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Newsletter 2006/07
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-Jan-07Issue 16
With a tempestuous afternoon and soaking players, THD turned out to weather the storm with varying degrees of success. This included a euphoric victory for the men’s 1s, triumphantly back on track, which you can read in epic detail below (excuse the editorial indulgence of the lengthy match report, as other people didn’t write much this week..!) and the Tornado’s continuing their unbeaten run with yet another victory. On the women’s side, the 4s enjoyed a satisfying win, while the 6s were unlucky to lose from a winning position. Delight was on the faces of the women’s 1s after they beat a national league side, albeit in the friendly, while the 5s had a gruelling encounter with some gargantuan antipodeans in Richmond.
In other important news, congratulations to men’s 1s player, Graeme (aka Bungle) Fotherington, on becoming a father. His wife gave birth to Callum George Fotherington on Sunday at 3.31pm. Callum weighed in at 6lb 6oz. Mother and baby are doing well, reportedly father is somewhat overwhelmed!
Reports by: Will Nurse, Chris Coleman, Wes Cole, Mark Jones, Bill Dowie, Doug Heard, Gemma Baker, Lucy Partingon, Selina Leleu, Faith Geraghty, Kate Straker.
Men’s 1s vs. Hampstead and Westminster: 7-1
The role of writing the match report quite literally fell to me. A sniper hit me mid way through the second half. My ultra cool persona was shaken and just when I thought it might have gone unnoticed there was a small cheer from the gaggle of girls on the side line I had been wooing.
Only advice I was given about writing a match report was if you don’t feel confident, keep it short, easier said than done when you have just handed out a 7 - 1 mauling to the opposition.
The first half was fairly even, West Hampstead may have had a couple of chances - we definitely did - but a culmination of poor final passes and decision making meant it was all level after 20 minutes. Our first short corner was sprayed wide; the second however saw Gaz score from a slick variation. Shortly before the break their keeper took on the role of wood cutter and a stroke was awarded which Will calmly dispatched. Half time and two up, Gary and Andy must have said some wise words at half time but what with the excitement of the second half I can’t remember what they were.
In the second half we really seemed to find our stride and with WH chasing the game there where more opportunities and space up front, especially for a forward line with such pace.
The defence were solid and the passing around the back was composed and purposeful, creating the space to get the ball to a forward line. The midfield played well giving both support in attack and commitment in defence.
The third goal was awarded to Rob, a slightly less well worked short corner ended up in the goal. The opposition protested, the umpires discussed and then sense prevailed and it was awarded.
Fourth goal was a sublime piece of forward interlinking and running and topped off with a strike vying for goal of the month. Andy made a lead from centre to the wide right, received a pass down the right flank, and then passed the ball infield which Will met on his diagonal run towards the top left of the D. Rob on the left wing lead from left to right behind his defender leaving him top of the D in two minds whether to stay with Rob or go to the man on the ball who was fast approaching the D, he dillied, he dallied, Will entered the D one last touch set the ball up for the diving reverse stick strike and keeper was left floundering as the ball hit the right back board and rebounded around the goal. Banners: I hope that was as good for you as it was for me.
The fifth goal was another good break away with the ball almost being passed from left to right inside the penalty spot. Jimmy took control of the ball and from an angle with defenders scrambling to protect the goal line slotted home number five. Somewhere between goal 5 and 6 charity, and small lack of concentration, allowed WH a consolation goal. In addition to that they missed a couple sitters.
In response to their goal we came back with renewed focus. Andy showed great strength and wove his way through thrashing opposition sticks to calmly slot the ball through the keeper’s legs. Number seven might have been another example of exhibition hockey but I can’t remember; Rob scored his second. Sorry Rob!
There were several good performances which showed in the MOM voting and realistically the score line could have been in double figures, however the score was sufficient to see us into positive goal difference.(WN)
MOM: Rob
TFC: Will
Scores: Gaz, Will(2), Rob(2), Jimmy, Andy
Team: Duncan, Banners, Gary, Bubs, Gaz, Sam, Tom, Jimmy, Rob, Andy, Will, Simon
Manager / Super Sub: Smudger – I bruise like a girl!
Next game: 27 January home vs. Winchester
Men's 2s vs. Reading 2As: Lost 1-0
Short and sharp this week……..
Team: Browny, Coleman, Fez, Ferg, J “Pot as many balls as you can” V, Nurse, Laurent, Mike K, Jacob, Paul H, Potty, Tom M, Piggy
Umpire: Them
MOTM: Probably them too
Men’s 3s vs. Reading 3's: Won 10–0 (Walkover)
They pulled out 1 hr before meet time. So we got the 10-0 walkover.
Or for the papers, Wes scored a triple hat trick including 6 short corners, one a remarkable reverse under arm backswing drag flick with pike.
And Jeremy came out of goal to score a penalty stroke. (WC)
Next game: 27 Jan 4pm Away vs Southgate.
