Results

WOMENS 3RD XI - 24/09/2022 VS SUDBURY 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 24/09/2022 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 24/09/2022 
HEADLINE: Early risers travel to Sudbury for the first league game 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST NORTH 
VENUE: Sudbury 
RESULT: Lost 1-0 
 
REPORT: 
An early start for womens 3's away at Sudbury for a 10:30 am pushback. City turned up bright and eager for the first league game of the season, with lots of changes to the squad and new players whilst welcoming back some returning players. Eager and ready to face what we were challenged with, the Womens 3's appeared in energetic spirits and ready to play. Lots of new faces and changes meant that the first part of the game was spent getting used to one another, unfortunately, Sudbury used this to their advantage and put their first goal in early on resulting in a 1-0 up scoreline for Sudbury. City came back fighting, eager to show them what they could do. With strong defensive work and runs from the defensive line, Gemma and Jess T-B gave Sudbury something to think about. Good interlinking play from the center-halves and half-backs, Sue, Ange, Emma, and Kim created lots of opportunities for City however as the half-time whistle went it remained 1-0 to Sudbury. 
 
The start of the second half showed more possession from City with strong interlinking play and determination from the inners and forwards, El, Hannah, Claire, Lucy, Ellie, and Vicki leading to the majority of the half being spent in the attacking 'D'. Numerous short corners did not go in City's favour with lots to be learned from however the teamwork and possession were paramount, City was out to fight for a win. Unfortunately, despite numerous shots on goal, Sudbury kept strong defensively and kept any shot clear. The final whistle went with Sudbury winning 1-0 despite City having the advantage and possessing the ball. Lots to move forward on and positive spirits and attitudes leading into the second league match of the season. Player of the Match goes to El Jarvis for her relentless hard work as inner and strong runs with the ball against Sudbury. Closely followed by Gem Sargent for her strong defensive skills and effortless runs towards the attacking 'D'. 

WOMENS 4TH XI - 24/09/2022 VS BROADLAND 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 4th XI 
DATE: 24/09/2022 
FIXTURE: Womens 4th XI VS 24/09/2022 
HEADLINE: Tough start  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST NORTH 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: 2 - 6 L 
 
REPORT: 
First game of the season against what may be the toughest opposition the 4s will face.  
The game started with a high intensity that never let off during the whole match but every city player kept up the pressure and intensity.  
Broadloands 1 scored first from a short corner but this was pretty much equalised straight away by a great team effort. The attacking D was packed with players but Evie Brockington kept her cool and beat the goalie to synch the goal.  
True to the energy of the game, broadloand scored another short corner but again, this time from Helen Brockington a goal was scored. Whatever the Brockingtons eat for breakfast should be sold as a super food! 
However, 2 more goals were scored by broadland before the half time wistle making it 4 -2. 
2nd half starts and with a few changes in tactics but a consistency high level of play from all players. Defence had a tough job closing down quick brakes but handled it amazingly well. Kim Cleave from the 3s stopped numerous runs from the opposition. Emily Winter worked on marking Broadlands ace striker to try and keep her out the game as much as possible and got potm for the effort. On to next week for a hopeful win and points for the team ! 

WOMENS 5TH XI - 24/09/2022 VS BROADLAND 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 5th XI 
DATE: 24/09/2022 
FIXTURE: Womens 5th XI VS 24/09/2022 
HEADLINE: 1st game  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST NORTH 
VENUE: Taverham hockey pitch  
RESULT:2-1 
 
REPORT: on a rather hot morning we started the game with 1 goal for the Alice hood. Some great passing, fab effort from every player. 2nd half Broadland got a goal bring it to 1-1 but we where determined to win and Lucy Wimhurst got us another goal to take the win 2-1 to nchc womens 5’s. Such a lovely game and everyone in the team did so well. Player of the match went to bev cushion very well deserved.  
 

WOMENS 6TH XI - 24/09/2022 VS THETFORD TOWN 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 24/09/2022 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 24/09/2022 
HEADLINE: New Season, New League, New Team 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 5 NORTH EAST NORTH 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 1-3  
 
REPORT: 
 
With a new team and lots of new faces, the city team came out in force. Thetford had the first pushback, with an early sprint to score 1st in the 4th minute. We conceded another goal in the 20th minute with lots of stops and starts. Thetford had a strong defence, but the City side still managed to have lots of opportunities but unfortunately, they weren’t successful. 
 
After a much-needed team talk from our coach at halftime, feeling a little more gathered to start afresh in the second half. City was awarded a short corner via a speedy sprint from Cara in the D. City set up for the short, a right slip to Alice Petch and a strong sweep, which meant we scored in the 48th minute!  
 
The second half saw lots of short corners awarded to the city side. City, had lots of attempts on goal, and most definitely the stronger team in the second half. An unlucky goal from Thetford to make the end result 3-1. Even with a loss, an impressive start with a new team, lots of potential for the season. Great saves and defence with lots of speedy forward too! 
 
POTM was Saskia for some amazing runs and offering some great chances for City goals.  
 

