Results

WOMENS 1ST XI - 18/01/2020 VS CAMBRIDGE CITY 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 1st XI 
DATE: 18/01/2020 
FIXTURE: Womens 1st XI VS 18/01/2020 
HEADLINE: Norwich City v Cambridge City 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION 
VENUE:  
RESULT:  
 
We arrived at Cambridge all raring to go to then be told the pitch was still frozen down one side but after a decision by the umpires we had the go ahead. The half started and we were a bit slow off the mark and Cambridge managed to score a goal in the first minute, but this seemed to get us into action immediately and were passing the ball brilliantly through the middle and round the back. Strong defending from the back with Suse not letting anything past her. There were some lovely balls coming from the middle of the pitch to the forwards which led to our first goal from Olivia Williams who got a lovely ball from Sophie Mullan after she skilled a few players and squared the ball into the P spot leading to Olivia reverse sweeping into the goal. The match continued and we were giving them a great battle with most of the possession being ours but unfortunately with the help of some very questionable umpiring Cambridge went on to score off of 3 short corners, however we were not giving up and were playing some excellent hockey! Krystal then managed to reverse flick the ball towards the goal and it bounced of the keeper’s pads and went in – Brilliant. We fought to the end but unfortunately couldn’t score the goals we needed before the final whistle blew. The whole team played brilliantly, and the score did not reflect how we played. Man of the match Alice Gill. 

WOMENS 2ND XI - 18/01/2020 VS BROADLAND 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 18/01/2020 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 18/01/2020 
HEADLINE: Don't Panic - Everything is Rosie 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 4-0 
 
REPORT: 
We started on absolute form with a quick early team goal finished by Rosie Ringer after just a few minutes followed by some excellent play and solid defence. Then Rosie Humphrey finished a superb goal to leave us 2-0 up at half time.  
 
In the second half we showed some brilliant work up though the defence and midfield to test the Broadland defence and dominated possession and territory not allowing the Broadland attack to penetrate, however, if they did break through the rock solid defence, Sophie Turner was alert in her D and repelled any attacks. Team Rosie had a sneaky goal, Rosie H with an incredible deflected finish from a Rosie Ringer reverse stick shot. To finish we had a brilliant team goal from a short corner with Rosie Ringer applying the finishing touch to end the scoring at 4-0.  
 
POTM Rosie Ringer 

WOMENS 3RD XI - 18/01/2020 VS BROADLAND 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 18/01/2020 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 18/01/2020 
HEADLINE: Sun shines on the 3s 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Taverham (home) 
RESULT: 4-1 (win) 
 
REPORT: 
A lovely winter afternoon saw NCHC womens 3s take on Broadland 2s at home. It started as a scrappy game but City took an early lead with two good goals respectively from Ellie Hobden within the first twenty seconds and then captain Kim Lusher. City conceded a goal going in to half time but the break allowed them a rallying team talk and confirmation of tactics. It was hard work but City then extended their lead by a great penalty flick from Emma Richardson, and a fourth and final goal from Liv Greenway. City ended the last quarter playing brilliant hockey, with some strong passes at speed and accuracy, and they used the space on the wing with great effect. 

WOMENS 4TH XI - 18/01/2020 VS EAST COAST 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 4th XI 
DATE: 18/01/2020 
FIXTURE: Womens 4th XI VS 18/01/2020 
HEADLINE: A disappointing result for 4s 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Away 
RESULT: 4-0 to East Coast 2s  
 
REPORT: 
 
The 4s travelled to East Coast this week in a bid to secure some points. The sun was shining and City started promisingly, pinning East Coast into their own end of the pitch for much of the first half of the game. Unfortunately, City were unable to capitalise on this pressure and East Coast managed to break through City lines to score twice. The second half saw a succession of penalty corners awarded to East Coast each of which were defiantly defended by City. However, tired legs started to show towards the tail end of the match and East Coast were able to strike twice more . The final score, 4-0, does not accurately reflect City's performance. Keep going womens we will get those much needed points!!  

