Results

MENS 1ST XI - 23/03/2025 VS ST ALBANS 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 23/03/2025 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 23/03/2025 
HEADLINE: 3rd Vs 4th battle goes down to the final play 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Oakland's College 
RESULT: 3-2 win 
 
REPORT: Final away day of the season. 3rd Vs 4th. A win for Norwich would confirm at least a 3rd place finish. Heavy rain scheduled throughout. It was due to be a corker. Norwich pushed back and about 10 seconds later they had lost the ball and were defending a long corner. This lead to nothing but was a warning they'd have to be at the best to overcome St Alban's. A team they'd drawn 1-1 against at home in the earlier meeting. A few minutes later and St Alban's had caught Norwich napping again and found a foot in the D for their first penalty corner of the match. A drag low left and a save from Harry Brown maintained the deadlock. Norwich soon retained some possession and begin to slow the st Alban's momentum, but couldn't quite stop it entirely as they won a penalty to end the quarter and went low left again but it missed the target completely. Q1: 0-0. 
The rain begun. But so did the Norwich offence. James Mackenzie on back to back attacks beat 2/3 defenders but for some reason the umpires were allergic to giving him a foul and both attacks came to nought. Shortly after, Tom Ridley had a hit saved and Harry Gill then found Stu Wardle at the baseline line but his turn and hit was also saved. Both sides defences under significant pressure over the first half but neither net had been broken yet. HT the scoreline remained 0-0. 
Q3 was more of the same, end to end but neither defence giving too much of a chance to any attacker. Norwich did break through late on in the quarter but Cameron Cooke wasn't able to squeeze the ball past the rushing St Alban's GK. I probably could've skipped straight to Q4 but who doesn't like a bit of a scene setting pre-amble. Entering the quarter both sides were convinced it'd be a one goal game and it was just about who broke first. And it was Norwich who broke first; Jonty black with an interception that fell to Max Wilson, he carried through one quarter before reversing a ball into Cam Cooke who beat the final defender and played a reverse pass around the keeper to an arriving Jonty Black who started and finished the goal. 60 seconds later and Tom Cooke had burst through from the back, beating one player with a body feint and then breezing last two more before finding max Wilson in the D who rolled around one defender and slot the ball under the keeper for a 2-0 lead. 12 minutes left and the game had finally opened up. Sadly that also meant St Alban's began to threaten and with a horrific tackle in the D from Harry Gill they had been awarded a panelty flick and halved the Norwich lead. 2 minutes later after a foot on the line at a panelty corner they had a second penalty flick and they had been allowed back into the game at 2-2. A tense last 5 minutes ensued, neither side wanting to overcommit and throw the game away. With 60 seconds left on the game clock, Elliot Hibell won a PC, Cam Cooke stepped up to drag it high right, the st albans keeper was equal to it but parried it into the path of Elliot Hibell who after batting up the rebound then volleyed it into the crossbar and the ball fell just behind the line to take the win 3-2. The result means Norwich have an unassailable gap to 4th and can only finish at least 3rd, equaling the achievements of the previous 2 seasons in national league. A win this final weekend and a draw or loss for chelmsford would secure 2nd and would be a great and well deserved achievement for the squad! 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 16/03/2025 VS UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 16/03/2025 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 16/03/2025 
HEADLINE: Norwich make up for points dropped earlier in the season Vs University of Nottingham 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: 3-1 win 
 
REPORT: 70 fans braved the cold at Taverham, which was a bit of a shock after a few weeks of rare glorious March sun. It looked as though it would all be for nothing as with 30minutes to go until pushback there was no sign of the Nottingham team, thankfully the risk of frostbite was worth it as they turned up with 25minutes to go until kick off. Although maybe they wished they hadn't, as within the first 3 minutes Max Wilson had waltzed through the top of the D, Carried right and hit towards goal. His initial effort was saved but the resultant rebound was placed in by Tom Ridley, who has been in fine goal scoring form in the second half of this season. A few moments later a Harry Gill ball across the D wasn't able to find a Norwich stick and then the same happened to a Ben Chapman pass from the opposite side. Norwich continued to threaten with Max Wilson breaking through, finding Tom Ridley in the D and he was able to win the first PC of the game. Elliot Hibell's resultant drag flick was certainly not his best effort but it was enough to find the gap between the keepers legs and double the Norwich lead. Q1 ended 2-0 to City. 
Q2 begun with a pheneomal solo rum from Jonty black beating 4 defenders and winning a PC with a foot on the th defender. Elliots drag was caught far better this time but blocked by the Nottingham runner. Shortly after, the 1st Nottingham corner was won. Simon Dolan made an excellent stick save to maintain Norwich's lead going into halftime.  
Midway through Q3 Norwich looked to have killed the game as Tom Cooke slapped a ball in, a Nottingham defender got a stick to it but it wasn't enough to stop Tom Ridley trapping the ball and hitting into the left side netting with the assistance of a heavy deflection from a defender sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. Q4 begin with Nottinghams best chance of the game. End to end in about 4/5 passes, lovely flowing hockey, thankfully Louis Preston made an epic effort to get back and stop the final pass around Simon that would've been an empty net for Nottingham to finish into. The next 5 minutes were all Nottingham, Norwich unable to retain possession and nottingham winning an endless amount of PCs. With their 4th corner of the game Simon Dolan made a save from the drag and then blocked out the rebound, with their 5th it was pretty much a carbon copy from Simon and with their 6th, you guessed it, it was again the same result, this time with the added spice of Simon half volleying the ball to outside of the 23 to really make sure to clear the danger. There was still time for Nottingham to win a 7th corner, this time they looked for the deflection from the injector but he was not able to get there and the drag missed low left. In the final minute, a Nottingham forward was able to get open and a ball to the baseline found him and he flicked the ball around Simon and into the far side netting to break the clean sheet norwich had worked so hard for. 3-1 win for the home side, who continue to push hard for a 2nd place finish. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 09/03/2025 VS CAMBRIDGE CITY 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 09/03/2025 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 09/03/2025 
HEADLINE: Norwich Demolition Job of Cambridge  
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Wilberforce Rd Hockey Ground 
RESULT: 6-1 Win 
 