Tornados vs. Reading 4s: Won 3-0
Words fail me so I've tried to make a simple pictorial reference to the difference between the two sides... (MJ)
Team: Will Pigden(GK), MJ, Roland Ferneaux, Charlie Krasun, James Perrott, Aidan Brock, Will Lucas, Jon Kirby, Alex Fishwick, Si Riley, Si Wilshire, Tom Alexander & Lozzer.
Scorer(s): Tom Alexander (2) & Si Riley
Man of the Match: Tom Alexander
Umpire: Chris Richman.
Next Match: Saturday, January 27 vs. London Wayfarers Heavies away
Diamonds – No game
For the second week running, our opposition pulled out on the Friday evening. Unfortunately this was a friendly, so no points awarded for a walkover. Wes Cole’s 3rds found themselves similarly jilted on Saturday morning, so we had an informal game together – much more fun than a practice session.
Rumours that the Diamonds wiped the floor with the 3rds are somewhat wide of the mark. They let us have Jeremy in goal, and Adam, and they never really woke up, basking in the sunshine of the three easy points they had just earned. But apart from that, yes, we did wipe the floor with them. (BD)
Next game: Saturday 27th Jan. Away at Surbiton 5s, 12.30
THD Royals vs HAC Sutlers: Lost 6-0
The Royals are used to spectacular results and so this week was not to disappoint. Under new stewardship 16 Royals turned up to dispatch the HAC muppets. 4 unanswered [slightly dubious] first half goals and 2 further second half goals made for one hell of a result.
All in all, a convincing 6-0 whitewash...
Perhaps next week we'll turn it around!!?
Big thanks to Jez for keeping, Wez for reffing and all who braved the weather to play. (DH)
Team: Jez, Hamza, Keith, Will, Bondy, Mark, Ed, Mike, Chris, Colin, Stephen, Doug, Akash, Tim, Tom, Rich, Matt.
Umpire: Wes
Result: 6-0 loss.
Scorers: Kermit, Gonzo, Ms Piggy, Animal and Beaker (not necessarily in that order)
Next game: vs. St Albans, Saturday 27 Jan.
Women’s 1s vs. Reading 1A: Won 3-1 (friendly)
With just 11 players travelling to Reading to face a team in the league above us we thought it might be a bit of a thrashing. And with no coach, one player who came up from the 3s to help us out, and a team of 9 with just 15 minutes till push back, to say we were prepared would be a complete overstatement. However, we did ok. In fact, more than ok.....Reading were quite strong to start with, but soon we got into our stride. Emma, our 3rd XI addition, played a blinder at centre forward and with Sharon and (a very tanned) Martha, kept Reading pinned at the back unable to get the ball out without aimlessly hitting it as hard as they could. In fact, they rewarded Emma for all her hard work on a number of occasions by hitting the ball to her at the top of the circle. Icing on the cake would have been a goal, but the excitement of the occasion obviously overcame her. Despite all our pressure though, it was Reading who took the lead, a ball slipped in from the by-line found a player on the p-spot. Still we came back at them, amazed at the amount of space we had. Sharon (who seems to like scoring against reading) equalised soon after, before Martha gave us the lead, neatly deflecting Gemma's shot past the keeper. 2-1 at half time, we were starting to feel a bit tired.
Our defence were put under some good pressure from the oppo's press, but we remained strong and played the ball around. The nice bouncy pitch did mean we (well, Alex) could whallop the ball down the other end to relieve some pressure. Final goal came from our only short corner of the game, which Alex slotted home nicely to put us 3-1 up. The umpiring was, on occasion, dire, but fortunately we had the men’s 4s on the sidelines offering suitable abuse....thank you :-)
Team: Pipes, Alex, Kath, Clare, Nicky, Lisa, Gem, Faye, Martha, Emma & Sharon
Scorers: Sharon, Martha & Alex
Motm: Nicky and Alex
Next game: 27 Jan vs. Maidenhead @ DC. 12.30 start
Women’s 2s vs. Reigate Priory: Lost 3-0
There was a noticeable inclination to stay in the changing rooms - the mighty THD demonstrating none of their usual verve and enthusiasm for the task ahead. Although maybe that was just yours truly, returned temporarily from pasture owing to the disappearance of the Muldoon to more glamorous climes...... Once out and about however the pace picked up as the attempt to remember the Oz warm up stretched some tired minds and bodies. And tired we seemed on the pitch. The game was a fairly even match - both sides initially struggling to stop the ball on a bouncy pitch, but THD had some good spells of passing and had the better possession initially. Alas, although defence and midfield seemed able to move the ball around, the crucial forward momentum and accurate pass to the forwards eluded us, and neither long balls through nor short sharp passes went to THD sticks......Our inability to connect effectively with our front line was duly punished and Reigate were 1-0 up at the break following a breakaway goal. More of the same in the second half although Reigate came out reinvigorated - some great work in defence by Lucy May and superb saves from Dulcie kept us in the game until a couple of good additional goals from Reigate sealed the match. We just didn't seem to be inventive enough to get around their defence.