WOMENS 5TH XI - 18/01/2020 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES 6 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 5th XI 
DATE: 18/01/2020 
FIXTURE: Womens 5th XI VS 18/01/2020 
HEADLINE: A great game of attack  
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 1 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Norwich City Hockey Club Taverham 
RESULT: 3-0 Win 
 
REPORT: 
With a team of of nearly all attackers City were raring to play Mapgies 6s on a cold but sunny day at home. City held formation well with great passes from the defence to the forward line which gave Lucy McNarry and Sharon Philips great runs down the wings. City had a few chances on goal but finally a great strike from the top of the d by Maria Marsh got City their first goal and we were hungry for more. Magpies fought back and had some good breaks which kept our defence on their toes with great clearance balls from Allison McLellan and Vicki Myhill. There were very few short corners in this match but managed to converting one from Charlotte Jeffers which took the half time score to 2-0 to City. The Magpies came back strong in the second half but we fought back for possession which we managed to hold for most of the second half. Great passing from Maddie Smith to Amy Hinchliffe resulted in our 3rd goal shortly in to the second half and we kept strong until the end. A good spirited game by all. 

WOMENS 6TH XI - 18/01/2020 VS NORTH NORFOLK 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 18/01/2020 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 18/01/2020 
HEADLINE: Slick first half, but goals go in after break 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Cromer High School 
RESULT:0-3 
 
REPORT:A slick and confident City played some of their best ever hockey in the first half against high-in-the-table North Norfolk 2s. Working far better as a unit and with improved skills and game play, thanks to some recent team coaching sessions from Fong, City kept the strong opposition at bay. They dominated play, sending the ball up the pitch in wave after wave of attacking play into North Norfolk’s D – moving the ball neatly around the home team and gaining back the ball thanks to some high-paced interceptions. Unfortunately, despite having most of the possession in the first half, a run of short corners and lots of circle penetration, hard-working City were unable to find the net and went into the break nil nil. Disappointed not to be on the score sheet, but delighted by how well they were playing as a unit, City headed back on the pitch determined to score some goals. Unfortunately, their shape, passing and game started to unravel from the off and North Norfolk took back control – bashing in three goals within the first few minutes of the second half. Disappointed, City steadied themselves and got back in the game, but were unable to pull any goals back. A three-nil loss but still a great game and some exciting potential moving forward.  
 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 18/01/2020 VS CAMBRIDGE CITY 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 18/01/2020 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 18/01/2020 
HEADLINE: City settle for a draw against Cambridge City 2’s 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION A 
VENUE: Taverham H20 
RESULT: 1-1 
 
REPORT: City welcomed Cambridge City 2’s to the Taverham H20 hoping to take all three points after a disappointing loss last week against East London. 
 
The game began and City found themselves under pressure early on, after Cambridge won a penalty corner. Alistair Cooke made a fantastic diving save to his right hand side after a slick routine from the visitors. City grew into the game and started creating chances of their own. Louis Preston was finding space time and time again on City’s left wing, setting up some great chances in the opposition D that almost lead to City scoring, had it not been for some excellent saves from the Cambridge keeper. City continued to dominate, winning numerous short corners but unfortunately for City they were unable to convert. With five minutes left in the first half, City finally opened the scoring. Thomas Cooke started the move with a wonder ball across the pitch to Sam Bingham, who found Chris Wardale in front of the Cambridge goal, finishing smartly over the diving Cambridge keeper.  
 
HT 1-0 City 
 
City started the second half well, being patient with the back three seeing plenty of the ball. Cambridge had adopted an unusual half court press that stopped City playing the ball into the wide midfield players and made them start to force the ball through the middle of the pitch. City struggled to work out a way round the Cambridge system and starting to make mistakes that led to a long spell of pressure on the City goal. Cambridge got themselves back into the game, after a well worked penalty corner routine was fired into the City goal. The game became an end to end affair but neither side was able to get the goal to clinch the game. In the last minute of the game, a Jack Ingham deflection looked certain to give City the win but the Cambridge keeper pulled off another stunning save to keep the score level. 
 
FT 1-1 
 
Overall a game of two halves. City will need to focus on the positives from their first half performance as they prepare for IES, away, next week.  
 

MENS 2ND XI - 18/01/2020 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES 3 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 18/01/2020 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 18/01/2020 
HEADLINE: A great win for the club! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT: 
Following a crisis with availability this week, City were greatful for Matthew Brine, George Brine and Sam Clabon for making their first appearances of the season as City travelled to play a very strong looking Harleston 3rd XI. City played some great hockey in the first half and deserved went 2-0 up following goals from George Brine and Harry Gill. Harleston hit back to make it 2-1 at the break. 
 