REPORT: A short away day and we were met with temperatures not witnessed for 6 months. Suncream slapped on for the handful of pale members we have and away we go. 
Norwich took charge from the off, pressing well and winning the ball high, dominating possession and setting the pace of play with ease. The dominance was rewarded when 6 minutes in Harry Gill played an expert crossifled ball to Jonty black who marauded done the right wing to play Cameron Cooke in 1-on-1 with the GK and he made sure the great counter attack wasn't wasted and flicked in over the keepers left leg. 1-0 Q1. 
Q2 started very similarly to Q1. This time it was Thomas cooke who linked up with Ben Chapman down the right hand side but the outcome was the same, a Cameron Cooke shot past the Cambridge city keeper to double the lead. Cambridge started to threaten with a few entries to the Norwich D and a few saves needed from Simon Dolan as well as a stick save at a Cambridge penalty corner flick. Cameron Cooke then pulled back the momentum by completing his hat trick with a drag flick of his own. Another Simon Dolan PC save to see out the first half. 3-0 to Norwich. 
Norwich would not have been happy with how they started the 3rd quarter. Cambridge city looked to pres higher and chase the game, Norwich struggled to string together anything more than 5/6 passes and a pair of cambridge PCs were awarded. Simon Dolan once again equal to them, Norwich very lucky to maintain the clean sheet after that onslaught. To end Q3 Tom Ridley won a PC after beating 3 Cambridge players and being fouled by a 4th. Cam Cooke stepped up and cam Cooke delivered, his drag flick itself wasn't enough but he was first to the rebound and with his one time hit he had his 4th goal of the game and 16th league goal of the season. Q3 ended 4-0. 
Q4 opened with a 6th CC PC, quickly followed by a 7th CC PC. Finally the barrage at goal led to the nil being broken. A Hit from the top across the goal into the bottom left corner. Max Wilson immediately broke back with a taken free hit to run 10 metres and then find Harry Gill who wasted no time to get a one time hit off and restore the 4 goal lead. Norwich were winning their fair share of Penalty corners aswell, winning their 6th of the day in the 65th minute of the game, this time it was Elliot Hibell with the honour of dragging and he managed to find Tom Ridley who jabbed the ball in under the keeper who was expecting a high ball and it was a great 6-1 scoreline to end on. A lovely sunny day matched by the wonderful hockey from Norwich. Meanwhile Cambridge are very much in a tight relegation battle with Uni of Birmingham and Harleston Magpies, a juicy few weeks ahead for those teams.  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 02/03/2025 VS BARFORD TIGERS 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 02/03/2025 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 02/03/2025 
HEADLINE: High scoring spectacle with plenty of late drama 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Taverham Recreational Facility 
RESULT: 4-4 draw  
 
