Issue 1247 - The Courier

Th eCourier Tuesday 6 March 2012
StanCalvert2012.5
flush continues for
hockey against Poly
minute to ‘Latif ’ the ball into the roof
the net to the delight of the NUMHC
faithful providing support on the
sides once again.
Before and after the half-time whistle,
Northumbria scored. Despite
Newcastle President Sam Mawer’s attempts
to row to the rescue, the home
side were able to capitalize on a Newcastle
team who were tired following
a heavy schedule playing six games in
the last eight days and hit the visitors
on the break. Nevertheless the Uni
were playing well and, despite continued
Newcastle pressure, Northumbria
defended valiantly, frustrating
their opponents. Being accustomed
to desperate clearing situations they
were able to draw on valuable experience
from their UCAS days to keep
the Royals from finding the back of
the net.
Captain John Colville gave a passionate
war cry at half-time, and
attempted to restore his relationship
with centre-back partner after
the lovers tiff that had occurred last
Wednesday.
With Rob ‘Ramborghini’ Ramsdens
firing the engines of the midfield,
Newcastle got back into the game, Kieran
‘Baz’ Borrett stomping into the
‘D’ to stroke the ball past the hapless
Poly keeper. Newcastle were dominating
Northumbria and repeating his
feats from Wednesday, Calum Mac-
Kenzie seized the initiative. As the
game edged closer to its conclusion,
fresher Ben Underwood scored with
his first touch of the ball to claim the
glory for Newcastle at the back post.
In typical fashion the Royals ended
the game in nervy fashion. As always
the case in Stan Calvert the home umpires
were able to help make the closing
minutes anything but comfortable,
awarding a controversial penalty
corner to Northumbria with two minutes
left on the clock. With appeals
falling on death ears Newcastle had to
defend well once more and a scramble
on the goal line was eventually
cleared. In the melee the ball found its
way to the back post where a stretching
Northumbria striker put the ball
wide when it seemed easier to score,
letting Newcastle off the hook and allowing
them to take the precious Stan
Calvert points.
Newcastle 2nds
Northumbria 2nds
9
3
The Seconds came into Stan Calvert
this year still in the hunt for BUCS
promotion and fired up for a feisty
game against the Poly.
The first 10 minutes were fairly quiet
with most play in the Poly half before
Charlie Wilkes-Green took advantage
of a goalmouth scramble to tuck away
his first goal of the day.
It was then time for the man who
many are calling ‘The White Heskey’
to make his mark on the game, with
Newcastle playing liquid hockey and
netting four goals in 10 minutes, 2 for
Tim Plail who also set up Dan Walker
for a tap in and fresher Will Ducker
managing to get in on the action as
well.
Going into the second half 5-0 up
Newcastle were determined for more
goals and they duly arrived with
Wilkes-Green getting his second of
the day soon after the restart.
The 2s really started to exert some
dominance against a determined poly
side with Jack Moody scoring a beautiful
half volley on the turn and Josh
‘the dipping rod’ Mackey scoring a
drag flick to the top left corner.
It was at this point in the game at 8-0
down and with Newcastle pressing
high that some extremely questionable
umpiring decisions lead to a poly
short corner. The Poly converted and
a following frantic few minutes saw
the score stand at 8-3 with ten minutes
to go.
However Newcastle managed to settle
down with good work from high
forward Nick McLellan and won a
short corner in the final minute which
was put away with a Tim Plail deflection,
completing his hat-trick and
earning himself a pitchside shinpad
after the game.
Man of the match went to Tim Plail
and the highly desired Dick of the
Day to Charlie Russell-Jones.
Newcastle 3rds
Northumbria 3rds
3
1
In all it was as good a day for the Men’s
hockey club as they have become accustomed
to in recent years.
The Thirds put on a fine display to
smash their opponents 6-0 with a
committed performance.
Tearing their opponents apart with
a pacey attack, the pick of the goals
came from Harry Millington who
struck the ball high into the top corner
form the edge of the ‘D’.
Overall a clean sweep and maximum
points once again for NUMHC and
Newcastle.
Central mid fi elder
Kieren Borrett and
forward Hector Hall
are becoming a
formidable duo.
Photography:
Moises Bedrossian
fail to make the grade in shock defeat
convincing 3-1 and 9-3 wins but fall short of Calvert clean sweep again
the 0-0 score line. However, it soon
became apparent that it was Newcastle
who was going to dominate the
game, the Poly rarely venturing over
the halfway line. So when Newcastle’s
first goal came courtesy of an excellent
long ball from President Holly
Ost to Jenna Watt, who beat their stationary
goalie in a one-on-one, it was
just a sign of things to come.
