Results

LADIES 2ND XI - 18/03/2017 VS CARROW 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 2nd XI 
DATE: 18/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 2nd XI VS 18/03/2017 
HEADLINE: City Still on Top!! 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 5-0 
 
REPORT: 
City turned up this week to face bottom of the league, Carrow. With it being tight at the top of the table, city knew scoring lots of goals was going to be essential. Norwich were straight out of the blocks and with great advantage from the umpire they were able to score within the first 5 minutes - a smooth ball sent across the D by Emily Francis for Ellie Brine to sweep in. Norwich were spurred on by the early goal and with great work rate from Rosie Humphrey in midfield, she was able to find Ange Hindle at the top of the D, who gave a lovely ball into Kate Hartland, where she found the back of the net, 2-0. Milly Brown worked superbly upfront and in midfield, driving the right hand channel to create numerous chances for city and soon came Kate's second goal. A clean shot in from Hannah Jarvis was neatly deflected in by Kate on the left post. Half time came and city new they were going to need more goals to keep fighting for promotion, so went out with determination. Great work from Becky Gaffney and Ellie Pitcher down the channels created more opportunities for Norwich, eventually their 4th goal came when Ange sent another fast ball into the circle, for Hannah Jarvis to cleanly sweep into the right hand corner. Serena Scott was giving her usual chat from the back and with solid defending, as always, from Karen Dagless, Leigh-Ann Worrall and Danni Garwood city were ensured a clean sheet. Finally with a great ball across the D from Kate, Ellie was ready on the back post to slot away city's final goal of the day, securing a convincing 5-0 win. Special shout out to Norwich City Womens 4s for their amazing performance against Broadland 1s, securing City 2s place again at top of the table on goal difference. 

LADIES 3RD XI - 18/03/2017 VS LODDON 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 18/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 18/03/2017 
HEADLINE:  
LEAGUE: NORFOLK PREMIER DIVISION 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Loddon 
RESULT: 5-2 Win 
 
REPORT: 
Norwich City 3rd XI took an early lead in the first 5 minutes with Caroline Illing getting a touch on a strongly injected ball outside the D. Loddon 1s then picked up the pressure, and defended well, but City finished the first half 2-0 up with a strike by Alex Le Mesurier hitting the net.  
 
After a rousing half time team talk, City ramped up the effort, and although Loddon came back with 2 goals in the second half City were proving to be the better team putting away 3 further goals, the first from Emily Greenway and the second provided by Jenni Stanghan. Finally, a beautifully worked penalty corner routine in the final few minutes of the game saw Emily Greenway getting a deflection on the right post to put it past the keeper into the top corner. The result leaves Norwich City 3rd XI 4 points clear in 4th place in the Empresa Norfolk Premier League. 
 

LADIES 6TH XI - 18/03/2017 VS YARMOUTH 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 18/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 18/03/2017 
HEADLINE: End-to-end play 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 2 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: 
RESULT: 
 
REPORT:With Yarmouth pushing for promotion, City expected a fast-paced battle and went out fighting from the off. Match-day coach Dave Skinner led a high-energy warm up and put the team through some heart-rate raising sprints that had City fired up and ready. The first half saw end-to-end play with dangerous breaks by both teams but no conversions. A skilful Yarmouth captain acted as the key playmaker in the opposition team’s centre, sending dangerous balls out to her forwards who looked constantly threatening. Full back defenders Carol McNarry and Vicki Myhill had to dig deep to mop up the balls and use their signature hitting skills to make some hard-ball clearances out to safety. City goalie Charlotte Harrad was repeatedly called into action, making some great saves and winning the player-of-the-match award. Meanwhile, City frequently counter attacked with some excellent work by midfielder Jane Loughridge acting as a central pivot for City and some notable right wing runs by Lucy McNarry.  
After a break, the game continued at the same intensity, but unfortunately 10-minutes into play Yarmouth scored from one of the many short corners awarded to both sides in the match. A powerful strike was deflected in at an impossible angle and Yarmouth went one goal ahead. City refused to give up and looked likely to score at any point, but couldn’t quite find an equaliser leaving the final score at one nil to Yarmouth.  
 
