Women’s East Hockey League East Prem
Norwich Dragons 1s 1-0 Old Loughts 1

Norwich Dragons welcomed Old Loughts to the Den determined to make it two wins in a row and start to build a run of good results before the Christmas break. Having been beaten by the visitors on both encounters last season the Dragons knew this was going to be no mean feat and would need to be at their best.

Dragons started strong playing some great hockey dominating the first half and created a number of goal scoring opportunities to take the lead but a combination of good saves by the Old Loughts keeper and the Dragons not being clinical in The attacking D resulted in a goalless first half which left the home side dejected as all their hard work, possession and creative play had not been capitalised on.

Dragons went into the second half confident that a goal would come and within 5 minutes of the restart Rachel KING had a great effort from a short corner saved on the line only for Niamh Lowe-Davies to be on hand to convert the rebound.

The visitors started to find their rythum and began to enjoy more possession. They put the home team and the defence under some intense pressure winning a number of short corners and creating a number of chances to equalise from open play and had it not been for the Dragons keeper, and player of the match, Siobhan Cleeve making a number of superb saves the Dragons would have been ruing the chances that went begging in the first half.

This was a really good performance by the Dragons who demonstrated some great passing from the back through midfield getting the ball in areas where they threatened and penetrated Old  Loughts achieving a great victory which has put them ahead of the visitors in the league. There are areas in the final third for the team to improve on which hopefully they will work on and punish their opponents next week.

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Women’s East Hockey League Division 1N
Norwich Dragons 2s 4-0 Letchworth 1

A wet, windy miserable journey down the A11 was faced head on by the steamy ‘fun bus’ and the Dragons girls arrived at Letchworth in high spirits! With a full ‘cabinet’ of medical supplies provided, any thoughts of niggling injuries were soon put aside, as the visitors looked forward to this important league clash. With Aoife Lowe-Davies coming back into the team and Geo Beckwith returning from injury, the squad were ready and raring to go.As forecast, the sun came out early into the game and shone on Dragons, as they started the game at a good pace, dominating possession and having some excellent early chances, however they quickly realised they were up against a Letchworth Keeper who was in inspired form. Dragons needed to bide their time, keep patient and take their opportunities as the came. Laura Shreeve who amazingly once again played for the team following working a night shift, was causing all sorts of problems to the Letchworth defence, coming close on a couple of occasions. Even a blow to the face would not put Shreeve down, who continued on regardless.

Eventually the deadlock was broken, a great team goal with the ball being moved swiftly from right ot left, Gail Thomas finding Pip Howes on the left, who controlled and passed in one sweeping move, finding Hannah Hardy wide left, who made her way into the circle, firing the ball across the D to Aoife Lowe-Davies, who expertly deflected the ball home. Other chances came and went with the post being hit on at least a couple of occasions.

A 1-0 scoreline at half-time didn’t reflect the domination, however the team were buoyed by their performance and knew further chances would come, by keeping patient and continuing to build play from the back through Amy Forse, Ally Windsor-Waite, Rowan York-Smith, Sophie Thomas and Karen O’Neill Simpson, who as a unit always looked strong and in control.

Further opportunities were created, through great build up play from the midfield of Pip Howes, Pollyanna Watson, Gail Thomas and Marcy Windsor Waite. Eventually the goals came – Shreeve working really hard on the right to square for Hannah Hardy to make it 2 -0. An opportunity to make it 3 was squandered by Hardy who missed a penalty flick.

Gail Thomas and Shreeve then linked up well, with the ball falling to Pollyanna Watson, who had held her position well, to sweep the ball home confidently for the 3rd. The 4th was probably the goal of the game (and was too quick for some to see), a move down the left saw Geo Beckwith play a great ball across to Laura Shreeve, who nipped infront of the Keeper to glance home for the 4th.

A game played in great spirits, extremely well umpired and some strong play from both teams. Players of the match for Dragons were Laura Shreeve and Pip Howes and mention once more should go to the Letchworth Keeper! Dragons were pleased to head home with 3 points and a much improved performance by the whole team. Thanks also go to our sideline supporters who had made the journey to cheer the team on.

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Empresa Norfolk Women’s Premier Division
Norwich Dragons 3s 3-1 Evergreens 1

Dragons welcomed Evergreens to the Den hoping to maintain their top of the table position. The first half was a stalemate with Dragons dominating the Evergreens twenty-five creating plenty of chances but Evergreens were very resilient and effectively kept Dragons at bay. It took a Caroline Wolfe short corner strike of power and precision in the last play of the half to break the deadlock.