REPORT: It's never boring when the game involves Barford and Norwich, always end to end and always full of goals and today would be nothing different.  
Barford broke though early with a defence splitting pass from their own half, Harry Brown was equal to the attack and won his 1v1 in the D to maintain the parity. Unfortunately a minute later a soft penalty corner had been given away and Barford made Norwich pay for the error. 1-0. A few half chances for both sides to see out the rest of Q1 but neither side really able to get into a threatening position in the D.  
Q2 saw Norwich win their first PC of the game, a mistrap and improvised hit proceeded, but it was off target. Soon after, a Louis Preston aerial down the line to Cam Cooke, who cut inside and attempted to lob the goalkeeper, but the 6ft3' keeper was having none of it. Harry Gill then threatening by carrying around 3 Barford players and hitting into the backpost for an arriving James Mackenzie but the deflection was just wide. After a dominant first 10minutes of the quarter Barford made Norwich Tue the missed chances and with a quick passing move the ball found it's way across the D for a deflection at the backpost. Barford lead 2-0 at HT. 
Q3 begun and Norwich needed to start well or this could get put of hand quickly, they proceeded to give away another short but thankfully the drag was wide left. From the ensuing 16 Norwich built a wonderful passing play, Elliot Hibell found Ed Beake down the left wing around halfway, he passed inside to Harry Gill who played a lovely cross field ball to an overlapping Tom Irvine, he connected with Jonty Black who beat 2 players and passed into Max Wilson on the baseline who delivered a pinpoint ball to an arriving Cam Cooke for a game changing tap-in. The lead cut in half and now only 2-1 to Barford. Cam Cooke and Max Wilson got a turnover high and breakaway, Max Wilson reverses nearpost but it was saved by the Barford keeper. Barford break back, but their shot just wide. Before quarter time, after a few fouls were let play on Norwich were caught out of position and a Barford forward was found in the D in space and he did well to punish that with a good finish into the bottom right corner to restore the advantage just before going into the break. 3-1 Barford to begin Q4. This is where the fun really kicked off. Cam cooke won a PC, Cam Cooke scored said PC with a strong flick into the bottom left corner. Soon after Ben Chapman won a PC, Cam Cooke scored this one with a strong flick into the left side netting just above the backboard. And then a Tom Ridley turnover and quick pass to Louis Preston who moved the ball onto Max Wilson who then unleashed a powerful reverse hit into the top left, blink and you'd miss it and Norwich had completed a worldie 5 minutes comeback to turn the game on it's head. Sadly 2 minutes later Barford won their 3rd short corner of the game and Mo Irfan showed why he is the current top goal scorer in the league with a great flick and his second goal for the game. An overturned PC as time expired for Norwich had given them hope to reply but the match ended 4-4. One hell of a game from all involved and for all those in attendance to enjoy.  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 23/02/2025 VS UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 23/02/2025 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 23/02/2025 
HEADLINE: Early wake up call worth the trouble for a great 3 points! 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: University of Birmingham 
RESULT: 4-2 win  
 
REPORT: A 5am wake up call and 6am bus meant for a very subdued journey to Birmingham with most of the boys asleep. A few stops along the way and the boys arrived to no teas and coffees. A fresher was sent to source a kettle and two more to the shop for tea, coffee & biscuits and we were well serviced eventually.  
End to end battle from the off. Norwich started by winning a PC inside the first minute. The shot was well saved by the UoB keeper, they proceeded to immediately counter attack but Fraser Evans was equal to the Birmingham strike and Tom Harris cleared up the rebound. Soon after Tom Ridley food Cam Cooke in the D but his flick narrowly missed the near corner. Birmingham won their first PC and Fraser Evans was once again equal to their goal ward bound effort. The quarter ended with a Max Wilson and James Mackenzie counter attack with plenty 1-2s between them led to a Max Wilson hit just missing at the nearside. Plenty chances for both sides but neither troubling the scoreboard. Q1 ended 0-0. 
Birmingham started Q2 by winning their second PC. A drag flick found it's way through and finally someone found the back of the net. A few minutes of both teams trying to wrestle control of possession but neither D saw too much action until Max Wilson's quickly taken free hit lead to Jonty black with time and space on the baseline, he expertly beat one defender and found an arriving Tom Ridley on his return from injury who deflected in to level the tie. 2 minutes later and Norwich had won a short corner and Elliot Hibell was able to match Birminghams efforts earlier and a well placed flick into the bottom corner saw Norwich quickly taken control of the match and go into halftime in the lead. HT 2-1 to Norwich.  
Norwich started the slower of the two teams and birmingham had them struggling to outlet from their own half. First birmingham missed a delfection at the back post and then won their 3rd short corner. Fraser Evans was equal to the drag down the middle. But their 3rd quick entry into the D bounced around and found a forward who managed to bundle the ball in for an equaliser. Thankfully Norwich were able to wrestle back control and with a Tom Bailey aerial into Cam Cooke a free hit was won, Elliot Hibell took it quickly and won a short corner with a foot. Elliot was then on hand to finish off the corner and a lovely drag into the postmans hip to take back the lead. Q3 3-2 to Norwich.  
All to play for entering Q4 and Cam Cooke almost sealed the deal as a Max Wilson turnover and run forward led to a reverse from Cam narrowly hitting the far post. Neither side was really able to build an attack with danger. And then a yellow for Birmingham with 5 to go really forced their hand and they had to pull their keeper to go for the vital points in their relegation battle. Norwich defended resolutely and with a Tom Ridley break into the D and empty net goal Norwich has sealed the 4-2 win and moved up to 4th in the table.  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 08/02/2025 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 08/02/2025 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 08/02/2025 
HEADLINE: Norwich finally get the better of their East Anglian rivals in national league! 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 3-0 win 
 
