NDHC League Match Reports: 25th November 2017

TeamDateOppositionH/ATimeScoreScorersPlayer of Match

Women’s East Hockey League, Premier Division

Norwich Dragons Ladies 1s v Caterbury 2s:  P-P

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Women’s East Hockey League, Division 2NE

Norwich Dragons Ladies 2s v Christchurch 1s:  P-P

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Empresa Norfolk Women’s League,  Premier Division

Norwich Dragons Ladies 3s v Evergreens 1s:  P-P

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Empresa Norfolk Women’s League,  Premier Division

Norwich Dragons Ladies 4s v UEA 2s:  P-P

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Empresa Norfolk Women’s League,  Premier Division
Norwich Dragons Ladies 5s v Broadland 1s:  

With all games at the Den having been cancelled, the Fives set off to Taverham cautious of the conditions (and the cold!) but keen to face Broadlands 1st after a good show against Loddon the week before.
 
Broadlands were quick off the mark and the Fives conceded a short corner early in the first half, although it was extremely well defended and cleared. After that, fewer mistakes were made in the D and the Fives were able to make some strong attacks. Niamh Somers and Sophia Haenhelt made some brilliant runs on the left wing and some strong hits on goal by Sue Cross seemed to shake the Broadlands defence. Hannah Edwards and Fiona Fletcher worked well at top and bottom of the diamond to intercept the Broadlands hard cross pitch hits. Fletch suffered a hard lifted hit to the arm, but managed to rally to come back for the second half. The first half ended 0-0.
 
Unfortunately, a messy goal at the beginning of the second half left the Fives 1-0 down. The defenders had been succeeding in cutting down Broadlands straight hits at goal and Esther Jacobs made some crucial saves, however, a lack of communication and a scramble for the ball meant Broadlands were able to take the opportunity and find the back of the net with a well placed flick. A series of short corners put a strain on the defence but the rest of the Fives did well in getting back to support. Broadlands took the opportunity from a weak 16 to make another attack at goal, and made some quick short passes to loop around the defence and score again. Fives were awarded a short corner in the latter part of the half and although Steph Samson was able to make a hard hit at goal it was well defended by the Broadlands players. Despite a final attack from Fives in the last two minutes of the game it wasn’t to be, and a short corner for Broadlands before the whistle ended as the last play of the match. It was well defended and Dragons were able to keep the score at 2-0.
 
Lou Davis had an incredible game, clearing the ball, keeping communication up, and saving more than one ball from the goal line. Katie Franks returned as left back and helped, with Mel Widdows, to slow a lot of the Broadlands attack. Sue Brumby made some great runs on the right and cut in amongst the Broadlands players during hit outs to create space, something we had been focusing on in training. Katie Lister, in her first match for Fives, proved quick and skilled on the wing and put pressure on the Broadlands defence. Amy Forse, as captain, kept morale up with an attentive team talk at half time and good communication on the pitch.
 
POM: Lou Davis
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Empresa Norfolk Women’s League,  Division 2
Norwich Dragons Ladies 6s  – no game 

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Empresa Norfolk Women’s League,  Division 3

Norwich Dragons Ladies 7s v City 7s:  4-1

The 7s have got their mojo back! They scored a solid 4-1 win over City at Taverham with two goals in each half on a pitch that was hard but definitely safe for play. The 7s were well fired up for this game and from the push back Alice Bishop scored the first of her three goals inside the first two minutes. This smart start settled any nerves Dragons may have had, and the result shows how much they have improved from their friendly draw against the same team at the start of the season.

Dragons as usual built a lot of their attacks from the back, but there were some critical differences in their play this week. Jane Wells proved to be a cracking crosser of the ball from the right, and can claim two assists to Alice. Alice herself, player of the match, is developing into a deadly finisher, very brave in front of goal. The whole team is starting to improve their ball speed and just as importantly, is able to pick up hard passes and make more use of the ball on the pitch.

So in the first half, the Dragons were attacking freely and using their nice passing game to work the ball into the circle. Charlotte Knight, Amelia Keitley-Webb and Alice Bishop ghosting in from midfield gave City plenty to think about. Adelice Kraemer again did some lovely flick ons, and her goals will come. Jane was taking no prisoners in front of goal, and when she gets one, she will get a hatful.

The Dragons plan was starting to work. Addi and Claire Fairhurst were always available and in the second half Claire scored a beauty from that little space off the near post that she works so well. The Dragons young and nippy mids (Charlotte, Amelia and Alice) were doing an excellent job carrying the ball and getting back to intercept or tackle when needed. But, special praise for top of the diamond Stevie Spence and bottom of diamond Louise Brooks who are developing a fine understanding of each other’s play and position. They both distribute the ball well to either side and will run all day and are as solid defending as they are in attack.

The defenders, Stella Windsor Waite, Bridget Le Good, Katy Saide, Lily Crew and Emma Dyer dealt with the City raids well. Louise, Bridget and Stella did some good intercepts to restrict the City forwards, but City showed what they could do with a sloppy hit out by ramming the ball past Emily Roper. Emily was more than equal to everything else, and one of her great assets is the increasing confidence with which she is marshalling her defence. If Emily says get back and mark, you do it.