 

LADIES 7TH XI - 18/03/2017 VS HORNETS (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 7th XI 
DATE: 18/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens 7th XI VS 18/03/2017 
HEADLINE: A good way to end the season - never mind the loss 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION 3 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Hobart High School, Loddon 
RESULT: 1-3 
 
REPORT: The Womens 7s ended their season with a strong showing against the hard hitting Hornets, who are second in the league, keeping the score to a respectable 1-3. Hornets started strongly moving up the pitch quickly with some sharp passing. A number of chances were repelled but City stayed in the game with some strong defending on her debut from Millie Clarke. A few forward forays came to nothing for City. In the second half City redoubled their efforts and made more headway winning several short corners from the tireless running of Charlotte Girling and Amy Hinchcliffe. City finally took advantage of one such opportunity with Louisa Sizeland deflecting in Millie Clarke's strike. For this, and her excellent defending, Millie was the clear winner of Player of the Match.  
 
Despite the loss City enjoyed the game and can look back with pride at the progress, both individual and collective, that has been made this season. 

LADIES DEVELOPMENT XI - 18/03/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI 
DATE: 18/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI VS 18/03/2017 
HEADLINE: Second Place Secured (at least)! 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dragons Den 
RESULT: 2:1 
 
REPORT: 
 
Knowing that a win would guarantee second place in the league with two games still to play, the team entered the “Den” watched by a sea of large coloured umbrellas. Beneath, an expectant crowd of parents huddled together for warm. The absence of some team stalwarts created an opportunity for others to shine, and shine they did with a convincing 55-minute display that ended in a 2:1 win. However, as seems to be traditional with Dragons, the girls always enjoy leaving a final 5-minute defending frenzy to test the coaches’ mettle.  
 
Starting with only 11 players, buoyed by the knowledge that re-enforcements would be arriving from Beeston, the team made a settled start. Frances Underhill had been charged with marking the know Dragon’s playmaker and she duly ran her socks off keeping her under wraps which left Maddie Smith; Sophie Duez; and Fraya Myhill space to play well in the middle of the park. The quarter saw possession evenly split with neither side creating convincing opportunities, primarily due to some stubborn and controlled defending by Sabina Baker on the left, assisted by the habitual strong hitting of Lottie Smith. Although Daisy had to watch the ball out on a few occasions, the more physical and aggressive Dragons team never seriously threatened. Honours even. 
 
The second quarter saw the ball being spread to the flanks more effectively with some penetrating runs by Mille Wimhurst on the left and Naimh Campbell on the right creating half chances. This, coupled with terrier like running and harassing of Evie-May Thorpe, served to maintain the pressure on the Dragons back line and they struggled to escape their half. Having been joined by the reassuring presence of Kate Houdley in mid-field and Lucy Jenkinson in defence, ‘fresh’ from a morning of netball, Evie-May was eventually duly rewarded for all her efforts when the ball was driven into the D and she was able to slot home with confidence from near the spot. A deserved 1:0 lead at half-time. 
 
The team maintained their domination at the beginning of the third quarter. Opportunities continued to be created by Grace Adams, Maddie and Kate as well as by Naimh, on the right, and a penalty corner resulted. Injected well by Sabina, Kate struck majestically from the top of the D resulting in the reassuring “thud” from the left corner of the backboard. Queue a second opportunity for half the crowd to engage in some cheering to warm themselves up as the heavens continued to empty on NR1. Thereafter however, Dragons slowly dragged themselves back into the action with multiple attacks coming from their right flank. This resulted in some sporadic shots on goal, one necessitating a sharp save by Daisy to her right and another leading to two consecutive penalty corners. These were both well defended, not least by Lottie repelling one looping shot with a tennis serve action that ejected the ball far out of the D and away from harm. 2:0 with 15 minutes to go. 
 
