Results

COLTS XI - 13/06/2021 VS CAMBRIDGE CITY U18 (A) 
 
TEAM: Colts XI 
DATE: 13/06/2021 
FIXTURE: Colts XI VS 13/06/2021 
HEADLINE: Magnificent 11 
 
Venue: Cambridge University  
EHA U18 Cup 
Result: Norwich City 2 - 5 Cambridge City 
 
With the air temperate 27 degrees and the pitch temperature well north of 30 this was always going to be a tough task for the bare 11 hero’s that made up the City team. It would be unfair on those that battled in the heat to overplay those that either called off on the day or were unable to play due to other commitments but as you’ll see in the report below an extra player or two would have have made such a difference. 
 
City started really brightly with excellent work down the left from Kit Scott, Monty Platt and Ethan Rushton putting the hosts under early pressure. Jonty Black, Monty, Freddie Paterson and James Cross linked intelligently in midfield and it was great to see City retain possession with calmness and control against a side boasting numerous performance centre players and and England international. Whilst the first 15 minutes was largely dominated by City, it was notable how often Cambridge were able to roll substitutes to stay fresh and hence maintain intensity throughout the game. A good open play move saw Cambridge take the lead on 15 minutes which added focus to the brief team talk at the quarter break (due to the heat). 
 
City levelled the score after 22 minutes thanks to a tremendous move down the left - a precision pass from Monty found Kit whose skilful drive and pass found Ethan who crossed for younger brother Corey to slide in. Game on. On a day where City needed the rub of the green to go their way given the lack of subs it was a little harsh when a good interception by Cameron Husband bounced to the opposition and resulted in a goal just before half time. 
 
With City looking to conserve energy they moved the ball very well around the back with Joseph Roy and Elliot Fox mixing slow build up and insightful play in equal measure. As the game wore on the hosts bigger squad saw them create more pressure and allowed Bobby Rash to demonstrate what a fine keeper he is with a string of fine saves. Before you start thinking this resulted in a backs to the wall type performance you’d be wrong, the home keeper and defence were called into action on numerous occasions. Cambridge extended their lead in the 46th minute with one of those badly struck but very lucky penalty corners and again on 54 minutes with a well worked open play goal. This fourth goal was a real ‘wind out of the sails’ moment as until then City had looked really dangerous with Freddie Paterson marauding down the right and linking up really well with the midfield of James, Jonty and Monty and ever-willing front line of Corey, Ethan and Kit. Undeterred City, then scored an excellent goal with Jonty driving the ball out of defence down the left, followed by a lovely pass on the run to Kit whose turn and pass enabled Ethan to turn the keeper and make it 4-2. Seeds of doubt started creeping into the Cambridge team who then “managed” the game well from side line and free hits. Perhaps as if to rub salt in the wound a tired pass from the back was intercepted and resulted in a goal with just 3 minutes to go. As if to epitomise City’s never say die attitude Corey Rushton was millimetres away from making it 5-3 in the dying seconds, and Jonty played the final quarter with a split shoe (upper came away from the sole)!! 
 
In a match where every player fought for every ball, consistently made the right decision and quite simply never gave up despite the odds being stacked against them it seems odd to single out one player but through his dynamic leadership, fantastic communication (particularly with his defensive partner Elliot and the midfield) and his calmness under pressure, Joseph Roy was named man of the match. 
 
So with that ends a season we’ll remember for some excellent hockey and one we hope never to repeat (global pandemic). As ever, a massive thank you to the hard work put in by all the players and our fantastic group of parents without whom, in this season of all seasons, we simply would not have been able to train or play. For those having a break from hockey, enjoy the rest and I look forward to seeing you later in the summer for pre-season trading and, of course, good luck, to those moving away for the next chapter in their educational or work development. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

COLTS XI - 23/05/2021 VS BURY ST EDMUNDS (A) 
 
TEAM: Colts XI 
DATE: 23/05/2021 
FIXTURE: Colts XI VS 23/05/2021 
HEADLINE: City slickers progress 
EHA U18 Boys Cup 
Venue: Culford School 
Result: City 10 - 0 Bury 
 
Report: 
After an even first few minutes City took the lead in the 5th minute following a dynamic run down the left by Ed Taylor who slipped the ball to Ethan Rushton on the base line who then laid it back to Rafe Lochore who hammered it into the roof of the net. Just 3 minutes later a James Cross flick from a penalty corner made it 2-0. Rafe then made it 3-0 following excellent hassling by Freddie Paterson leading to Rafe intercepting the ball, beating a defender and hammering a reverse shot into the net. James Cross then repeated his penalty corner prowess to make it 4-0 after 18 minutes. A penalty corner variation allowed Jonty Black to make it 5-0 after 24 minutes immediately followed by a delightful cross field aerial from James Cross to Rafe who then crossed for Ethan Rushton to deflect it in to make it 6-0. 
 