REPORT: Another chilly week. Thankfully there was some added heat from the East Anglian derby to keep the supporters warm.  
The story of Q1 was Penalty corners. 1st up were Norwich with a drag down the middle well saved and Jonty black on the rebound also saved. Harleston won their first PC but Fraser Evans was equal to the drag. 2nd PC of the game for Magpies and this time a slap saved by Harry Gill out quickly.  
Q2 begin with a quick break up the left, a lovely 1-2 from Louis Preston & Ben Chapman led to Ben chapman at the baseline playing a ball across to an arriving Cam Cooke at the backpost for a 1-0 lead. A 3rd & 4th PC for harleston but once again Norwich were good enough to keep the threat out and the lead remained. First a Harry Gill block at #1 runner and a Tom Harris rebound clearance before Louis Preston was on hand to save the 4th flick. Norwich looking to take control before half time saw a few almost chances go begging. First a ball to the backpost was just ahead of an arriving Ben Chapman and then a Max Wilson reverse across the face fell between 2 men and the scoreline stayed at 1-0. In the final minute before half time Jonty Black battled through multiple stick tackles in the D for the umpire to award a p flick, Cameron Cooke cooly slotted the flick home for a great 2-0 lead going into halftime. 
Q3 and Magpies came out fighting. Fraser Evans was equal to a reverse shortly followed by an unmarked delfection over the Norwich goal. A harleston green card killed harlestons momentum and James Mackenzie got clean through with only the keeper to beat, he got around but the Magpies keeper made a great recovering to make the diving stick save to keep the margin to 2 goals. A norwich PC as Q3 expired was placed narrowly wide and norwich couldn't quite seal the deal.  
Norwich continued their dominance into Q4, Elliot, Max and Jonty all making threatening D entries but not quite able to squeeze the ball into the net. Louis Preston then managed to beat the goal keeper and get taken out by the recovering keeper for another Norwich p flick. Cameron Cooke was on hand to finish another flick and secure his hat trick.  
An assured display. Played with pace and calmness and flowed from attack to defence to snuff out any harleston attack. A long awaited win in national league Vs local rivals and Norwich will look to ride that wave of positivity into an early and long away day to Birmingham next week. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 02/02/2025 VS CHELMSFORD 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 02/02/2025 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 02/02/2025 
HEADLINE: Men's First Team back after long Christmas break 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Chelmer Park 
RESULT: 1-4 loss  
 
REPORT: After a cold January and many frozen off sessions the mid season break had been turbulent, but the same was true for everyone so it wasn't expected to have too much of an impact on the return to league hockey. Norwich had one of their shorter away days to ease them back in and were met with a rarely seen bit of sunshine and 10° weather in Chelmsford after it having been -2° overnight, the UK weather always keeping you guessing. 
It was obvious both teams were eager to score from the off, playing long and playing fast and ready to get back to league hockey. After a few entries but nothing too threatening in the first 5 minutes, it was Chelmsford who broke the deadlock with a fluid move around the 23 and a reverse into the near corner. 2 minutes later and Norwich and equalized through an Elliot Hibell drag flick and the nerves after going down a goal early were settled. Both sides calmed their attacking threat thereafter and tried to bring some control to the back and forth affair, but neither could take charge. First Norwich threatened through a Louis Preston ball across the D that Cam Cooke couldnt quite get to and then Chelmsford won their first short corner, Fraser Evans was equal to it. Q1 ended 1-1.  
Q2 saw the battle for control continue, first Norwich threatened through Jonty Black with a ball round the keeper that the last defender just beat Max Wilson to and then Chelmsford won their 2nd panelty corner of the game and made it count to take the lead again but then Norwich broke straight the other way and Tom and Cam Cooke nicely worked into the D but just couldn't get past the keeper to equalize once again. With a minute to go in the first half Chelmsford scored with the same PC routine and took a commanding 2 goal lead to take the momentum in to half time in what had been an evenly battled first half.  
Q3 and the first match after Christmas showed, bodies and pace of play tiring before you'd usually expect and pass and first touches going awry. Norwich having the greater possession but neither side pulling much together. The quarter ended as it started, 3-1.  
Q4 still all to play for as both sides created chances. But 5 minutes in and Chelmsford has scored another penalty corner. This was likely to be the nail in the coffin. Norwich pushed and pushed, created a few chances but couldn't strong too many brutal attacks together that broke chelmsfords stout defence. The game ended 4-1. Not the best Norwich display. Chelmsford wanted it more on the day. Not the way Norwich would've liked to restart the campaign. They go again in 6 days time at home to try and regain some form and finish the season on a high.  
 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 01/12/2024 VS REPTON 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 01/12/2024 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 01/12/2024 
HEADLINE: Men's First team welcome league new boys and table toppers Repton to Taverham 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Taverham Recreational Facility  
RESULT: 1-1 D 
 
