MENS 1s GET OFF TO A GREAT START:

After a long break from outdoor hockey and after a difficult end to the first half of the season, the Mens 1st XI played Cambridge City 2s in a bid to regain the top spot in the league. With rival teams playing over the last few weeks, Loughts had games and points to catch up. 

 

Left to right – Tom Stumbke, Shane Martin, Ross Hetem and Mitch Jones

 

 

The Men started very well, calm and composed in possession, creating chances at will. The first goal came with Elliott Seleska finishing a slick move. The second came shortly after, the clementine loving South African, Ross Hetem, finishing a breakaway move emphatically.  After the half time break two quickly turned to three before Cambridge City started their fight back. A number of dubious cards gave City a lifeline and they clawed a goal back after intense pressure. Loughts however saw off the waves and Hetem grabbed a goal from a corner after good work from young prodigy Will Hopkins. The fifth goal came from an amazing breakaway that saw Martin Lear improve his goal tally to an impressive two goals for the season.  Loughts, who wore commemorative shirts in honour of Tom Wilson, were back in style and hope to finish well this season.

 

After the game, Aussie Shane Martin stated 'Look we needed a result: we were out of the blocks quicker than Cathy Freeman and finished better than Mark Viduka, top performance!'

 

LEAGUE RESULTS:

Mens 2s drew 1-1 at home against Oxford Uni and the Loppers also won at home 4-0 against Phoenix.  The Ladies 1s drew 1-1 at home to St Albans; 2s lost 2-1 at Folkestone; 3s were beaten 4-0 at Phoenix; 4s drew 1-1 with Basildon at home and 5s lost 0-3 at home to R&I.  The Mixed XI playing away at East London on Sunday in EH Mixed Trophy match lost 11-2.

 

NATIONAL INDOOR FINALS REPORTS:

The U16 indoor boys’ team travelled to Wolverhampton for the National finals with a large squad of twelve and they were looking ahead to playing against the other 9 teams.  In a group consisting of: Leicester, Taunton Vale, Marlow and Bradford they made a great start against Leicester being 1-1 at half time.  Unfortunately, lack of focus for 6 to 7 minutes, saw Leicester score 3 quick goals and the boys were unable to recover.  This was going to be a story that would continue over the next few games!

 

Taunton Vale were next and it was a close game. Again the boys went goals up but another lapse in attention for 2 to 3 minutes saw Taunton score a couple of quick goals and Loughts narrowly lost 4-3 in a game they should have won!

 

The third game against Maldon was one they needed to win if they were going to progress in the tournament.  Again, the boys started well but yet again a five minute spell saw Marlow race to an early 4-0 lead.  Loughts got a goal back just before half time and then started the second half much better. The boys drew that half 1-1 but unfortunately lost the game.

 

The last game against Bradford was to be the last of the tournament and again the lads played well at times and got into a 3-1 lead with 5 minutes to go. Unfortunately the goalkeeper was yellow carded and the team let in 2 goals at the end to finish with a draw 3-3.  The boys should have won this game with the chances they had created but as the boys have learnt the hard way - you cannot have a spell in games where you don't perform especially in indoor hockey!  This cost the team throughout the weekend and hopefully the boys have learnt from this. Overall if was still a great experience for everyone and it shows that the lads can compete against the best in the country. Thanks go to Mark and Matthew for their support and also for the parents for giving great support throughout the weekend.

 

U16 BOYS LINE UP!

 

The U18 girls travelled to The Whitgift School in Croydon for the National Indoor Finals this weekend. Their first match was against West champions ISCA. The girls started well and a deft reverse flick from Lucy gave them the lead. The second half saw the girls really up the pressure looking for a second goal. They came very close but couldn't just convert the chances. The game then swung devastatingly against them. Two turnovers of possession and some clinical finishing saw ISCA score 4 quick goals with the girls pushing to get back into the game they conceded another 2 to lose 6-1.

 

The girls next match was against Wycombe who they had faced at the Copperbox in early January. In a must win match for both teams the girls really upped their game but again the bounce of the ball didn't go their way and Wycombe took the lead but the girls rallied with two goals from Captain Tash to lead 2-1.  But Wycombe fought back to level the game 2-2 and thought they had snatched the win in the final seconds with the ball trickling over the line but fortunately the goal was disallowed for the shot being outside the circle final score 2-2.

