Women’s East Hockey League, Premier Division

Norwich Dragons Ladies 1s v Cambridge Uni 1s:  0-2

Cambridge Uni sat just 1 point ahead of the Dragons ladies 1s going into the match on Saturday, and a win for the Norwich team would see them catch up with the middle group in the table and set them up well for the second half of the season. It was an important match but with numbers depleted yet again, it was going to be a tough battle.

Despite Dragons keen start, Cambridge quickly gained possession and early on in the first half, the defence faced a sustained period of attack. Sarah Jenkins and Lucy Ripman in the centre commanded the Dragons though and they were able to repel Cambridge’s efforts. Kiera Goymour, coming up from the 2s, looked solid in defence too and looked comfortable in this league.

Dragons welcomed back Stacey Lee after a period of injury this week and after 15 minutes, she came on to give the Dragons a burst of her trademark skill. Issy Wolfe made some surging runs in the first half, driving at the opposition goal, but unfortunately, she couldn’t quite convert. The midfield line up of Olivia Thomas, Lara Taylor and Hannah Philips looked strong throughout and all three worked hard throughout the game to close down the opposition and create chances for the Dragons.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be Dragons’ day. Early on in the second half, a loss of possession in our defensive 23’ allowed a Cambridge player to drive into the D and pelt a great shot past Cleeve in goal to take the opposition to 1-0. The Dragons defence continued to face a barrage of attacks and it was often Captain Jenkins, who went on to win Player of the Match, who cleared the lines and helped the team to regain its composure.

A period of attacking play from Dragons looked like it might bear fruit, with some great combination play from Issy Wolfe, Hannah Philips and Lara Taylor, but when the ball found its way to Lee in front of goal, she was taken out by the keeper and Cambridge cleared their line.

A counter-attack down the right-hand side of the pitch and a cross in found the Cambridge players in front of Cleeve and the Dragons’ defence and they put the ball away neatly to move to 2-0.

A dejected Dragons team regathered after the match and focused on the areas we need to work on in training in the forthcoming weeks.

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Women’s East Hockey League, Division 2NE

Norwich Dragons Ladies 2s v Bury St Edmunds 1s:  1-1

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Empresa Norfolk Women’s League,  Premier Division

Norwich Dragons Ladies 3s v Norwich City 4s:  6-0

An early push back at the Den on a fresh December morning saw Dragons Ladies 3^rd team host Norwich City Ladies 4^th team. Dragons began the game strongly, pressing City high up the pitch, which created the first goal within the first 5 minutes of the game, Ally Windsor Waite intercepting a city hit out and striking a strong clean shot from the top of the D, which nearly broke the backboard.

Unfortunately, Dragons were down to only 11 players after 15 minutes of the first half due to a stick in the face to Jess Haw. However, Dragons maintained the pressure on City and soon created a tap in second goal for Ally Windsor Waite from a floating cross along the baseline.

Dragons continued to keep City in their own half with some confident patient transfers across the pitch between Ismay Whitaker, Sophie Barrow and Esme Potter, creating more space for the team to attack the opposition circle. The third goal came on the stroke of half time from an aerial shot at goal by Hazel Knights that was reverse stick deflected by Lauren Lawrie across the front of goal for Sam Franklin to push home from close range.

The second half saw Dragons score their fourth goal from a short corner routine calmly completed by Ally Windsor Waite, player of the match, to gain her hattrick. The fifth goal also from a short corner routine scored by Debs Smith for the best ever chuckle brother! The sixth goal was scored from a short corner awarded on the stroke of full time deflected into the goal by Lauren Lawrie. Another strong team performance together with another clean sheet for a composed defence.

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Empresa Norfolk Women’s League,  Premier Division

Norwich Dragons Ladies 4s v Lowestoft Railway 1s:  0-4

Off we toodled for chips and ice cream.  But first some hockey on the green carpet, Lowestoft won first push back and weaved their way through us and we quickly saw their agility.  Katie Franks was on hand to stop the approach and passed the ball back through to Trish Hagan, who found Lynne Price in space in the middle.  The Lowestoft whipper snappers were quick to close us down on the ball and space became limited.  Catherine Matthews and Lucy Buxton were working tirelessly up and down the wings moving the ball on and then often chasing back.  Defenders were a rare breed for us this week and Fiona Fletcher stepped into the breech under the watchful eye of Sarah Wagstaff.  Lowestoft were putting a lot of pressure on our defence and they were on full alert, tracking back, intercepting and preventing the ball from reaching Esther Jacobs.  After a lot of to and fro-ing Lowestoft took a chance with a strike across the D which pinged off Sarah’s toe up and over Esther into the goal.  Undeterred the 4s reset and with a pass out wide to Catherine and then up to Gina Hunt, Caroline Wolfe and Lisa Harwood moved the opposition defence around to get a chance on goal.  A short corner was forced with an injection from Lucy to Caroline a strike in but intercepted by the opposition and cleared.

After half time we came out with more grit and determination to get the ball first and pass it on before we got intercepted.  Vicki Earley was keeping the pace of Lowestoft players and pushed them wide into the path of the defenders. Lowestoft gained more short corners and increased the score to 4-0.  Unfortunately goals were not forthcoming for the Dragons even though they put in a last surge on goal.  Man of the match was Fiona who managed to stretched out go go gadget arms to catch the ball on the line and prevent another goal.

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Empresa Norfolk Women’s League,  Premier Division
Norwich Dragons Ladies 5s v Norwich City 3s:  0-1

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Ladies 8’s Match Report .02/12/2017 – Vs Watton

Ladies 8’s player of the match – Sophie James

Best way to describe this match? MASSIVELY FUSTRATING!