FILLIES XI - 25/09/2022 VS CAMBRIDGE JUNIORS U16 (A) 
 
TEAM: Fillies XI 
DATE: 25/09/2022 
FIXTURE: Fillies XI VS 25/09/2022 
HEADLINE: Thrilling match ends level 
LEAGUE: East League U16 Tier 1 
VENUE: Stephen Perse Ground, Cambridge 
RESULT: Cambridge Juniors U16 3 Norwich City U16 3  
 
REPORT: 
City’s first match in the Tier 1 U16 East League ended in a draw. The opponents for this match were Cambridge Juniors who we hadn’t faced previously. City struggled to get to grips with the pitch in the early stages which along with Cambridges direct approach and aggressive high pressing led to errors in the circle and a couple of conceded goals inside the first 10 mins.  
The defence consisting of Poppy Scott, Uma Patel, Hollie Blackham, Lucy Walton and Sophia Molineux gradually got the measure of the Cambridge approach and began to rebuff the Cambridge attacks. Once the press was bypassed Citys inside forwards India Fox and Evie Brockington were to find space and get the balls to the forwards Chloe Holmes, Olivia Kazimierczak, Mirabelle Harden and Alice Marjoram. As the half wore on City began to dominate though had to be aware of the Cambridge long balls to their high forwards.  
With Cambridge focussing on attack they left space for the City attackers which Chloe and Alice exploited gaining entry to the circle and winning short corners. With a minute of the half remaining a City short corner was expertly converted by Lucy Walton with a straight strike. 
Six minutes into the second half a slick passing move by City resulted in a goal. The ball was won on the left of the City defence and transferred round the back. It was moved forward on the right then passed inside into the Cambridge half to Alice Marjoram behind the Cambridge defence. Alice advanced into the circle drawing the goalkeeper before unselfishly slipping the ball to the rapidly supporting Chloe Holmes who finished into an empty net. 
Just as it began to look as if Citys slick passing would carry them to a win Cambridges direct approach paid off when a long ball found a high attacker beyond the City defence who ran on to score. City mounted attack after attack but Cambridge defended doggedly. With five minutes remaining City gained another short corner, Lucy Waltons strike being turned in off a defenders stick to once again level the scores. Though City pressed for the winner they were unable to breach the Cambridge defence and the match finished level at 3-3.  
A penalty shoot-out followed for the bonus point which Cambridge won 4-3. 
A great game with great hospitality from Cambridge Juniors. 
 
 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 25/09/2022 VS BEDFORD 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 25/09/2022 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 25/09/2022 
HEADLINE: M1s Get Their Debut National League Campaign Started  
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Bedford  
RESULT: 4-4  
 
REPORT: 
The time had come, 
32 years in the making,  
Norwich City Hockey Club were making their national league debut! 
 
And after 6 minutes of that debut we'd been given a wake up call to the level we were now playing at after being 2-0 down. Thankfully we kept our nerve and slowed their momentum by grabbing a quick response through Tom Cooke after the defenders parted to allow him a pass into an almost empty net from our first short corner of the match. But Bedford managed to get another and restore their 2 goal lead just before the end of Quarter 1. 
 
After a calming team talk from Marts reassuring the team that we had been creating the chances and the goals will come we started the 2nd Quarter positively.  
We won a second short of the game and Tom Cooke once again converted for his second goal of the game.  
We continued the momentum to bag another as Cam Cooke run through 1 on 1 with the keeper and calmly took it round him to convert. Halftime 3-3. 
 
We had truly grown into the occasion and came out into the 3rd quarter much the same and with a hit in from Harry Gill and superb deflection from outside the p spot from Chris Wardale we had taken an unlikely lead from where we had been in Quarter 1. 
 
Bedford slowly threw more and more men forward and started to build some dangerous phases but City stayed tough to beat with some great saves from Alastair Cooke. But with a few minutes left on the clock the Bedford Centre Back who had already scored had pushed through and found himself in the D with time and space and planted a superb reverse in the bottom right corner and had earned Bedford a point.  
 
All-in-all a superb performance on national league debut, something all the squad and the entire club should be proud of as they showed we truly belong in this league in a tough away fixture to begin this campaign! 
 

MENS 4TH XI - 24/09/2022 VS COLCHESTER 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 4th XI 
DATE: 24/09/2022 
FIXTURE: Mens 4th XI VS 24/09/2022 
HEADLINE: Positive performance despite loss 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 3 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Colchester Garrison 
RESULT: 1-2 Loss 
 
REPORT: City, with a bare 11, travelled to Colchester who finished 3rd last season for the opening fixture in the 22/23 season. City started brightly putting pressure on their hosts, controlling the ball and probing into the final 3rd. Colchester found their footing and start to make strides in their attaching end and from a cross inside the D on the left a deflection by Spencer beat Rash at the near post. 1-0 Colchester. 
 
City continues to press with Ingham (jr), Brine (jr) and Hansell breaking up play in the midfield, however it was Colchester that went 2-0 up when the Colchester forward was able to turn Shapcott and fire into the roof of the net. 
 
City then went down to 10 when Spencer when off injured, after some shuffling, Hansell wone the ball in midfield allowing Rushton to break down the left and finding Byland-Brookes to make it 2-1 at halftime. 
 
Goalless in the 2nd half but this was not for the want of trying. City felt that they were the better team but maybe a lack of quality in the last quarter costing them today. Work rate was outstanding and if this is the platform for this season City 4s can look forward to it. 
 
MOTM candidates were Nunn, Hansell and Ingham (jr) but the votes when to Harry Ingham who was at the heart of everything defensively allowing City to build attacks. 
 
Special thanks to Phil Nunn who was called up at the last minute and for John Ingham who while clearly injured made sure City played the 2nd half with 11.