It was a mixed weekend for Holcombe Hockey Club’s top two sides.
15/10/16 4pm
Investec Women’s National Premier League
Holcombe HC 0-1 East Grinstead HC
Scorers: Holcombe HC:
Slough HC: Zoe Burrell
Holcombe Park, Rochester
With last week’s home victory catapulting Holcombe to the early summit of the National Premier League, Saturday’s clash with East Grinstead at Holcombe Park provided an opportunity to extend their lead as well as maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
East Grinstead, sitting just 2 points behind in fourth, pushed the hosts right through to the final game of last season for the coveted final playoff spot and have enjoyed another strong to this campaign.
After naming an unchanged 16, Holcombe suffered a massive blow mid-week as the resolute and ever-present full-back Emma Trunks suffered a displaced fracture to her finger, ruling her out for the foreseeable future. With Coach Kevin Johnson opting to carry the remaining 15 through to the game, the home side had their work cut out to match the intensity of their opponents.
Holcombe began the stronger of the two sides and dominated the early exchanges. Aggressive out-letting from Leah Wilkinson in the back line released fellow Wales International Sarah Jones on a number of occasions but the home side failed to convert a number of visits to their opponent’s 25.
East Grinstead always looked dangerous on the counter attack and 20 minutes in produced a fine save from Aurora Mears as the Holcombe defence were overrun on an efficient break.
A number of penalty corner opportunities for Holcombe went begging as the half wore on and it wasn’t until 33 minutes in that the game really burst into life.
A penalty corner to the visitors was played back to the injector and a mistimed ball across the face of goal was eventually bundled into goal with Zoe Burrell taking the credit.
With the hosts unfortunate to be behind at the break, a rallying second half saw them dominate possession, creating a number of chances in the final third of the field. East Grinstead grew back into the second half and wrestled a foothold in proceedings.
Chances continued to pass by the Holcombe forwards and even a last minute penalty corner wasn’t enough to salvage a point as a tenacious East Grinstead away performance saw them claim all 3 points to leapfrog Holcombe into second place with a victory that abruptly ended the Kent side’s unbeaten start to the season.
Speaking after the game, Holcombe captain Steph Elliott said; “East Grinstead’s always a tough game but we didn’t pay attention to the minor details which affected our ability to attack freely. We didn’t take our chances which ultimately cost us but it’s important that we experience how to lose together as a group to develop how to bounce back and gain a reaction next week at Canterbury”.
Next week, third-placed Holcombe travel to local rivals Canterbury on Saturday night at 4pm in the first of a mouth-watering double header with the Men’s 1’s at Polo Farm.
15/10/16 6pm
NOW:Pensions Men’s National Premier League
Holcombe HC 3-1 Hampstead & Westminster
Scorers; Holcombe HC: Nick Bandurak, Richard Lane, Sam Ward
Hampstead & Westminster HC: Mike Watt
Holcombe Park, Rochester.
Fresh from their European exploits last weekend against the continent’s elite, Holcombe returned home to face National Premier League leaders Hampstead and Westminster on a rainy Saturday night at Holcombe Park.
With the focus now returning to the defence of their regular season title, Holcombe named the same 15 that last competed in domestic competition at home to last season’s champions Wimbledon.
The visitors had enjoyed a fruitful off-season, recruiting at will to accompany new player-coach Kwan Browne and subsequently enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season that saw them as the early pace-setters going into the clash.
The contest opened at a frenetic pace with both sides looking to press hard and force early turnovers. As a result, an end-to-end opening period saw an exhibition of top quality hockey for the packed crowd, seeing chances at both ends.
An early yellow card for the visitors allowed Holcombe to dominate the early play. 10 minutes into the game, Nick Bandurak pounced on an errant pass from Richard Smith to drive home a reverse-stick shot from the edge of the circle and give the home side the early lead.
Hampstead and Westminster began to grow into the contest with Mike Watt and Kwan Browne looking particularly dangerous.
21 minutes into the contest and it was Watt who equalised for the visitors. A strong receipt in the Holcombe circle was followed by a sharp turn and explosive shot into the top right corner that stunned the home crowd.
Two penalty corner chances went begging for the home side before a moment of inspiration from the captain re-gained the lead. Richard Lane carried forward from 35 yards out, eliminating his man before rifling a shot into the top left corner from the far right shoulder of the circle.
Both sides searched for more goals before the break and Holcombe were indebted to Great Britain captain Barry Middleton who brilliantly saved a penalty corner on the line from the prolific Matt Guise-Brown just before half-time.
The second half saw Hampstead and Westminster assert themselves on the game and move the ball around well at pace. The typically organised outfit minimised clear-cut opportunities for the home side but with some typically resolute defending, Holcombe protected George Pinner well.
As the half wore on and frustrations grew, the visitors replaced goalkeeper David Kettle for a kicking back in search of the equaliser with 4 minutes remaining.
Holcombe held strong before a long Iain Lewers aerial released Sam Ward who broke into the circle to win a penalty corner. Without a goalkeeper in place, Ward was on hand to convert high into the middle of the goal and secure a valuable 3 points for the Kent side against the early league leaders.
Vice-captain Dan Fox said of the game; “Hampstead and Westminster are a really strong outfit this year and it was undoubtedly one of our toughest games of the season. The game itself was really enjoyable but a battle nonetheless.”
Next weekend, Holcombe travel to local rivals Canterbury to conclude a blockbuster double header with the ladies 1st team at Polo Farm. With a 6pm start time on Saturday night, there’s sure to be a great atmosphere under lights.
@BandurakWriting www.nickbandurakblog.wordpress.com
Pictures supplied by www.groutphotography.co.uk