The entire team exited the pitch knowing and feeling that they had given it their all! The half time Haribo and post-match sandwiches, chips and cake were gratefully received and much needed to revive energy levels and post-match mood!

From the outset the #awesomeeights knew they had a job on their hands with Watton joining the league from the one above at the beginning of last season. From the first to the last whistle the eights dug their heels in, fought hard and gave the home team an end to end, side to side match.  The dynamic defence fought hard and continually cleared the record breaking number of short corners awarded against them (over twenty but we lost count so can’t confirm the exact number).  The midfield team of Nic Harrison, Sophie James, Emma Fielding and Katy Cole used every ounce of energy including any reserves they had driving the ball wide and high up the pitch and then pulling back to battle with the defenders.

Goal keeper Emma North showed once again that she has benefitted from the specialist goal keeping sessions with some fantastic long clearances and dives to clear the ball away from the danger zone. Her support and guidance proved invaluable throughout the match.

Left defender Anna Chapman continues to thrive as the “silent achiever” a fantastic, enthusiastic player who just keeps getting better and better. Centre defender and Vice-Captain Jo Baker once again belted out some cracking (literally, poor stick) hits to the waiting wingers or into clear spaces allowing them to run onto them. Her vocal chords also got a good airing with Jo providing some much-needed encouragement, guidance and instruction throughout the match. Fellow defenders Jess Lockwood and Johanne Steward both battled hard tirelessly moving out to provide the width and coming in to protect the D.

Following a strategic pre-match decision bottom of the diamond stalwart Tracy Stewart-Sheppard teamed up with visiting #awesomeeights Louise “Brooksy” Brooks to provide a concrete core to the midfield. Brooksy proved to be an awesome last-minute addition to the team who tackled bravely and effortlessly passed the ball up the pitch to the waiting mids Tracy continues to be quick to the ball and a real fighter who just doesn’t give up, her enthusiasm is infectious! Last but by no means least the ferocious forwards courageously lead by Lois Metcalf whose experience and great communication was invaluable. She worked tirelessly to drive the ball towards the D whilst supporting the other players alongside her. Sadie Jacobs grows in confidence and is nearly un-recognisable to the beginning of the season, Sadie listens and takes direction brilliantly. Her passes are getting stronger and more accurate with every match she plays. The last mention must go to our debutant Emma Young who has finally been rewarded for her training efforts since the beginning of the season and proved she had earnt her place in the team. Emma proved to be the perfect goal-hanger, her resilient performance showed that she had soaked up every piece of advice given to her, is a natural at meeting the ball and stayed high to separate the Watton defenders away from their midfielders.

So summing this game up, well a lot could be said but we are true Dragons who are gracious in defeat. We learn from what didn’t quite work for us and will be back next week fighting once again. It is very frustrating that we fight as hard as we do, and the results really don’t reflect the play on the pitch, but all are confident that the wins will come we just have to dig our stubborn little feet in and keep battling on!

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Good King Moulson looked out
On the pitch of Ipswich East Suffolk leaven
When the pitch lay round about
Blue and Pink and even
Brightly shone the pitch that day
Though the low sun was cruel
When the Dragons came in sight
Spectators began to dro’oo’ol

“Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know’st it, telling
Yonder Dragons, fight with me
Play our game, true beguiling!”
“We are, in a good league hence
We must use our metal
Passing against the pitches fence
The win should be ele’men’tal”

Two goals lost in no good time
Dragons on the back foot
Ed Gould striking quite sublime
Scoring a short corner crash bandicoot
Goss and Hull charged up the flanks
Forth they went together
Through the IES defensive ranks
Half time comes to stir the we’ea’ther

“Team, the night is darker now
And the game won’t last much longer
We must try much harder now,
And come out the stronger”
Dragons started with guile, and gaze
Passing the much brazenly
Chances came with floundering haze
Goalmouth frenzies became the go’oo’dly.”

IES were next to strike
Dragon’s Gould followed gamely
End to end the contest strived
Fulltime approaching hastily
In the end, the Dragons lost
Three – two to their victors
Bring on Bury in next weeks fight
Ed Gould Dragons Match Cham’pi’on

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Unfortunately the 6s suffered from a combination of player injuries prior to the match, players being called up at the last minute to higher mens teams and a no show on the day which meant we started with a bare 11 lineup. This led to a number of people having to play seriously out of their normal position. From the start Nomads imposed themselves by playing to their strengths and within 10 minutes were 2-0 ahead. Both of their goals coming from balls driven in from the edge of our D and picked up on the far post by a loose player. Although this really wasn’t the start we wanted, the team made the best of it and there were some brighter moments, notably Tommy Chapman hitting the Nomads post and Bobby Sheppard being blocked close in by the experienced Nomads keeper.

Because of the lack of substitutes there was no real chance to make any changes at half time and it was more a case of digging in to minimise the goals against, which our defence made a sterling effort at. The work rate was kept up by the whole team but the lack of substitutes and options told in the end, when Nomads scored a third goal. Stephen Holland had been metaphorically thrown in the deep end for his first ever full hockey match and credit goes to him for giving it his all. Try as we might we couldn’t make the breakthrough and the game ended a disappointing 0-3 loss.

For his efforts in attack and perseverance Tommy Chapman was awarded Man of the Match A big thinks also to Freddie Roques for doubling up in goal for the 6s and 5s at late notice. All in all, I think these days are called ‘learning experiences’ in modern parlance…..

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Dev Girls have their first win of the season beating Watton 8-0 Goals from Piper Hempsall x 2 Amy Beadman x 1 Hattie Stuart x1 Honey Wells x 2 Isabelle Harris x 2. POM for a dominant display in midfield goes to Piper Hempsall. Onwards and upwards!!

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