Half-time Norwich Dragons III  1 v Evergreens 0

The second half looked to be a continuation of the first half, with Evergreens withstanding a barrage of Dragons attempts with little opportunity to break out and form their own opportinities. When Dragons did stretch the play the quality of their hockey was really good and their set-up and cover defending was of such a high standard that any half attempt to break out by Evergreens was quickly smothered and converted to another Dragons attack. Issy Wolfe scored Dragons second, with neat passing up the field and capitalising on a keepers rebound. Dragons saved the best until last with their third goal, where the ball was fed into the top of the circle by Carmel Windsor-Waite and several passes were exchanged in and out of the circle moving the Evergreens defence and Debs Smith slotted the ball home. In the final play of the game Evergreens caught the Dragons napping and scored a consolation goal.

Full-time score Norwich Dragons 3 v Evergreens 1

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Empresa Norfolk Women’s Division 1
Norwich Dragons 4s 0-1 Reepham

Dragons Ladies 4 suffered their second defeat of an otherwise successful campaign. This week we visited Reepham at Taverham  and were fortunate that the heavy downpour had stopped before our 4.45 start time.

Dragons at times played some exciting hockey .Gemma Rump made some very decisive runs from her position as bottom of the diamond. Kate McKenna also managed to trouble Reepham on a number of occasions.

Kate Atkins, Bella Capp and Louise Davis had to be on their game. Reepham’s main tactic was to leave a couple of men high as targets for some big hits out of defence.

The majority of the time the midfield trio of Debbie Santa Clara, Megan Williams and Claire Canning did their very best to intercept the majority of these hard hits.

Hollie Francis, Anja Finnegan and Sophie Woods tried to get the ball in the back of the Reepham goal, but some solid defending meant that there were few opportunities to challenge the keeper.

Claire Canning played an exceptional final ten minutes and Sophie Farrow also had another impressive game.

After Reepham scored Dragons began to lose their shape a little in a desperate attempt to equalise.

Dragons will need to review their game plan against the big hitting teams. Hopefully we will return victorious from our trip to Diss this Saturday.

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Empresa Norfolk Women’s Division 2
Norwich Dragons 5s p-p Watton 3

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Empresa Norfolk Women’s Division 2
Norwich Dragons 6s 2-4 Norwich City 5

This was a closer match than the score suggests, with the 6s taking the opportunity to try players in different positions and in the second half ending up with a combination that could really take the game to a strong and well-drilled City side. Dragons ended up with 12 players, but this actually helped them to bed in some of their new ideas. Dani Winteringham played very well at right back, particularly when it came to channelling the left sided players out of the game. Ginny Simkin was enthusiastic in both defence and in midfield.  Katie Franks returned at left back and put in a great shift in her role as the ‘little big player’ charged with keeping some talented City forwards quiet. Jo Eke did stints at the bottom and top of the diamond, and is a great asset to the team when her distribution skills can be used to get the ball out wide to Lucy Morton, Catherine Matthews or Rosie Skipp. However, she was much in demand at the top of the defensive D!

The score in each half was 2-1, and City were able to score when the 6s were caught ball watching and leaving players unmarked. But this is a basic error that can be soon corrected as the players get used to playing with each other. In each half, if was the way in which the 6s fought back that was the most impressive, with Beth Elgood (POM) scoring twice, her first goals of the season. She set a fine example from left mid, bursting into the D and getting onto the nearside post. Her first goal was a super deflection from a ball hit hard and true into the D. Her second was a well-worked effort in which she took responsibility for sweeping the ball home through a thicket of players.

Catherine Matthews switched to high forward in the second half and looked very comfortable there, definitely giving the 6s quicker penetration into the attacking circle. Gill Walker was again outstanding for her work rate throughout the game. Katy Saide had a good second half, particularly at the top of the D, and Alice Smith had another good game in goal, particularly with her powerful clearances.

The 6s would like to give a massive shout to Christina and Nikki who gave excellent advice and guidance to us whilst running the sideline. They can come again! Also, a word of praise to the two experienced umpires who kept this tough but good-spirited game flowing with never a hint of a need to reach for a card. They demonstrated an understanding of the game at this level where sometimes things happen through a lack of skill, not through an intent to infringe. So well done Dragons, well played City, we look forward to maintaining our progress and meeting you again.