top of the table, Cheltenham drop from third to fourth.

 

Second placed Birmingham University enjoyed a 2-0 win against Indian Gymkhana.  Whilst the win keeps the University in contention,  Gym’s defeat sees them move down the table for the third week in succession. A draw and three defeats has dropped them from second place to sixth.

 

Bath Buccaneers, who traditionally have been contenders for the promotion play-offs, have not been having the best of seasons, but Saturday saw them rise to third after a 1-4 win at Isca. The score included a hat-tick by Buccs’ Matthew Ming. Fareham, who had early season relegation worries, has enjoyed a run of four successive wins, and move up to fifth.  Their latest scalp was at home to Guildford.

 

Chichester Priory Park, who had a good run last season, continue to struggle, with a 2-3 defeat at home to University of Exeter.  They remain bottom of the table, but not without hope.  Both Guildford and Isca are only one point ahead of them.

 

Conference North

 

The top clubs in the North were in free scoring mode on Saturday. Second placed Bowdon, put six past Olton & West Warwicks, with their Ben Wright scoring five of them.  His side found the net four times in the last three minutes, with three of those coming from Wright. Final score 6-1.

 

The North leaders, Loughborough Students, also played a high scoring game, with seven goals being netted in the first half in their match against lowly Wakefield. The only second half goal came from Wakefield, to end the match 5-3 in the Students’ favour.

 

Preston took the opportunity to move out of the relegation zone when they played bottom placed Lichfield, winning the match 1-4. University of Durham slipped down a place to fourth as a result of their 0-1 defeat away at Sheffield Hallam.

 

One North match was played on Sunday, which saw Doncaster beat Deeside Ramblers 8-2. There must be something magic about the name Kerly, with Doncaster’s Alex Kerly scoring four of Doncaster’s eight. Despite the win, Doncaster remain in fourth.

LEADERS’ DRAW SEES CANTERBURY CLOSE THE GAP

KERRY’S WORLD LEAGUE SELECTION SEES THE RETURN OF CULLEN

Great Britain’s Women’s Head Coach, Danny Kerry, has announced his squad of 18 for the World League Finals in Argentina in December.

 

The not altogether surprise inclusion in the squad is Crista Cullen.  30 year-old Cullen has made a return to hockey, having taken a break after the 2012 Olympics in London. A world-renown penalty corner striker, she has won 171 caps already in her international career.

 

The World League Finals in Rosario start on 5 December, with the finals being played on 13 December.  GB are in the same pool (Pool B) as China, Australia and Argentina.  Their first match is against Argentina on the opening day.

 

GB Squad for World League Finals:

 

Ashleigh Ball –  Slough

Sophie Bray –  East Grinstead

Christa Cullen – Formerly Leicester, but currently unattached

Alex Danson – Reading

Maddie Hinch – Holcombe

Jo Leigh –  Clifton

Kirsty Mackay –  East Grinstead

Hannah Macleod –  St Albans

Emily Maguire –  Holcombe

Lily Owsley –  University of Birmingham

Sam Quek –  Holcombe

Helen Richardson-Walsh –  Reading

Kate Richardson-Walsh –  Reading

Susannah Townsend –  Canterbury

Georgie Twigg –  Surbiton

Laura Unsworth –  East Grinstead

Hollie Webb –  Surbiton

Nicola White –  Holcombe

Crista Cullen

Bowdon Hightown’s Lucy McNaught makes an unsuccessful attempt to
stop Hannah Griggs shot crossing the line during their match at Canterbury

The match between the Premiership table leaders, Birmingham University and Surbiton, ending in a draw gave a chance for the chasing clubs to close the gap on Sunday.

 

Third placed Canterbury against an understrength Bowdon Hightown was always going to be a one sided contest, and Grace Balsdon’s fourth minute penalty corner conversion made that clear from the start.

 

Without the injured Michelle Liptrot and the non-travelling Tina Cullen, the visitors did not stand a chance.  The point was made clear when Sarah Kerly scored in the 16th minute. Hightown was given a glimmer of hope in the 28th when Natalie Wray slipped the ball through a packed defence and past an unsighted goalkeeper, but only a few minutes elapsed before Kerly scored her second.

 

The Bowdon case had not looked entirely lost in the first half.  Their defence, which often seemed to be in something of a torpor when under attack, might have got themselves more organised in the second half. If anything, matters got worse, as was reflected in the scoreline.

 

The second half had only been underway a few minutes when Kerly got her hat-trick, and two penalty corner conversions in quick succession gave Grace Balsdon hers.

 

The icing on the cake came with goal number seven, scored by Hannah Griggs, which eventually saw the match end 7-1.

 

There were some good performances on the Bowdon Hightown side, including those of Sally Walton and Natalie Wray. And, it’s easy to remember the names of the goalscorers, but Sasannah Townsend made a considerable contribution to Canterbury’s win without actually scoring.