Whilst the above makes it sound like the first half was total forward domination, City actually played some excellent high percentage hockey with the ball moving through defence and midfield with to slice open the heart of their valiant opposition. 
 
As you would expect, City continued to dominate the second half but were indebted to Elliot Fox, Joy Roy, Alex Tomkinson, Rocco Iaccarino and Bobby Rash to ensure we maintained a clean sheet. After 52 minutes Rafe completed his hat trick with a ‘dribbler’ past the hapless keeper. Ethan then made is 8-0 following some fantastic determination from Rob McCall, who won the ball in midfield, rode a couple of challenges then found the killer pass to Ethan who calmly slotted his second. Just 6 minutes later Ethan had his own hat trick following a slick pass from Jonty to Joe whose surgeon like injection into the D allowed Ethan to reverse into the bottom corner. And finally with 2 minutes left on the clock, Joe Roy completed the rout with a simple tap in thanks to a perfect pass from Elliot Fox following tremendous run by Rocco down the left. 
 
The only downside to an excellent day was Freddie Paterson’s early departure as a result of back spasms - fingers crossed he’ll be OK for the next round. 
 
On a day of excellent performances, Ethan Rushton was named player of the match. 
 
 
 

COLTS XI - 01/11/2020 VS BURY ST EDMUND U18 (H) 
 
TEAM: Colts XI 
DATE: 01/11/2020 
FIXTURE: Colts XI VS 01/11/2020 
HEADLINE: Scintillating Exhibition  
EHA U18 Cup 
VENUE: Taverham 
RESULT: NCHC 8 - 0 Bury 
 
REPORT: 
The match started at a fast pace with Bury getting a relatively early shot on target that was comfortably dealt with by Bobby Rash. Norwich then went up the other end of the pitch and were awarded a penalty flick just as Jonty Black slapped the ball into the back of the net. Undeterred Freddie Paterson put the flick away well to make it 1-0 after just 4 minutes. City then settled into a good rhythm and scored three open play goals with Rafe Lochore, Monty Platt and Freddie Paterson benefitting from great creative interplay from Ethan Rushton and Robert McCall to make it 4.0 at half time.  
 
The second half started slowly but City then turned on the style with their passing and movement a joy to behold almost in spite of City’s managements sometimes creative substitutions. City turned defence into attack when Alex Tomkinson reacted well following Bobby Rash’s save from a Bury penalty corner to release Ethan Rushton on the right wing who calmly crossed for Freddie Paterson to complete his hat trick. In as much as the fifth goal was counter attacking at its best the sixth was pure individual skill from Ed Taylor who thwarted a Bury attack inside his own 23, ran the length of the pitch with astonishing 3-D skills, dummied a pass to Monty before hammering the ball into the back of the net. 6.0 
 
The crowd were then treated to some end to end hockey as Bury valiantly attempted to find a consolation goal only to be denied by the indefatigable Bobby and an ever changing but equally steadfast midfield and defensive line including Cameron Husband, Elliot Fox, Rafe Lochore and Ethan Rushton. In the final quarter City turned on the style with Joseph Roy, Rio Iaccarino, Rocco Iaccarino and Jonty Black slicing through the heart of Bury’s midfield like a hot knife through butter. Moments later Rafe almost emulated Ed’s solo goal before a dazzling passing move saw the ball go from Rocco to Joseph to Jonty to Ethan to Jonty to Rafe who hammered it into the bottom corner. 7-0. Whilst much of the second half had seen attacking players have a turn in defence it was somewhat fitting that the starting centre back, Elliot Fox, should complete the scoring from a penalty corner during his cameo as a centre forward. 8.0 
 
Whilst the score line emphasised City’s dominance Bury created a number of good chances but thanks to good defending and excellent defensive teamwork across the whole pitch they were unable to convert any of their opportunities. Ultimately a fantastic advertisement for youth hockey and players playing for each other as a team. 
 
Bobby Rash was named man of the match.