REPORT: After an end to end and hotly contested battle away from home to start the season, Norwich were more than ready for the same again. Last time out was a 3-3 draw and given Repton remained unbeaten since then Norwich were looking to go one better this time. 
3 minutes in and Norwich took the lead through a solo stunner from Max Wilson. Max won the ball at halfway and immediately eliminated the two nearby defenders, before carrying at speed from halfway around 3 defenders and reverse hit into the near post past the onrushing Repton goal keeper. A superb goal to take the early advantage. The rain began to fall but the Norwich chances continued, Ed Beake with a D entry but it came to nothing, Cam Cooke then had a near side reverse hit well saved and then Tom Cooke had a slap in towards the back post just fall short of Max Wilsons stick to finish off the move. Q1 ended 1-0.  
Q2 saw Repton start to threaten. Numerous counter attacks and a handful of d entries but Norwich defending stoutly and there was nothing to trouble Simon Dolan in net. The momentum repton was building was then stamped out after back to back green cards seeing them play with a man done for 4 minutes of the quarter. Norwich couldn't make the most of man advantage and the game remained 0-0 to enter half time. 
Q3 Repton continued where they had started Q2 before their cards and 2 minutes in they had won their first short corner of the game, Simon Dolan was equal to the drag flick and Tom Harris backed that up by clearing away the rebound. 3 minutes later and they had their 2nd corner but this one missed high left. Close to the end of the 3rd quarter and Norwich had won their first panelty corner, Elliot Hibell stepped up and his drag was well saved by a doing Repton keeper.  
Q4 and the game had got frantic, one side looking to close it out and the other to rescue a result. Repton won their 4th corner of the game and made it count with a drag sliding in between goalkeeper and post man to equalize. With 5minutes to go Norwich were ecstatic as they had thought Elliot Hibell had retake. The lead with a thunderous forehand hit into the near top corner, but it was disallowed for a foul earler in the play, much to the annoyance of players, bench and crowd after the celebrations. This was the last entertainment that the game had to offer and it ended 1-1. Another share of the points for the two sides and another absolute cracker of a watch. Repton maintained their unbeaten streak since being promoted into this lead and will go into Christmas in 1st place and the favourites for promotion. Norwich sit in 3rd and will focus on indoor for the next month before they go again in February.  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 27/10/2024 VS BEESTON (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 27/10/2024 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 27/10/2024 
HEADLINE: Taverham welcome National League opponents for the EH Cup first round 
LEAGUE: T1 EH Cup  
VENUE: Taverham Recreational Facility  
RESULT: 2-5 loss  
 
REPORT: A repeat of our cup semi final from last season. We were eventual 5-3 losers back in March after twice being on top in the fixture but 4th quarter dominance from Beeston saw them come from 3-2 down to go through and onto winning the cup vs Banbury at Lee Valley. We already knew it would be a tough fixture against Prem opposition. 
And this was confirmed in the first 14.5 seconds as Beeston marauded through straight from pushback and took the lead with a well taken finish from the top of the D. We quickly regained composure and kept Beeston out, only 1 PC win for Beeston being threatening in the remainder of Q1.  
The second quarter started strong for Norwich, Tom Cooke turned the ball over at halfway, he found Max Wilson on the break who cut outside and entered the D on the Left before he pulled back and found Ben Chapman approaching from the right, Ben got his shot off and the rebound fell to Cris Wardale at the P Spot to cooley lift the ball into the net to equalise the scores. Norwich followed this up shortly after with their first short corner of the game but the Beeston keeper was equal to Cam Cookes drag flick. Beeston showed their quality once more as they quickly played in and out of our midfield and defence to create a free opportunity to hit at goal and their lead had returned. Just before halftime they doubled the advantage with a ball across that go deflected into the path of the attacker at the back post who could finish into an open goal. 3-1 HT. 
The 3rd quarter started with Beeston winning their 4th penalty corner of the game, Simon Dolan was equal to it once more. Norwich then got Beeston worried with a superb turnover from Max Wilson to quickly find Ben Chapman who found Tom Ridley just outside the D for a quick carry and he expertly reversed into the side netting to reduce the deificit back to one goal with some good momentum going Norwichs way. A 2nd Norwich penalty corner was one, but a second Norwich penalty corner was saved by the Beeston goalkeeper. And then Beeston turned on the style once again, sliding in and around our midfield with some lovely one and two touch play and the player arriving in the D for a first time finish to go 4-2 ahead to close out Q3. 
Q4 was very even, both sides creating danger, first from Beeston with a penalty corner well saved by Simon Dolan then Harry Gill slapped a ball into Chris Wardale but he Beeston keeper was equal to it. Beeston won another corner but put this one wide, before Ed Beake won Norwich another corner, this drag beat the keeper but also beat the post wide left and then with time expiring Beeston managed to flick one high left for a 5-2 final scoreline.  
A great battle, the premier division class showing out, very similar tussle to the match from last year. 
 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 20/10/2024 VS BARFORD TIGERS (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 20/10/2024 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 20/10/2024 
HEADLINE: Another tight battle against familiar foe Barford Tigers 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Hamstead Hall Academy 
RESULT: 3-4 loss 
 
