http://www.ne14hockey.com/ All Field Hockey news, all the time! en Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:08:58 -0000 http://www.ne14hockey.com/ http://www.ne14hockey.com/index.php?page=3&article=451&title=March+Town+Double+Celebration http://www.ne14hockey.com/topic.php?topic=451 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:26:05 -0000 ne14hockey Field Hockey News Field Hockey News ne14hockey 2008-03-17T10:26:05-00:00 NE14 HOCKEY EAST LEAGUE DIVISION 2 NORTH

Dereham 2nd XI ( 1 ) 1 March Ladies 1st XI ( 1 ) 2

March Goal Scorers: LAUREN OAKMAN 1, ROBYN GRIBBLE 1

This was a must win penultimate game for March, who at the start of play, were lying second with 41 points to Old Buckenham, leading with 43 points, while Norwich City were third with 39 points and UEA fourth with 37 points, all from 20 matches played. The game began quite evenly with March having to adjust to Dereham’s new synthetic pitch which they found to be very soft and bumpy. The visitors, sponsored by Brandon Bolt Company, had a few good attacks, but failed to score until 25 minutes into the game .Then leading scorer Lauren Oakman converted a penalty corner with a great strike into the corner of the goal from the edge of the circle. The lead didn’t last for long as Dereham made a fast break which ended with a very scrappy goal as March failed to clear the ball from the danger area.

After half time, March adjusted their game plan a bit better to cope with the bumpy pitch and were more successful in gaining and holding possession of the ball. March looked the better side and eventually managed to make it count with a great fast run and cross from Lauren Oakman to Robyn Gribble, in front of the keeper, who skilfully dribbled round the keeper into the open goal behind. Dereham immediately fought back hard to get back into the game, but good covering by the March defence and some superb tackling from Hannah Foad denied them a score. It was a tough game but March’s determination and good team performance yielded the right result. The youngsters in the side Robyn Gribble, voted Player of the Match, and Hannah Foad both had excellent games. With all Saturday’s results now in, things have worked out remarkably well for March. Previous leaders Old Buckenham were thumped 6-2 by UEA, and Norwich City lost 0-2 at home to Louth. This means that whatever happens in the last round of matches on the 29th of this month, March are promoted, along with Old Buckenham, and they need only a draw against Old Buckenham to go up as League Champions. The game is at The Neale Wade Astro with a 1pm start, and is sure to be the highlight of the Season. There are no Club matches next week due to Easter being early.



NE14 HOCKEY EAST MENS LEAGUE DIVISION 2 NORTH

Ipswich and East Suffolk 1st XI ( 3 ) 3 March Town 1st XI ( 1 ) 1

March Goal Scorers: HUGH WHITTOME 1

Despite being without at least six regular players, March, sponsored by Bar 23, put in a great team performance against Ipswich and East Suffolk on Saturday, and can count themselves unlucky not to have secured at least a point. Throughout the half, the home side had numerous penalty corners as a result of their attacking play, and each of their three first half goals came from penalty corner strikes. The tally could have been more but for the excellent work of young keeper Toby Odlin and his overworked defenders. It wasn’t all one way traffic, and March duly got their reward with a very well taken goal. An aerial ball from Adam Graham found vice captain Hugh Whittome who controlled the ball and fired past the keeper all in one movement, to keep his side in the hunt at the break.

The second half saw a reshuffle for March as captain Neil Liversedge was forced to leave the field of play with a recurrence of a knee injury, and youngsters Ross Ambler and Nathan Foad were pushed wide on their debut for the 1st XI. The team can take credit for preventing the home side from scoring during a backs to the wall half for the March side. Despite the fact that March have already been relegated to Division 3 North West, they can still restore some pride with League matches still to be played on the 29th March and 5th April. There are no Club matches next week due to Easter being early.



