U16 Boys Awe-inspiring Performance

Chris Gladman oversaw a well-balanced and bonded group of twelve boys at Wolverhampton this weekend for the National Indoor finals. Ten teams composed two Pool groups contending for the coveted title. The Loughts lads were in Pool A along with Leicester, Team Bath, Bowden and Surbiton. 

They played some truly excellent indoor hockey against very talented teams winning three of their four Pool matches and thus progressing to the Semi-finals, where unfortunately they were pitted against the eventual winners, Cheltenham. The 0 - 4 scoreline was harsh but that should not detract from a wonderfully uplifting display of team commitment. The effort shown all weekend by every player was awe-inspiring. A special mention must go to both Joseph Ahern and Freddie Britt for leadership qualities and some superlative play.

The whole group were beyond doubt excellent ambassadors for the club who gave one another not only unwavering positive encouragement but also a great sense of pride in being part of this unit. They represent a cracking group of lads for the future !

Acclaim not only goes to the coaches, but also to all the parents who were present, especially one who literally arrived after completing the full Trains, Planes and Automobiles route down !!

Hopefully you will all take away some great memories from a successful weekend.

U18s at Indoor National Finals

The girls put in a very creditable performance in the Indoor Finals at the weekend. The highlight of the weekend on the pitch was a 2-2 draw against a strong Surbiton side. The team showed their resilience and determination to convert two penalty corners in the last 5 minutes when Surbiton thought they had the game sewn up. Whilst some of the other results didn’t go their way the girls have such great team spirit and an amazing quality to learn.

Despite not getting the results on the pitch, this squad remain united and full of fun. They love playing hockey and are proud to represent Loughts. After many years of growing up and learning together, for many this will be the last time they play indoor together as juniors (until they return from Uni… 😊) and this was certainly a weekend to treasure and remember.

Huge thanks to our amazing band of travelling supporters – you were definitely the loudest and occupied the most space in the gallery. And finally, to John Wright & Miranda Weeks, our coaches, for all your efforts, analysis and insight over the weekend.

The squad:

Zara Rose (GK); Liv Corry (Capt. ); Caitlin Black; Charlotte James-Pajwani ; Chloe Stack; Imogen Cayley; Jenny Goodson; Millie Woods; Stevie Southall; Venetia Bailey; Zara White; Zoe Wright

 

Willows take eye off the ball

A second trip to Southend-on-Sea in as many weeks for our doughty Willows, but it proved to be one too many.

As we arrived, I jumped out of the car to catch the end of the previous match, and was given a massive boost.   Their first team was less than impressive, possibly even below our standard, suggesting a victory against Rochford’s second team was there for the taking.  But, in a rather flattering mark of respect for our top-of-the-table standing, it seems our canny opponents had held back some of their best players to face the Willows this week.

With two of our star strikers unavoidably delayed by fifteen minutes, we started with a bare eleven and struggled from the off.   There were superior one-on-one skills on display from the opposition, and we were pinned back in defence for much of the first half.   We were missing most of our regular defenders but our valiant replacements performed to a truly excellent standard, backed up by some fine saving from Luke Austridge in goal.  At half-time we were holding on to a 0-0 scoreline, although a bit battered.

Early in the second half, they scored; but the immediate surging response was typical of our Willows spirit.  We broke up the right wing, with Charlie “The Magician” Britt showing his tricks in the top right corner before delivering the ball at just the right moment to Jacob “Tomahawk” Jayaraj who produced another of his trademark unstoppable shots.

At 1:1, spirits lifted and there was a palpable sense of possibility in the team.  But the skills of their 15 and 16 year olds were unleashed down the centre and the clinical precision and speed of their finishing proved too much.  The brief moment of hope was extinguished and, ultimately, a 3-1 loss was a good result for us against their better game management, distribution, player spacing and individual skill levels.

Positives were the incredible amount of hard work contributed by every Willow, our resilient refusal to give up and the many outstanding personal performances on the pitch.  No individual bears responsibility; it was the team as a whole that lost a bit of focus going into the game and perhaps we – and I - had started to take winning for granted.

All that changes this week.  A home match against second-placed London Royals.  Winnable but a challenge – there will be no lack of focus this week!

 

Top Goal Scoreres so far……..

Congratulations to Freddie Britt who leads the way with 19 goals in the men's section for the period up to the end of December closely pursued by Matt Lewis, his brother Charlie and Max Garner and Max Sydenham all into double figures already.  70 different players have scored for the club so far and a list of all the names can be found on the club website.

Goal Scorers - Men

19 Freddie Britt   

15 Matthew Lewis              

13 Charlie Britt    

12 Max Garner, Max Sydenham     

In the ladies section L3s captain Sarah Donaghey continues to set the pace as at the end of December with 5 goals closely followed by Laura Blatter on 4.   Some goals have not as yet been recorded.  If you have scored and are not listed please speak to your captain who will enter the outstanding result and scorers.

Goal Scorers Ladies

5 Sarah-Jayne Donaghey

4 Laura Blatter

3 Rosie  Bristow, Karen Leach, Julie Warwick-Munday, 2 Samantha Gayler, Grace O'Malley Kumar, Lois O'Neill,

1 Miranda Baldwin, Kiera Dawes, Alex Dhayaa, Jenny Goodson, Susy Harrison, Faye Holmes, Kitty Howson, Penohole Iiyambo Chloe Stack, Lynn Wright

This week’s fixtures:

Home

Pitch 1                                                                   Pitch 2

11:15      No game                                            11:15      No game

13:00      Super Vets v Chelsmford                   13:00      Willows v London Royals

14:30      Ladies 2s v Upminster                        4:30      Loppers v Chelmsford

16:00      No game                                             16:00      Ladies 4 v Havering

 

Away

Mens 2s       V       Richmond             12:00

Mens 3s       V       Richmond            15:00     

Academy     V        Thurrock              12:30

Ladies 1s    V       Canterbury            12:45

Ladies 3s    V       Basildon                11:30

Ladies 5s    V       Colchester             11:00

 

Sunday Fixtures @ OLHC

U16 Boys    V       Bishop Stortford   11:00   Mercian League

 

 

Curry Night Saturday 27th January

If you want to buy a ticket for the curry night you have until Wednesday 24th to do so. Tickets are NOT available on the door so please pop into the bar after training and secure your place.

 

Reminder

Fitness training is on Monday evenings starting at 19:30 and is open to all club members.  We would like to see as many of you there as possible.