REPORT: After a narrow victory at home and draw away last season as well as only finishing above them on goal difference Norwich knew it would be a tough away day to Barford. But all looked up as Norwich dominated the early phases and had a collection of chances from Cam Cooke & Max Wilson all go narrowly wide. But after not troubling the scoreboard Barford managed to reverse the momentum after Simon Dolan on his first team and national League debut made a great 1v1 save, it unfortunately rolled to another Barford attacker who flicked past Harry Brown who was left on the line. Q1 0-1.  
Barford continued their momentum into Q2 with their first Penalty Corner of the game, Simon Dolan was on hand to make the save and keep the deficit to just to the 1 goal. Unfortunately Barford kept creating and a couple of minutes later they had doubled their lead. Thomas Cooke was on hand to reverse that after the won the ball under pressure and then found Max Wilson near the D for a reverse to bring the deficit back to 1 goal just before half time. 
Q3 was surprisingly mundane as both sides traded short corners but nothing really to trouble the score line. It ended the same as it started 1-2 to barford.  
The fourth quarter was then anything but mundane. Simon made a great save from Barford's 4th short corner before Barford won a Penalty Flick after a foul in the D and the Barford lead was back to 2. Norwich pushed hard to close the gap and in doing so left them open to a counter attack and a reverse hit into the heat post was enough to pull barford ahead 4-1. All this action was only the first 10 minutes. The final phases of the match were where Norwich finally showed up cameron Cooke found himself 1v1 against the Barford keeper after an excellent ball down the line from Ben Chapman and Cameron beat the final defender. Cam then lifted over the rushing keeper to kickstart the comeback. 3 minutes later Louis Preston found Cameron at the top of the D who moved the ball onto Max Wilson who flicked past the Barford keeper to bring the match to 4-3 with 3 minutes to goal. Norwich pushed hard but Barford's stout defense was equal to every final attack and the score finished 4-3. A few more minutes a Norwich would've have equalized but that's hockey and the early chances that didn't quite make it in in quarter 1 were to blame for the final score not being as the team would've liked. On to the EH cup and up against the Prem opponents who bested the team by two goals in last year's semi finals and went on to win the cup.  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 13/10/2024 VS UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM 2 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 13/10/2024 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 13/10/2024 
HEADLINE: Norwich victorious in a game where both teams relentless in their attack 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Taverham Recreational Facility  
RESULT: 4-2 win  
 
REPORT: A usually end to end game so Norwich had themselves prepared for a battle of stamina and who could keep going until the final whistle. That was true straight from the off as Birmingham pressed high and got the defence under pressure removing it around the back. They kept their nerve and that led to some early attacks for Norwich. Cam Cooke hit over the bar early on before Max Wilson followed up with a reverse just wide. Birmingham were struggling to build anything and Norwich quickly created a few more chances, first Max Wilson shot wide again, narrowly missing Chris Wardale at the back post before Tom Cooke won the first Penalty corner of the day, unfortunately the drag flick was saved by the Birmingham keeper and the scoreline remained 0-0 to end quarter one. Would Norwich come to rue the early misses? 
It was looking like they might as Norwich started the 2nd quarter doing down to 10 men and Birmingham stared to create. Fraser Evans being forced into a pair of saves as well as a near miss at the back post from Birmingham. Norwich saw themselves through the threats and managed to finally break the deadlock as Cam Cooke got a turnover at halfway, and quickly carried into space before find Max Wilson wide left who put a reverse across the face of goal to find Chris Wardale at the back post for a 1 goal lead. Unfortunately this didn't last long as 2 minutes later a Birmingham attacker beat 2 defenders down the baseline before finding an unmarked attacker at the back post to equalise just before halftime.  
Norwich started the 2nd half well with an early lead after Tom Irvine played a aerial over halfway to Louis Preston who brought the ball down on the left wing slapped a ball into the D for Chris Wardale to double his and Norwich's tally with a deflection past the rushing birmingham goalkeeper. Shortly after Birmingham had once again snuffed out Norwichs momentum with a quick reply. After winning their first penalty corner of the game they dragged high over the keeper to bring the scores level again. Thankfully Norwich followed suit with an immediate reply of their own. Cameron Cooke had a 1v1 with the keeper, he couldn't quite get it passed the keeper and the defender but he did win a penalty corner, and after a drag from Cameron he found Louis Preston to deflect the ball in and the lead was restored. Q3 ended 3-2.  
The forth quarter continued the end to end battle, Norwich had a corner well saved by the birmingham keeper before Tom Harris made a great save from a Birmingham corner of their own. With 5 minutes to go Louis Preston quickly won and took a free hit and found Max Wilson just outside this D, he lifted over one defenders stick and breezed past 2 more before reversing into the bottom right corner for Norwichs first 2 goal lead of the game. The game was not over and Birmingham continued to threaten and forced Fraser Evans into 2 great short corner saves.  
FT: 4-2 to Norwich. A great game as expected and one Norwich would've hoped they'd be out of sight earlier but still 3 points and a good win. 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 06/10/2024 VS HARLESTON MAGPIES 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 06/10/2024 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 06/10/2024 
HEADLINE: Another East Anglian Derby. Another Feisty affair. 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Harleston Magpies HC 
RESULT: 4-2 loss  
 