NE14 HOCKEY EAST MENS LEAGUE DIVISION 3 NORTH WEST

March Town 2nd XI ( 2 ) 4 Cambridge Nomads 3rd XI ( 0 ) 0

March Goal Scorers: ANDREW WRIGHT 1, RYAN WRIGHT 1, TOM NICKALLS 1, JOHN WEST 1

Saturday’s win virtually guarantees March Division 3 North West survival after what has been a very traumatic time for Charlie Saunders and his beleaguered side. With just 4 wins and 2 draws from the 20 matches played so far, and with so little consistency in the teams put out each week, it is no wonder the team has been struggling. However, on Saturday, it was a different story. March made a bright start against fellow strugglers Cambridge Nomads, and within 10 minutes went ahead when captain Charlie Saunders broke from defence and found Andrew Wright, who calmly slotted the ball past the keeper. March, sponsored by Knights End Training, held the upper hand for the remainder of the half and increased their lead just before half time. A good run down the right wing by Ryan Noble ended with his cross being flicked past the keeper by Ryan Wright.

The second half saw March well on top again, and mid way through the half, Tom Nickalls increased the lead with a well taken goal. The game was by now beyond the reach of Cambridge, and 10 minutes before the end of play, a fine move between several players with good one touch hockey, ended with John West finishing well at the far corner with the keeper beaten. Tom Nickalls was voted Player of the Match for his endless running and well taken goal, and the entire team earned the praise of captain Charlie Saunders. There are no Club matches next week due to Easter being early.



NE14 HOCKEY EAST MENS LEAGUE DIVISION 5 NORTH WEST

March Town 3rd XI ( 3 ) 3 Market Deeping 3rd XI ( 0 ) 1

March Goal Scorers: CHRIS PECKETT 1, ADAM TRIGGS 1, NICK KING 1

With several players unavailable, March could so easily have been steamrollered by a much stronger Market Deeping side. However, an early goal for the home side was just the tonic they needed. March won a penalty corner and Chris Peckett struck a good volley past the keeper to put his side ahead. With the early nerves gone, March, sponsored by ROI Distribution, began to play some good hockey, and were rewarded with the goal of the game. Adam Triggs took the ball from defence, then out wide, then back to the edge of the circle, where he reverse stick hooked the ball over the keeper and into the net. With half time approaching, a drag flick shot from Nick King into the roof of the net gave the home side an impressive interval lead.

The second half saw a determined Market Deeping side strangling March’s attacking play, and not allowing them any space or width to play their normal game. The March defence saw much more action, with keeper Gary Sandford making several good saves and coming out to smother dangerous looking attacking moves by the visitors. Eventually, Market Deeping got the goal their play deserved when a right wing cross was converted, but it was too little, too late as March hung on to record a 3-1 victory. Nick King had an outstanding game for March, who have two League games to play and are still in with a chance of promotion. There are no Club matches next week due to Easter being early.



NE14 HOCKEY EAST MENS LEAGUE DIVISION 6 NORTH WEST

March Town 4th XI ( 1 ) 2 Horncastle 2nd XI ( 0 ) 4

March Goal Scorers: LUKE BARTON 1, STEVEN SLYFIELD 1

Despite having been relegated to Division 7 North West, March were looking for a winning end to the Season on Saturday. The home side, sponsored by Hackett Windle, began well, with some good attacking runs from Jack Nisbet, Raman Sidhu and Matthew Lakey, putting pressure on the Horncastle defence right from the start. Midway through the half, March won a penalty corner, and vice captain Luke Barton struck the ball past the keeper to give his side the lead. March maintained their dominance for the remainder of the half.

The second half saw March tiring, with Horncastle applying the pressure, and good defending coming from Chris White and Steven Slyfield, especially from penalty corner strikes. The visitors eventually broke through and scored twice from open play to equalise and then take the lead. March were still not out of it, and in a strong attacking move, Steven Slyfield netted to level the scores again. All the hard work was then undone as March switched off, allowing Horncastle to score twice before the end of play, both goals coming from penalty corner strikes, to run out 4-2 winners. March have one League match remaining on the 29th March.]]>