 

Canterbury’s win keeps them in third place, but they are now only one point behind second placed Surbiton. Next Sunday Canterbury play an important match against Holcombe. When the two sides met on the opening day of the season, the match ended in a goalless draw.

 

Bowdon Hightown move down to ninth place, with small comfort coming from the fact that they are the bottom of three clubs on seven points.  They will face another test on Saturday when they play Clifton.

Honours Even at Surbiton

 

In many ways the outcome of the important top-of-the-table clash between Surbiton and University of Birmingham was the worst of both worlds for both sides. Both are the only two undefeated remaining sides in the Premier Division and, as you would expect, they were occupying the top spots. The University were leading the table, with Surbiton only two points behind them at the start of the weekend.

 

Their league positions remain unchanged after Sunday’s match. A 54th minute goal from Lily Owsley saw a reply six minutes later from a penalty corner conversion from Surbiton’s Jo Hunter. Thus the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

 

As mentioned previously, the draw means that Canterbury is closing on both of them. Both the University and Surbiton are probably good for three points next weekend, with Surbiton at Buckingham and the University at Leicester.

 

Maquire Saves Points at Holcombe

 

Holcombe managed to avoid an embarrassing setback at home to bottom placed Buckingham.  The visitors’ Alexandra Naughalty scored from a penalty corner in less than three minutes. Although Holcombe’s Steph Elliott and Jessica Brooker managed to put the home side ahead after 19 minutes, Buckingham’s Amie Hone equalised from the penalty spot in the second half.

 

A late penalty corner award to Holcombe was converted by Emily Maguire to give her side a 3-2 win.

 

Holcombe move up one place to fourth. Buckingham remain bottom, five points adrift of the ninth place.

 

EG Suffer Fourth Defeat

 

East Grinstead’s mega start to the season, which saw them pick up 13 points from their first five matches, seems to be going fast down the tubes. Defeated in their last three matches, they suffered their fourth setback when they played Clifton on Sunday.

 

Two goals from Claire Thomas, one either side of half time, and a goal from Danielle Jordan, saw East Grinstead beaten 3-0. Just to emphasise the change in fortunes, EG has only scored twice in their last four matches.

 

As a result of the match Holcombe move up to fourth, and EG slip to fifth. East Grinstead visit Reading next Sunday. When the two sides met earlier in the season, EG emerged as the winner with a 3-2 finish.

 

Reading Move Out of Relegation Zone

 

Reading recorded only their second win of the season when they played Leicester.

 

Things got off to a bad start for Reading, with Leicester’s Katie Long finding the goal in the 9th minute. But Elspeth Cockburn managed to equalise in the last seconds of the first half.  Two quick goals from Emma Scriven and Helen Richardson-Walsh, were topped off by a penatly corner conversion from Emma Thomas. Final score 4-1.

 

Reading join the three sides on seven points, in eighth place.

 

 

Jo Hunter – equalised for Surbiton

Men’s Premier Division

HAMPSTEAD CAUSE HOLCOMBE A BIT OF BOTHA

Hampstead & Westminster’s Matt Botha

CANTERBURY HUMILIATED BY SOUTH PREMIER BANBURY


Canterbury was confronted by its second South Premier League side when they met Banbury in Round 3 of the Men’s Cup.  A few weeks’ ago they had experienced a narrow escape at Lewes, where they had been forced to come back from behind and eventually win the match on a penalty shoot out.

 

On Sunday, playing Banbury who are one up from the bottom of the South Premier table, Canterbury found themselves trailing for some of the match, and were finally robbed of a win by late goal by Banbury’s Max Grosmith to finish the match 4-4. Banbury eventually went on to win the match 4-3 on the penalty shoot-out.

 

Another Premier Division side to hit the dust was Hampstead & Westminster, who went down 4-3 to Conference West Chichester. An all-Premiership meeting between Beeston and Brooklands MU was ended in Beeston’s favour with a shoot-out after the match had ended 2-2.  Premier Division Surbiton had no such problems, beating West Premier Plymouth Marjon 11-0.