The win means Reigate move ahead of us in the league, with a better goal difference to equal points - although we are still 3rd. On a brighter note were the excellent performances of the younger team members - Dulcie in goal, Lucy M at the back and Rosie and Emma attacking well up front. This week however the older heads were less able to turn those awesome energy levels to our advantage....... THDW2 will need a little more composure on the ball, and killer instinct in front of goal (only one short corner?) if the second half of the season is to be as successful as the first. (LP)
Dulcie, Kato, Shorty, Lucy May, Lucy P, Rosie, Biba, Rachel, Emma, Sarah B, Claire, Zoey
Umpire: Lou Campbell, cheers Lou
POTM: Lucy May; runner up Dulcie
Next game: 27 Jan v. Barnes Hounslow Ealing away
Women’s 3s: No game
Next game: 27 Jan vs Woking, away
Women’s 4s vs. Horley: Won 4-0
After the maze of getting to the hockey pitch/paintballing area of the Crystal Palace pitch the women’s 4s were ready to attack the current team likely to be relegated. The first half started with aggression, the opposition had little to offer especially after Kate smashed the ball in the goal. Things did get a little hairy for a couple of minutes until the beautiful weather that England inherits hit hard and soaked everyone. This seemed to put a dampener on Horley so THD were able to capitalise on some short corners (which is unusual I’m sure all the 4s would agree!). Our hearts did go out to Olivia (GK) who touched the ball only once (it was one magnificent touch), and considering she is very petite was incredibly cold but soldiered on despite offers of everyone else’s tops! The first half ended with the score line of 4-0.
The second half unfortunately was not as interesting as the first, but thankfully had beautiful blue sky. Although THD were not able to capitalise on some short corners (although Tom Tom did do the best golf practice swing I’ve seen in a long time) and the score line remained the same for the remainder of the match. (SL)
Team: Sarah Anderson, Emma Billsdon, Mary Cook, Isabel Drewe, Jena Kitley, Kate Livesley, Lindsay McClaren, Lynne Ruddick, Olivia Salau(GK), Nikki Smithies, Lucy Snell, Anna Stuttard, Claire Whitehead.
MOM: Kate and Mary
Scorers: Claire (2), Kate, Anna
Umpire: Selina Leleu
Next game: Feb 3rd vs London Edwardians Home at 11.00
Women’s 5s vs. Richmond 4s: Lost 0-10
A running theme in T5's results has now snow balled into what can only be described as pure torture. By the middle of the second half every single person on the pitch (including umpires) would have preferred to have had their finger and toe nails individually pulled out with a pair of pliers by Jade and Jackiey Goody. Apart, of course, from Richmond who squealed with delight (a bit like Jade and Jackiey Goody or those eejits Danielle and Jo from S Club 7). By the way, what do they put in the water in Richmond? They are very - I hesitate to use the word Amazonian - tall.
Having said all that, everyone put up a good fight and many thanks go to our umpires and special guests from T4 and T6.
By the way, does anyone know how we can hide this result from our absent captain in Australia? (FG)
Team: Faith, Nicole, Clarkie, Helen F, Andrea V, Andrea B, Martina "I've still got it" VDL, Fatima, Kate.
Special Guests: Penny Ganser, Ash McDonald, Emma Gilchrist.
Umpires: Mark Annear, Bill Dowie.
Scorers: the birds off the Lynx advert.
Next Match: 27 January v. Wanderers 5s - 11 am away.
Women's 6s vs. Reigate 4s: Lost 4-5
Winning the toss augured well for this match, until the hail started and we realised we were facing into the wind. Not normally know for being wet, THD 6s collectively shrieked - it was painful! Fortunately the weather cleared up and our hands thawed suitably quickly to enable us to end the first half 3-1 up. Sadly the inspired half-time talk of "treat it as a clean sheet, stay focussed" failed to work its magic and a couple of absent minded moments led to two short corners against us in quick succession. Whilst we had been running rings around the oppo on the pitch, they were possessed of 100mph hits which sadly did the job and left us ruing our missed chance. On the plus side, we've remembered how to score goals again so next week should be a breeze... (KS)
Team: Charlotte Ryan (GK), Jess Beach, Kate Straker, Lucy Gilchrist, Shona Chambers, Mags Aylward, Mae-Lynn McDougall, Alanna Mcintosh, Gigi Ho, Karen Logan, Lex Price, Clare Montagu
Umpire: both from Reigate
Dragons vs Real Battersea: Drew 2-2
When the Dragons draw it is always in style... if a normal team's draw is as interesting as an etch-a-sketch, then a Dragons' draw is like a Batman etch-a-sketch! (MJ)
Team: Piggy (GK), MJ, Coleman, Chris Richman, Aido, Si Riley, Ratty, Linds McClaren, Lou Curry, Gemma B, Emma G, & Snellers.
Scorer(s): Chris R (2).
Umpire: Coleman, Richman, Aido & Riley
Next Match: HA Trophy Sunday, January 28, 2007 Wimbledon Mixed home 12:30 DC
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