Results from 5th/6th March

LEWES HOCKEY CLUB MATCH REPORTS
6 March 2010


LADIES

South Clubs’ Women’s Hockey League Division 3B
Wanderers 2 0
Lewes 1 3 (Musgrave, Spence, Worth)

On Saturday Lewes travelled to central London to play Wanderers 2s. After five minutes a shot from the opposition ricocheted off the face off Sophie Philp, leaving Lewes a defender down and the resulting penalty corner saw the ball sail straight into the leg of defender Kerry Fitzpatrick. Things just didn't seem to flow and despite the visitors having all the pressure and some fine shots from Anna Worth, the scoreline at half time was still 0-0.

Lewes's luck did change in the second half when a one-handed shot from Anna Worth dipped over the ‘keeper to give Lewes the lead. Emily Spence was next to get on the scoresheet when a beautifully threaded pass from Kerry Fitzpatrick saw Spence nail the ball into the top of the net, straight past the goalkeeper’s ear. Despite all the opportunities and pressure, Lewes were only to score one more; a well worked penalty corner that Tiffany Musgrave placed over the line. Three more points keeps Lewes in the title race.


Sussex Ladies League Premier Division
Lewes 2 13 (Bloor, Delaney, Fuller, Graves (5), Smith, Thorpe)
Eastbourne 2 0

Lewes were hoping for a challenging game against Eastbourne on a beautiful Spring morning, but instead faced a vastly depleted opposition. From the whistle it was clear that there would be only one winner and Lewes were seven goals ahead by half time. Amy Graves won player of the match for a strong performance, netting five goals, including one lifted into the roof of the net from the edge of the circle. Goals also for Shaney Smith, Hannah Thorpe, Rosie Bloor, Helen Fuller and Rebecca Delaney took the final score to thirteen. Lewes shored up their second place in the league, but would have happily swapped the goalfest for a proper contest in preparation for Sunday’s important cup game.


Sussex Ladies League Division One
Horsham 4 6
Lewes 3 2

No report.


Sussex Ladies League Division Three
Bognor Town 1 5
Lewes 4 0

No report.


Sussex Girls Development League
Penguin Rockhoppers 0
Lewes Lionesses 3 (Rivet (2), Webster)

Lewes Lionesses braved the cold in a match against Penguin, from Worthing. The team consisted of many younger players who were determined to prove their worth. They didn’t disappoint! The Lionesses went ahead in the first five minutes with a goal from Phoebe Rivet, and with continued pressure Rivet scored again. The final goal came in the second half, with a well taken penalty corner by Beth Webster. A special mention for Emma Fuller, Orealla Felix Smith and Gabby Reid who grew from strength to strength throughout the match.


MEN

South Hockey League Kent/Sussex Regional Division 1
Holcombe 2 1
Lewes 1 5 (Best (2), Charles, Clark, Green)

Lewes strengthened their position at the top of SHL Kent/Sussex Division 1 on Saturday away against rivals Holcombe with a convincing display and are now five points clear with a game in hand over nearest challengers Worthing.

Lewes started slowly and conceded a penalty corner in the second minute from which Holcombe took the lead. This spurred Lewes on and they soon equalised when Matt Clark stole the ball in the circle and flicked it in. With ten minutes to go to half time Daffyd Charles’ ball to Clark down the left resulted in a great cross into the circle where Mark Best was on hand to slot it home.

In the second half Lewes soon went further ahead when Charles scored from a narrow angle. Holcombe pressed hard and forced several penalty corners but failed to convert any thanks to good defence and some excellent work by Ross Bone in the Lewes goal.

A blistering run form Chris Spruce down the right resulted in another cross with Best again on hand to claim his second of the game. Lewes sewed up the points with their third penalty corner of the game with a switched move from which Andy Green coolly flicked the ball over the goalkeeper. Overall it was a great win by Lewes for whom Tom Newman and Pete Thomas had really strong games.

Lewes are now in a great position to reclaim their place in the South League from which they were relegated last year and have two home games next weekend when maximum points will maintain their stranglehold on the League.


South Hockey League Kent/Sussex Regional Division 2
Lewes 2 0
Gore Court 2 1

No report.