 

Round 3 results in full:

 

Banbury 4 Canterbury 4. Banbury win aps

Beeston 2 Brooklands 2. Beeston win aps

Chichester Priory Park 4 Hampstead & Westminster 3

City of Peterborough 5 Henley 1

Preston 3 University of Birmingham 4

Sheffield University Bankers 3 Barford Tigers 1

Surbiton 11 Plymouth Marjon 0

Cambridge University 1 Havant 3

 

Quarter-final Draw:

 

Banbury v City of Peterborough

Chichester Priory Park v Havant

Sheffield University Bankers v Beeston

University of Birmingham v Surbiton

 

 

MEN’S TROPHY RESULTS:

 

Ashford (Mddx) 3 Basingstoke 6

Barton 6 Stratford 4

Blackheath & OE 4 Old Bordenians 3

Eastbourne 3 Maidstone 3. Madstone win aps

Guernsey 3 Marlow 1

Hampton-in-Arden 4 Maidenhead 2

Lindum 0 Didsbury Northern 5

London Wayfarers 8 Woking 0

March Town 2 Spalding 12

Norwich City 3 Letchworth 1

Tulse Hill & Dulwich 5 West Hampstead 0

Wotton under Edge 3 Plympton Grammar OBs 2

 

Bourne Deeping v Berkhampsted & Hemel Hempstead

Burton v Melton

Felixstowe v Waltham Forest

All walk-overs to first named team

 

MEN’S VASE RESULTS:

 

Amersham & Chalfont 2 Aylesbury 4

Bristol & West 11 North Wilts 3

Bromsgrove 6 Leicester Westleigh 5

Cheshunt 5 Harlow 1

Derby 4 Leamington 5

Haslemere 3 Surrey Spartans 1

Mansfield 3 Old Wulfrunians 2

Market Harborough 2 Streetly 6

Mid Sussex 4 Worthing 4. Mid Sussex win aps

New Beccehamians 4 Yately 6

Newark 3 Nottingham Players 1

North Notts 11 Buxton 1

Nuneaton 6 Stafford 1

Oundle 0 Boots 4

Penzance 0 Tavistock 4

Slough 3 Phoenix abd Ranelagh 1

South Gloucester 4 Chippenham 4. South Gloucester win aps

Southport 2 Triton 2. Triton win aps

Stevenage 3 Potters Bar 4

Sutton Valence 2 Camberley & Farnborough 3

Thurrock 1 Redbridge & Ilford 4

Trinity Mid-Whitgiftians 2 Crowborough 2

Witney 1 British Airways 3

Wootton Bassett 2 Cleevillians 2. Wootton Bassett win aps

 

Keswick v Stockport Bramhall

Tamworth v Kettering

Walk-overs to first named team

 

Results of Kendal v Lymm and Sonning v Bicester awaited

SLOUGH SUFFER FIRST DEFEAT – WAKEFIELD INCREASE THEIR LEAD – SWANSEA SLIP OUT OF CONTENTION

 

Conference East

 

Slough’s minor hiccup of two week ago, when they dropped their first points of the season, became something more serious on Sunday when they suffered their first defeat. The only goal of the match, against Harleston Magpies, came from Magpies’ Elizabeth Clymer after only two minutes.  Slough have a sufficient margin not to worry about one defeat, and they were helped in this respect by the fact that second placed Cambridge City could only draw 1-1 against Hampstead & Westminster.

 

Slough now lead the table by six points, with Cambridge City two points ahead of Wimbledon, Hampstead & Westminster and St Albans. Sunday’s match between St Albans and Wimbledon also ended in a 1-1 draw.

 

The only change to the table resulting from the weekend’s matches was at the bottom. Two of Maidenhead’s top players, Jane Smith and Holly Cram each scored in the 2-0 win against Ipswich, to lift them off the bottom place, and dump their opposition into the automatic relegation spot.

 

Conference North

 

Wakefield managed to increase their lead at the top of the North table with a 1-0 win against bottom placed Liverpool Sefton.  They were helped in this respect by Brookland’s Poynton, whose 1-2 win against second placed University of Durham deprived the University of the points.

 

Two points behind Durham are four sides on 14 points, Ben Rhydding, Beeston, Brooklands and Loughborough Students.  The 1-1 draw between Ben Rhydding and Loughborough Students, and 1-2 win by Beeston at Whitley Bay and Tyneside, results in Ben Rydding remaining in third, Beeston and Brooklands moving up to fourth and fifth respectively. Loughborough Students move down to sixth. With goal difference being the only thing between the four, it could lead to some changes as the season progresses.

 

Conference West

 

The early season in the West had looked like a fight between Swansea and Sutton Coldfield. However, Swansea has only been able to raise four points from their last five games. Sunday saw them go down to Gloucester City 4-3 and slip down to third.

 

Leader’s Sutton Coldfield are five points ahead of Swansea after a very successful day at Oxford Hawks.  They won 0-7 with their Emma McCabe scoring a hat-trick from penalty corners.

 

The new second place side, four points behind Coldfield, is Stourport.  They were at home to Trojans, beating their visitors 3-1.

FULL RESULTS AND LEAGUE TABLES CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING ON THE LINKS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS PAGE. AND YOU WILL FIND PICTURES FROM  THE MATCH BETWEEN CANTERBURY AND BOWDON HIGHTOWN BY CLICKING HERE.


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