Dragons started the last quarter strongly, their focus again on their right flank. An early reshuffling of our midfield seemed to contain that threat and we still threatened ourselves. As all looked reasonably comfortable, it was a disappointing surprise that with one fast move a Dragons forward was presented with a close-range opportunity which was well saved, twice, by Daisy only for the second strong kick away to defect back off the Dragons player into the goal. Without the benefit of a video replay it will remain debatable whether it was from a stick or foot but the goal stood and so the aforesaid defensive frenzy began. The girls were intent on attempting to hit out (rather than play out) of defence which simply handed possession back to Dragons for them to restart their attacks. Although no clear opportunities were created it still left nerves jangling until the final whistle, the sound of which cemented a deserved 2:1 victory. 
 
Some excellent performances throughout the game with Evie-May justifiably picking up player of the match. Well done girls, lets win the last two games and hope Dragon’s beat Harleston next week!  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 19/03/2017 VS BLACKHEATH AND OES (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 19/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 19/03/2017 
HEADLINE: City undone in bid to reach Lee Valley 
LEAGUE: EAST PREMIER DIVISION B 
VENUE: Eltham College 
RESULT: 4-2 
 
REPORT: 
 
The Men’s 1s had a trip to southeast London for their EH Trophy semi final against last year’s runner’s up Blackheath & OE. Unfortunately Dave Skinner must have forgot to pray for us, as on the trip down Messrs Tom Cooke and Louis Preston were severely delayed due to a flat tyre and an inability to change said flat tyre, meaning they missed the whole of the first half. 
 
The game started fairly evenly with both teams creating some attacking opportunities, but first blood went to Norwich City when Chris Wardale’s blocked short corner settled nicely for him to pick up for a second attempt, and he duly struck the ball into the bottom left hand corner. The lead however did not last long. Blackheath & OE equalised when an opponent burst though the midfield, skilfully beating 3 City players before launching a missile into the roof of the net. From here Blackheath began to find themselves on top, but City were seemingly managing to contain the pressure with some good saves from short corners from Ali Cooke. Blackheath eventually managed to break through, when they were fortuitously awarded a short corner when the umpire blew up for Harry Brown stepping in front of the intended receiver and intercepting the ball – which is apparently not allowed (though this was the only time in the game he blew for it...). The drag flick this time found its way past Ali Cooke, though he somehow still got a hand to it, as the ball flew at some velocity to his top right hand corner. As half time approached Blackheath managed to get a third when a sweetly stuck backhand from the left side of the D hit the post and rolled right across the line; unfortunately Blackheath managed to force the ball centimetres over the line from the resulting scramble. 
 
The arrival of Tom Cooke and Louis Preston boosted the City squad, though Blackheath quickly struck again as City were readjusting their line up. Harry Brown the unfortunate party was closed down by two or three forwards, and with limited options, his attempted pass was intercepted and the forward stormed through on goal and unleashed a backhand to the bottom right corner. City made good use of the aerial in the second half, as Blackheath were unsuspecting of this tactic as it had not been used at all in the first half. City forwards managed to latch onto many good aerials from Tom Cooke and converted from one when one was thrown down the left. The resulting cross was neatly converted by Chris Wardale with a sweetly struck backhand of his own. City kept fighting throughout the remainder of the match still creating some chances all the way until the end, but unfortunately could not find a way to convert any more of these and the game finished up 4-2 to Blackheath & OE who successfully reach back to back EH Trophy finals. 
 
The match was a very competitive, evenly contested game on the day with some clinical finishing from Blackheath proving the difference. Despite not achieving what they had hoped, City can be content with getting to the furthest stage of the competition in the club’s history. 
 

MENS 2ND XI - 18/03/2017 VS LONG SUTTON (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 2nd XI 
DATE: 18/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 2nd XI VS 18/03/2017 
HEADLINE:  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 1 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: Norwich City 2-3 Long Sutton 
 
REPORT: 
 
With a player pulling out early in the morning, City matched Long Sutton with a bare 11.  
 
City started the first half slow compared to Sutton causing them to ship two early goals. However this soon started to change, ending the first half 0-2. 
 