 

A disappointing 1 point from two games but with no team dominating the pool it was very much game on next morning. A must win game against Stourport saw the girls give everything but again clinical finishing from Stourport put them into a 3-0 lead. The OL girls rallied to pull a goal back and were pushing hard with Stourport looking nervous but a breakaway goal gave them a cushion again. On came the OL kicking back and the pressure brought a quick goal to make it 4-2 but they couldn't add anymore and the final result 4-2 meant the girls couldn't progress from the group.

 

Their last game was against Wakefield who had maximum points from the first day. OL again gave it their all to try to finish with a win but two clinical penalty corner drag flicks and well taken chances gave Wakefield a 5-0 win. 

 

U18 GIRLS – TEAM BUILDING!

 

 

The girls had given it everything over the two days but it just wasn't to be their weekend. The scores didn't reflect how close the games were with the bounce of the ball, a couple of missed flicks, unforced errors and decisions all going against them at crucial times.  Well done girls!

 

 

MINI SUCCESS AT THE WEEKEND:

On Sunday four Old Loughts teams played in a Tournament at Crostyx. It was the most successful set of matches so far this season. Both the U10's Girls and Boys won all 3 of their matches against Upminster, Saffron Walden and Crostyx. The U12's Boys won their 3 matches whilst the U12 Girls beat Crostyx and Saffron Walden and narrowly lost to Upminster 1-0. The standard of play was excellent and was great to watch. Even better, it was sunny for the parents!

 

U10s

                                                           

 

 

 

 

U12s

                                                     

 

 

Our U10 Girls A team started strong with their first league fixture of 2016.  Playing in the Essex league, the team faced opponents Crostyx, Upminster and Saffron Walden.  Some really intelligent hockey enabled the girls to keep a clean sheet, not conceding any goals and winning all their games.  A fantastic team performance secured goals from Maisie and Eva, which were well worked with support from all their teammates, Hilary, Angel, Phoebe, Amelie, Cressida and Izzy. 

 

Our U12 Girls' A team also began 2016 successfully.  With the same Essex league fixture as the U10A team, they also played Crostyx, Upminster and Saffron Walden.  After a shaky start, the team settled and battled hard to take the lead against Crostyx in their opening game with a first goal from Tilly.  The local rivals worked hard to level 1-1, but a determined effort from the whole team was rewarded when Grace scored to finish the game with a 2-1 win.  The team stayed on the pitch to play against Upminster and despite some great hockey a fast opposition fought well and took the win, giving a 0-1 loss for Old Loughts.  The girls played their final game against Saffron Walden and again, some great team work from everyone, gave them another win, 1-0.  Lots to work on for the rest of the season, but a good performance all round from Maia, Georgia, Grace, Scarlet, Tilly, Molly, Sophie and Clementine.

 

MINI GIRLS B TEAMS PUT IN GREAT PERFORMANCE:

The U10 Girls B played tough and well matched games against four opponents: Upminster, Havering, Brentwood and Southend & Benfleet.  The team did not concede a goal thanks to a great team effort from all the girls.  Winning their first game 1-0 against Upminster (goalscorer – Grace) and despite looking the stronger team in their remaining matches they were unfortunate not to score again!  Well done girls!

 

Emma, Tia, Agnes, Calula, Grace, Daisy and GK Amber for U10 B girls

 

 

The U12 B girls: Grace (GK), Gia, Amy, Holly, Ellie, Sarah, Jessica, Maddie and Kitty also started their campaign well winning their first game 1-0 against Upminster with a well worked goal finished by Maddie.  Their second match was against Brentwood who fielded a very strong team.  Despite falling two goals behind the girls kept on battling, didn’t give up and pulled back one goal to finish 2-1 (Maddie – goalscorer).  Their final game was against Southend & Benfleet and two of the girls’ defence heroics led to their early departure through injury from the match.  But the team went on to win the game 1-0 again with a well worked team goal.  Thanks go to Grace from the U10s who stood in as GK and we wish a speedy recovery to Holly and Jessica.  Well done girls!

 

HALF TERM HOCKEY CAMP:

Bookings are now being taken for the half term hockey camp on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th February.  Applications forms are available in club foyer – closing date for bookings if Friday 12th February at 10.00.