South Hockey League Sussex Area Division 1
Lewes 3 2 (Rea, Russell)
Penguin 1 3

Lewes were yet again beaten by higher-placed opposition whom they ought to have beaten. From the first whistle, the side looked far more comfortable in possession than Penguin and were allowed a particularly large amount of space down the right hand side. Unfortunately for Lewes, Penguin showed how the focussed training received by a 1st XI can pay off, punishing Lewes on the break from their own penalty corner. To their credit, despite losing Hugo Youngman to a nasty head injury, Lewes bounced back and scored through Sam Rea, who beat a couple of players before smashing the ball low into the corner.

Lewes were a little slow out of the gates in the second half and conceded sloppily from a penalty corner. The side then put themselves under pressure and had some committed defending from Ben Butcher to thank for not conceding further. By using the channels well, Lewes eventually worked a good move down the left, setting up Liam Russell to score an important equaliser. Yet again, Lewes fell victim to poor fortune; a poorly struck shot from a Penguin midfielder bobbled into the centre and was luckily deflected past an unlucky Ben Graves. Lewes never really looked like equalising afterwards and were guilty of holding on to the ball too long. Nonetheless, the side still has the capability to get points out of the remaining games and attempt to hold on to fifth position in the league.


Sussex Open League Premier Division
Crowborough 2 4
Lewes 4 3

No report.


Sussex Open League Premier Division
Lewes 5 1
Crawley 2 5

No report.


Sussex Open League Division 1
Brighton & Hove 5 2
Lewes 6 (Priors) 3

No report.


Sussex Open League Division 3
Eastbourne 5 3
Lewes 8 (LX) 1

No report.


Sussex Development League
Chichester Priory Park Cherubs ?
Lewes Lions ?

No report.



7 March 2010

LADIES

England Hockey Women’s Trophy – Quarter Final
Lewes 1 3 (Musgrave, Oliver, Worth)
Richmond 1 1

Hoping for better luck and an improvement on the previous day’s performance, Lewes took on Richmond in the quarter finals of the National Women’s Trophy on Sunday; so it proved to be. Lewes started with some excellent flowing hockey from the defence and midfield, right through to the forward line. Anna Worth opened the scoring for Lewes when she dribbled the ball along the backline and nailed the ball into the roof of the net, giving the Richmond ‘keeper no chance.

Early in the second half Richmond equalised, but Lewes didn't wobble. They answered straight back with a brilliant penalty corner, which saw Suzy Clapp slip the ball perfectly onto the stick of Tiffany Musgrave to place over the goal line. Both teams played some good hockey in the second half and Richmond were thwarted from scoring when ‘keeper Carys Jukes came out of her goal and made an amazing save with her stick to keep Lewes on top. Richmond had no answer then to the pace of Charlotte Frost when she drove the back line and slipped the ball to Laura Oliver, who made it three for Lewes.

An excellent team performance from Lewes, who now face a long journey to Kendal on 28 March for their Trophy semi final.


England Hockey Women’s 2nd XI Trophy – Semi Final
Teddington 2 1
Lewes 2 3 (Graves, Hall, Smith)

Lewes faced really tough opposition in Teddington, the top ranked team remaining in the competition. The visitors knew they had to play their game of the season to progress to the final past yet another team from a higher league. Initially the contest was frantic, with Lewes playing the ball around confidently through Tara Rogers, Caitlin Boyland and Sara Riley in midfield, whilst the defence absorbed a huge amount of pressure. Issy Gibson surprised Teddington, coming off the bench to finish a great run with a cross to set up a goal for pacey forward Shaney Smith. Shortly afterwards new girl Katie Symes found Amy Graves in the circle, who gave the ‘keeper no chance with her skilfully lifted shot.

After the half time break, it was no surprise that Teddington came out fighting, and Carla Leach earned her player of the match accolade with some superb saves both from distance and at close range. The defence conceded only once during the game, thanks to great work from Anna George and a save off the line from hardworking Becky Godfrey. With ten minutes remaining Lewes gratefully gave themselves some breathing space when Sarah Hall slotted home a penalty corner, to secure the Lewes victory.

The final of a national competition will be the climax of a fantastic season for the Lewes 2s – they look forward to facing Surbiton on 25 April at Chelmsford.