Shortly followed was a second goal
which came courtesy of an undetermined
scorer. Picking the ball up
around the halfway line Watt drove
straight for goal with pace. However,
it is still in dispute whether her closerange
shot on goal was aided by Rachael
Clements to give Newcastle a
2-0 lead 20 minutes into the game.
The Poly constantly being dispossessed
by the determined Uni team
led to the third goal, an absolutely text
book run of play. With excellent passing
all the way from Milly Powers in
defence through Nicki Mollison and
up to the forwards, Charlotte Howatson
crossed the ball to a waiting Laura
Kate Moore on the post to slot it in.
The Poly began to notice that they
were meant to be playing a hockey
match, and capitalised on a 10 man
Newcastle side after Erika Coakley
let the tense situation get the better of
her, allowing her stick to fly for a ball.
Newcastle, still in the midst of reorganising,
caused a poly one-on-one
which bought the score to 3-1 just before
the half time break.
Newcastle knew that they had not
yet won this match and opening the
second half with the same optimism
they had started the match with.
This calm and effective display soon
bought rewards in the form of a short
corner.
A scrappy opening was rectified by
Nicki Mollison who easily emerged
from a pile of Poly players to slot the
ball in the back of the net. From then
the onslaught continued when the
Poly goalie, unable to perform her
proper skills, went for forward LKM
to give away a flick, which was dually
converted by captain Alice Hogg,
bringing the score line to 5-1.
The Poly from then on let the embarrassment
of the situation get the
better of them and their captain was
carded. Newcastle by comparison
held their heads and continued the
annihilation, with two excellent goals
from Caroline Macmillan and Rachael
Clements.
However, Newcastle unfortunately
dropped concentration for a millisecond
and again down to 10 women
due to Hattie Cunningham’s over active
stick, the reshuffling of players
allowed Northumbria to score two
scrappy goals, bringing the score line
to 7-3.
Strong defensive play from Olivia
O’Malley and saves from Rachel Wilson
when the Poly had a series of
Short Corners allowed Newcastle to
maintain this impressive lead. Newcastle,
annoyed that they had let the
Poly score at all, and to further irritate
the now red carded Poly captain,
allowed goal-hungry Watt to net another
two goals, sealing the win for
the Newcastle Team.
The team and fans were ecstatic and
celebrated the 9-3 victory with champagne,
while a dismayed Poly fan club
looked on in confusion having never
seen the bubbly stuff before.
Newcastle 2nds
Northumbria 2nds
1
0
It was heartbreak for NULHC Second
team when they were subjected to an
undeserved 1-0 defeat against their
Poly counterparts, despite having
come out 4-0 the better side less than
two weeks previously,
Although dominating from the
start, it was clear confidence was lacking
by forwards in the attacking 25.
Good running from tonsillitisfighting
Fresher Viki Monk and solid
defending at the back by Kate Robertson
kept the Seconds fighting, however,
the lack of public school educated
forward Gayle Telford and her beloved
stick Graham was evident.
20 minutes in a loss of possession
in midfield led to a unwarranted lead
for Northumbria which they retained
into half time.
Play stuck at a level pegging with the
Royals unable to make that final push
in the D to draw even.
Into the last ten the play turned
scrappy as the Poly worked to hold
on to their lead and the Royals threw
everything into grabbing that much
needed goal.
Roxanne Morris and her signature
pirouettes were relentless in midfield,
however despite constant battling the
final whistle blew to the sound of a
Poly victory.
Newcastle 3rds
3
Northumbria 3rds
1
NULHC Thirds got off to a flying start
dominating the Poly both on and off
the pitch.
Miss Jessica Hall did a superb job
captaining for the day, scoring a
blinder from a short corner and creating
an impenetrable defence with her
trusty left-back Nicole Haines.
The second goal is accredited to
the infamous Sarah Mckinley after
a beautiful cross from general hero
Lucy Kent, driven up the pitch by our
dream team of mids comprising of
Katy Jones, Helen Gaskell and Katie
Hay. Third goal was scored by our resident
whipper-snapper Rosie Griffindor
with a nifty touch into the corner
of the goal after a bit of a coffufel.
Second half the poly stepped it up
a bit and we got a bit floppy, letting
one goal in. The end of the game was
tense, Northumbria being awarded a
few shorts after the final whistle had
been blown, not that they would’ve
won anyway! Regardless of the Poly’s
unpromising attempt to bring it back
we played very well and deserved the
3-1 win.