REPORT: Early phases were even. Both sides creating chances but nothing really threatening goal. Early end to end but no danger to troubling the score line was finally ended as the deadlock was broken by magpies. An open player on the baseline, found a forward at the near post and a quick spin at the baseline opened up an opportunity to squeeze a ball in the near post for the lead. 0-1 Q1.  
2nd quarter for much the same, a cagey affair were neither side really made their chances pay. Norwich had a re-awarded penalty corner as time expired and it nestled its way into the goal from a deflection just in front of the keeper but the goal was disallowed and the scorleine remained 1-0 to the home side.  
Q2 and Norwich started to tune possession into threats. 4 corners were won but the keeper or runner were equal to them all. A breakaway run from the 4th of those corners and magpies won a penalty corner of their own. Their flicker making sure of the finish with a drag into the top right corner. This doubled there lead and was pretty much the last play of the 3rd quarter.  
After an intense midfield battle but not too much in either D the fourth quarter had it all. Magpies quicky took a 3 goal lead after an almost baseline reverse into the top near corner. Almost instantly Norwich made their 6th penalty corner of the day pay as Louis Preston beat the keeper and flicked into an empty net. As James Mackenzie tried to get the ball out for a quick restart a magpies defender decided to try and stop him and pushes him away. The umpire quickly saw to it and with a red card he was off and magpies down to 10 men for the final 10 minutes. Norwich continued to press and we're caught on the break again. Another PC won. Another PC goal. But again almost immediately Max Wilson had gone up the other end and scored and it was  
2-4 with 5 minutes to go. Norwich had no keeper, 1 at the back, 5 forwards and threw absolutely everything at Harleston and they still couldn't beat the wall of Harleston defenders. Chance after chance kept getting close and a comeback was most certainly on. Harry Gill found Chris Wardale, just wide. Max Wilson looks to find Harry Gill, just ahead of him. James Mackenzie had an attempt to just wide. Save from Chris Wardale shot and then a yellow card each to finish. 11 cards in total, a hard day for the umpires and even harder for the TMO to keep track of the sin bin. A good performance from Harleston, it's never an easy place to go and get points but Norwich definitely felt as though they'd thrown a result away with the finishing and short corner conversion rate.  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 29/09/2024 VS CHELMSFORD 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 29/09/2024 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 29/09/2024 
HEADLINE: Old Foe Chelmsford visit Taverham  
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Taverham Recreational Facility  
RESULT: 6-3 win 
 