The second half started with City becoming the better team. This caused the score to quickly change with a goal from Pete Morgan after he was slipped the ball at a short corner, 1-2.  
City kept pressing Sutton and eventually another goal came from Richard Silvester after he finished a wonderful half volley into the corner of the goal, 2-2. 
However as much as City applied the press, Sutton finished the game with a deflection into the goal finishing the game at 2-3. 
 

MENS 3RD XI - 18/03/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 3rd XI 
DATE: 18/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 3rd XI VS 18/03/2017 
HEADLINE: City to rebuild next season in Division 3NE 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH 
VENUE: Dragons Den 
RESULT: 5-1 LOSS 
 
REPORT: 
Despite reason defeats to both Cambridge South and Cambridge Nomads; City could still possibly stay up but would rely on maximum points from both games against 2nd and 5th and hoping Camb South losing both games, as it turned out Camb South drew today and City's hopes off survival were over.  
 
City put on a spiritual display in the 1st half and were unlucky to be 2-1 down a the break, as Dragons scored in the final minute of play. City's goal a Chris Perry drag flick.  
 
City tired in the 2nd half a bare 11 and injuries to M Brine, A Land and J Koniecnzy didn't help the cause as City were reduced to 8 fit men, this lead to Dragons running riot and they racked up a further three goals, Adie Land hit the post late on for City in what was another frustrating game.  
 
A new captain and hopefully better availability next season can mean City can rebuild for a stronger campaign in Division 3NE next season.  
 

MENS 4TH XI - 18/03/2017 VS SUDBURY 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 4th XI 
DATE: 18/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 4th XI VS 18/03/2017 
HEADLINE: Sudbury too Strong for City Debutants 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Great Cornard Sports Centre, Sudbury 
RESULT: Lost 3-8 
 
REPORT: 
Sudbury's fight for survival in Div 3NE took a step in the right direction as City's depleated 4th XI struggled on the road.  
 
With availability at a new low, Captain Ingham gained support from the lower teams via Lee Allsop, Jack Watling and the evergreen Steve Fretwell as well as the returning James Halls and Paul Roy from the 3's. Hey presto, 11 players went to Sudbury! 
 
It didn't take long for before City fell behind, when poor marking allowed Sudbury to score past King in goal. This sparked City into action and they raced into a 2-1 lead via a trademark Leonard penalty corner drag flick and a far post tapin from Kidner. The lead didn't last long however, as Sudbury pushed forwards again and again, eventually scoring twice and City went to the break 2-3 down 
 
Sadly, City's legs (in fact Halls leg) were not good enough and the floodgates opened with fabulous strikes all finding the corners. The only bright spot was a secong goal from Leonard. 
 
Final score 3-8 
 
MOTM: Rees Leonard 
 

MENS 5TH XI - 18/03/2017 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 4 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 5th XI 
DATE: 18/03/2017 
FIXTURE: Mens 5th XI VS 18/03/2017 
HEADLINE: Staying Up! 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST 
VENUE:Home 
RESULT:Drawn 3-3 
 
REPORT: City came out of the blocks and quickly set about their task with a goal within the first few minutes by forward, Ady Marr. City pushed hard and were well led in the middle by inners Shaun and Ali C. After several short corners the ball fell well to Ady Marr for second goal. Dragons quickly responded with a goal of their own against the run of play. City quickly found their way again with some intricate passing before Ady completed his hatrick. City went into the half time break in complete control. 
 
It was clearly a game of two halves as City's legs started to go. Dragons started the more positively as their big hits through caused problems. Some quick feet enabled Dragons to score two quick goals to level the score. 
 
City pushed hard in the final quarter for the winning goal but it was not enough. 
 
The draw gave City 5s the much needed point to ensure 4NE hockey again next season. One final game remains against league champions, UEA 2s, but this should not phase the team after their victory earlier in the season. There is also the positivity around the return of next years captain's elect, Ash Bird after his lengthy absence due to planning his strategy for next year! Big things are expected for his return!! 
 
Well done to the whole team for the character shown today whilst staying in the league.