The 7s thoroughly enjoyed their win as a team, and the subbing routine coped well with 14, with several players taking up more than one position to fox the opposition. The post-match analysis over a yummy City lunch was all about how we can push on and challenge ourselves to do even better. Undoubtedly the sweets were essential!

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Empress Norfolk Women’s League, Division 3

Norwich Dragons Ladies 8s v Dereham 5s:  P-P

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Men’s East Hockey League, Division 2N

Norwich Dragons Men’s 1s v Dereham 2s:  

Lost 6-1 against Dereham 2s. A much improved second half performance but it was a big ask being 5-0 down at half time. Sam Avery christened his new stick with his with a back hand screamer to score the only Dragons goal.  Player of the Match was Lewis James Wilkins after beating Max Laming at rock, paper, scissors. (Always choose scissors). 

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Men’s East Hockey League, Division 3NE

Norwich Dragons Men’s 2s v UEA 2s:  P-P

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Men’s East Hockey League, Division 3NE

Norwich Dragons Men’s 3s v IES 2s:  1-2

Just like their cricketing counterparts, the mighty 3s were only able to partake in their favoured pastime due to a trip down south, away from the Den towards Ipswich to take on IES 2s. Whilst missing a few key players to their 21st Centre Parks trip of the year, (and other more legitimate reasons) the last-minute additions of Ali (Stuart Broad) and PC Piers (Kevin Pieterson) helped bolster the defensive complement. 

The saying goes “all roads lead to Rome” but it helps to be on those roads in time to reach Rome (or Ipswich in this case) by pushback, and once again many players’ warmup was the swift jog from the car to the pitch. With Captain Ives (Kruger Van Wyk) deciding to bat first, it was the home side which got off to the better start, bowling fast and straight, pinning the visitors on the back foot. It was a harsh introduction to a higher league for 3s debutants Mccartney (Jimmy Anderson) and Sol (Alistair Cook) facing a team with more aerial options than the West Indies 20/20 team but they quickly settled in. Aside from a IES short corner flick hitting the post, the best chance of the first 30 minutes fell to Jonno C-B who’s first touch was more beautiful than a Paul Collingwood catch but then decided to swap the willow for a pitching wedge and transform into Paul Casey, launching his shot onto the neighbouring field. And so it seemed, for the first 34 minutes, that a mighty rear guard action led by Ed Smith (Think Graham Onions in 2010 vs South Africa) would lead to Dragons going in equals at half time but alas it was not to be. A last minute IES short corner flick into the top left gave the home team a slender lead at drinks. 

With the dynamic duo of Andy Saunders (Marcus Trescothick) and Will Kirby (Freddie Flintoff) leading the chase, the Dragons started the second half brightly and soon won a short corner from which Ali managed to force over the line after a flurry of goal-mouth activity. 1-1 and all to play for heading into the final session of the day. IES responded with more fury than a despondent Shane Warne and soon forced a series of short corners which resident wicket keeper Jos Buttler (Tom McLean) kept at bay until finally the IES flicker scored leaving Dragons 2-1 down and little time to spare. Unlike Ben Stokes, the Goodson gang managed to refrain from a fight (for once) but a late push was unable to break through the IES defence. A special mention must go to resident injury specialist Phil Good took a short ball lifted to the chest, akin to those bouncers Joe Root saw last night from Mitchell Starc. Nothing a few words of “soft” encouragement from Jim Goodson couldn’t sort out thankfully. 

All in all, Dragons left Brisbane, sorry – Ipswich, with no points but heads held high by a fantastic performance to build on in the boxing day test. Man of the Match goes to Tom McLean for keeping Dragons in it, including one fantastic drag flick save (not usually one to toot my own horn). Dragon of the Day goes to Jonno C-B for the aforementioned sky-high shot.

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Men’s East Hockey League Division 4NE

Norwich Dragons Men’s 4s v IES 4s:  P-P

 
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Men’s East Hockey League, Division 5NE

Norwich Dragons Men’s 5s v IES 5s: 

Lost 1-2 away to IES 5. Goal from James Cross & Player of the Match Keeper James King.

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Men’s East Hockey League, Division 6NE(N)

Norwich Dragons Men’s 6s v UEA 4s:  P-P

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Norwich Dragons Hockey Club

Dragons Dev Boys A v City: 0-5

On a very cold November Evening

It was the first loss of the season for Development Boys A Team beaten 6-0 away to a very strong  Norwich City team.  After a slow start, 2-0 down after the first quarter, the young Dragons gave a good account of them selves in the middle of the game with some stout defence, and good end to end hockey, just not being able to get the goal their play deserved, and conceding just 1 goal in each of the middle quarters. More stout defending, but tired, and cold, legs started to show in the final quarter, 2 more goals conceded with the final score being a 6-0 defeat.

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Norwich Dragons Hockey Club

Dragons Dev Boys B v    : P-P

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Dragons Dev Girls v    :  P-P

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