REPORT: Norwich welcomed a regular and friendly East Prem opponent in Chelmsford to Taverham knowing they had more than enough attacking threat to best them but they also needed to keep the goals out to win. Norwich soon asserted dominance in the affair as Cam Cooke had a close flick well saved by the Chelmsford keeper. Cam soon followed this up with a short corner win and flick but it was saved again by Chelmsford. Tom Cooke then made an excellent turnover just outside the Norwich D and quickly found Cam Cooke just into Chelmsford half who gladly beat 3 defenders and reversed into the opposite bottom corner from the left hand side of the D. This was quickly followed by a Tom Ridley turnover (making his home debut) and he passed into the D for Stuart Wardle who had his initial deflection saved but it popped up for him to volley in the rebound for a 2 goal lead. Q1 ended 2-0 to Norwich.  
Q2 started off quite nervy, Norwich not wanting to overcommit and throw away the lead and Chelmsford looking to end Norwichs momentum from Q1. Chelmsford won their 1st short corner of the game and it was well saved by Fraser Evans. Norwich then won their 2nd short corner and that was saved by the Chelmsford runner. Max Wilson has a reverse shot saved and Cam Cooke was on the end of 1/2 pitch aerial from Tom Cooke into the D before his shot slapped against the crossbar and the 2 goal Norwich advantage was maintained going into halftime.  
Q3 started with a Chelmsford charge. They won a flurry of Penalty corners, the first two Norwich were equal to but the 3rd they were not and the drag flick squeezed into the right hand side of the goal to add some spice to the match. This was a wake up call to Norwich and wake up they did. First Harry Brown got a turnover and found Cam Cooke at halfway, Cam then found Max Wilson in the D who reversed in to restore the two goal lead. Tom Ridley got a turnover in the Chelmsford 23 and found Max Wilson leading ahead who reversed again and it was saved but he found the rebound and hit in tightly form the baseline for a 4-1 lead. Max was then on hand again for a quick 1-2 with Chris Wardale and then reversed across the face of goal for a back post deflection at chest height for Chris Wardale and 5-1 lead. Late on in Q3 Hary Brown marauded through from the back and then expertly threaded a pass between two defenders to Chris Wardale who reversed through the rushing out keeper to put Norwich out of sight at 6-1. Chelmsford started to look like they might make a comeback after another short corner goal and then a flick given after a foot on the line from another short corner, but ultimately the 5 goal gap was too much to overcome and Norwich saw out the 4th quarter to secure their first win of the season.  
 

MENS 1ST XI - 22/09/2024 VS REPTON 1 (A) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 22/09/2024 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 22/09/2024 
HEADLINE: Intense End To End Battle Leads To a Well Fought Draw 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Repton School  
RESULT: 3-3 Draw 
 
REPORT: After 10 long weeks of preseason and 5 months since the last competitive fixture the squad were back in action. And, back on the road aswell with this side of Christmas having the joys of a collection of the longest away days to Repton, Barford, Nottingham & Banbury. First up were conference new boys Repton. Based at the school and with some former prem talent the team knew they'd be up for the fight and from the off that was confirmed. Repton dominated possession in the early stages and made it pay taking the lead after a scrappy bit of play at the top of the D fell to an unmarked forward who left Fraser Evans rushing out to cover a 1-on-1 and the Repton forward found the opposite bottom corner.  
After an unideal first quarter where the squad got a welcome back to competitive hockey they knuckled down and started to build some play. First a Max Wilson drive down the wing and entry to the D with a 1-on-1 with a defender, he managed to squeeze a shot away and it was well kept out. Then came a Max Wilson reverse that was also saved. Before new signing Tom Ridley won the ball just outside the Repton 23, he passed down the left wing to James Mackenzie making his national league debut and he found Ben Chapman at the back post for a deflection and equaliser. HT 1-1, a drastic improvement in play from Q1 to Q2 and the game was in the balance.  
Q3 was alive with action, both teams playing at a ferocious pace from D to D. Repton started the quarter with a flurry of Short Corners. Tom Harris equal to the first one, one wide and then a save from Fraser Evans for the 3rd. Louis Preston put Chris Wardale through 1v1 against the keeper but a chasing back defender was able to disrupt his shot and maintain parity. Repton played an aerial down the line and Norwich didn't shift across in time so the receiver found a player top D in space who reversed into the near bottom corner to take back the lead. Alex Scott played down the line to Cam Cooke who played in behind the defence to Max Wilson who had a shot saved. A few minutes later Max found himself in the D again this time 1v1 and the keeper saved again. Tom Ridley then stepped up with a reverse and once again it was well saved. Finally the attacking efforts paid off after Cam Cooke entered the D, moved the ball into his backspace away from the defender and rocketed one into the roof of the net. Q3 2-2.  
Q4 was much the same with more Penalty corners to Repton and more threatening breaks for Norwich. Thankfully Norwich scored early on in this quarter. Stu wardle in space down the left channel finding Tom Ridley inside who reversed across the face of goal, probably slightly higher than he'd like, as Chris Wardale had to get his stick on the end of a chest high ball but he gladly made sure it nestled into the goal for Norwichs first lead of the game. The Norwich goal threats continued as Ben Chapman broke away to result in a 1v1, debates of flick for a stick tackle from the keeper and at the very least should have been a short for the foot that was not given so Norwich battled on. Both sides pushing for a critical goal that would decide the game. Repton with 5 minutes to go won their 8th penalty corner of the game, and after the Norwich defensive unit had done so well to keep them out so far, a goal line clearance fell to a Repton player who managed to get it over the keeper and then the injector got to the ball before the postman could and it was volleyed in. 3-3 final score.  
A phenomenal battle to have witnessed. Both sides absolutely off their feet at the final whistle. Either side could have won it. Repton rueing missed penalty corners, Norwich rueing all of the attacks that the keeper was equal to. A welcome addition to the league, and we are all looking forward to the return fixture.