Into the second half and City scored first thanks to a Jonty Black deflection before Harleston hit back again. A great run by Gill was tapped home by M Brine at the far post to make it 4-2 and give City some breathing space before Harleston rallied late on and scored a PC to make it interesting. However City held on for a much needed 3 points.  

MENS 3RD XI - 18/01/2020 VS IPSWICH EAST SUFFOLK 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 3rd XI 
DATE: 18/01/2020 
FIXTURE: Mens 3rd XI VS 18/01/2020 
HEADLINE: Languid play belies a cunning plan 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: TFF 
RESULT: 1-3 Loss 
 
REPORT: 
Skipper Blackie led his band of brothers into battle with a corona that haloed him for most of the 2nd half, though this was merely a low sun glancing off his pate it was clear he was in the mood to lead; with Nathan clearly wishing to reprise his 4th team leadership role for all to admire we were quickly overrun with orders and counter orders: enough to fill the swear jar until it brimmed over. Never-the-less such fabulous positivity and a crowd of two watching buoyed our bare 11 onward so that although we had to wait for old style Key”basher” to drill one past the keeper we had enough moments in the D and more shortcorners than were needed to turn the result around at least, erm, twice.  
 
Our playing style could be described as ponderous yet not unkindly so because as the game wore on it seemed obviously to be a stratagem from the dusty pile of the long forgotten playbooks that eke out dwindling reserves of get up and go and though we could easily have been filled with envy at IES’s 2 subs just lounging in the dugout as if tomorrow were just another day, we gained succour from the fact they were in actual fact desperately needed.  
 
Anyway, a couple of moments sang out amongst the cacophony and clamour of battle:- 
Dan kicking ball out after Krish was struck on the head may have appeared cynical and opportunistic to the umpire given how out of breath we were and thereby merited the yellow card however it also looked like a cynical and opportunistic move on the behalf of IES trying to wind up our most promising young jedi, who had been making things happen often at great distance given the number of through balls that shouldn’t have reached him but did due to the metronomically consistent bounce in the 1st pitch catching the southern brethren off guard.  
 
Coincidentally Hoops had been explaining his very own mind trick before the game, sadly like so much of Hoops’ game it was better in the bar between mouthfuls of juicy pale ale, whilst some rather unkindly likened the on pitch imitation merely pale and stale. However as usual this was entirely unfair as Hoops was in veritable squashbuckelling form, making merry with their clattering sticks and chattering gas he managed to tie them up not only in knots whilst we checked our bpms and step counts but resoundingly with green cards and short corners, ok well, one of each. Sweet justice for IES’s earlier infringement; though you have to really squint, and be hypoxic, and not understand justice very well to think that. Anyway it left us feeling great as we sucked great lumpfuls of sweet respite in.  
 
Onward and upward then for our next encounter as Reuben, Luke and Cameron show greater and greater composure as the resilient backline, Pyatt finally finds his flywheel and your POTM finds his oxygen cylinder, now I know I left it somewhere… 
 

MIXED XI - 19/01/2020 VS DEREHAM MIXED (A) 
 
TEAM: Mixed XI 
DATE: 19/01/2020 
FIXTURE: Mixed XI VS 19/01/2020 
HEADLINE: City Mixed March on to Next Knockout Round  
Norwich city Mixed XI continued on their quest for silverware with a win over local rivals Dereham in the England Hockey Tier 1 National Mixed Championships on Sunday. 
 
Norwich stated strong and settled into the game early, with Krystal Bishop and Chris Wardale both scoring, helped by some excellent work through the midfield from Sophie Mullan, Harry Gill and Cameron Cooke.  
 
Dereham then answered with two goals scored from penalty corner routines to bring the score to 2-2.  
 
The intensity on the pitch increased notably as both teams went in search of an additional goal: Dereham looking to capitalise on their momentum, and Norwich to wrestle back control of the game.  
 
Dereham made some strong runs into Norwich's D, but excellent defending from Harry Brown and Thomas Cooke meant their efforts went unrewarded. Deep into the second half a successful; strike from Chris Wardale, after a break-away run from Harriet Preston, found Norwich their 3rd goal. Norwich held on for the final minutes of the game to finish 3-2.