It was a case of mixed fortunes for Holcombe’s two senior sides with the men drawing, whilst the women were beaten.
26/11/16 2pm
Investec Women’s National Premier League
Surbiton HC 4-1 Holcombe HC
Scorers: Surbiton HC: Gisell Ansley (x3), Rebecca Middleton
Holcombe HC: Ellie Watton
Sugden Road, Surbiton
In the final game of the National Premier League Outdoor season before attention turns indoors, second-placed Holcombe made the trip west to two-time champions and current league leaders, Surbiton.
The hosts were aiming to reach an unprecedented milestone as any result but a loss would guarantee a 50 game unbeaten streak in domestic league fixtures, a record stretching back to February 2014.
Holcombe, with just one loss throughout the first half of the season, sat 3 points behind the Sugden Road outfit in the knowledge that a win away from home had the potential to leave them top of the league as the winter hiatus took hold.
With the afternoon growing ever colder in the build-up to the 2pm start, it was Holcombe who were caught cold in the opening exchanges.
An early penalty corner for the visitors wasn’t enough to stem the flow of Surbiton attacks as the hosts immediately settled into their rhythm. With Surbiton’s defence comfortably set inside the Holcombe half, their high ball pace and probing runs had the Kent side on the back foot.
As ever in the modern game, it was the penalty corner routines of both sides that had a profound impact on the score line and two corners inside the opening 10 minutes were despatched by Rio Olympic Gold-medallist Giselle Ansley to convert the home side’s early pressure into a commanding lead.
With one finding the bottom right and the second flying into the bottom left, it took some brave running from Emma Trunks just minutes later to deny a first-half hat-trick as the two-time defending league champions dominated the opening period.
As the half wore on, Holcombe began to settle into the game and strung some passages together. With the Surbiton defence remaining largely untroubled throughout the rest of the first period, Holcombe struggled to progress up the pitch after the ball went into midfield as they limped towards half-time with a two-goal deficit.
The second half saw Holcombe play with the urgency that was so evidently absent in the opening 35 minutes as they began to make their mark on the fixture.
The umpires began the period with a flurry of cards to reduce numbers for both teams which allowed a foothold in the contest for the visitors.
As they dominated the early period of the second half, it was a goal against the run of play 8 minutes in that ultimately settled the result.
A long ball was fired into the Holcombe circle and, without a provisional touch, the ball was cleared by Aurora Mears in the Holcombe goal straight into the path of Rebecca Middleton who didn’t need a second invitation to dispatch her sides’ third of the afternoon into the bottom right corner.
With Holcombe still reeling and the game appearing to drift away, Captain Steph Elliott constantly looked lively in midfield as Leah Wilkinson and Emma Trunks remained solid in the back line to allow Holcombe a glimpse of a way back into the contest. Sarah Jones grew into the game as the half wore on and Holcombe began to carve out numerous advances into Surbiton territory but to no avail.
With 25 minutes to go, Coach Kevin Johnson pulled Mears to be replaced by Grace Lawes in goal as Holcombe continued to pour forward.
Another Holcombe penalty corner was deflected goal-wards by Ellie Watton in a smart variation for her fourth goal in 2 games to reduce the deficit but that was to be as close as Holcombe would get to their West London rivals.
A late burst down the left baseline of the Holcombe circle led to a penalty stroke being awarded against goalkeeper Lawes to the confusion of most in attendance. With the umpires apologising for the decision being incorrect post-game, the gesture didn’t help Lawes in goal who got a hand to the flick but couldn’t prevent Ansley from sealing her hat-trick five minutes from time.
“The score definitely reflects how we played” said Holcombe Captain Steph Elliott. “There wasn’t enough urgency in our play and we didn’t focus on the process of performing. We know we are a lot better than we showed today and that’s what is most frustrating. Credit to Surbiton; they’re a fantastic side and deserve all their plaudits but we really didn’t show up today. We’re excited to start our first Premier League Indoor campaign and that’s our focus now.”
Holcombe drop to third in the National Premier League after Saturday’s loss but the women now face-off in the National Indoor Premier League, with the first round of matches coming in the weekend before Christmas.
27/11/16 2pm
England Hockey Men’s National Premier League
Holcombe HC 1-1 Reading HC
Scorers; Holcombe HC: Sam Ward
Reading HC: Montgomery Jefferson
Holcombe Park, Rochester
After last weekend’s dramatic second half comeback away at third-placed Beeston, league leaders Holcombe returned home to Holcombe Park to face Reading.
Currently occupying 7th place in the league, Sunday’s visitors picked up their first win in 4 games last weekend at home, and were looking to build momentum ahead of their indoor campaign.
Having won their last 6 league games in a row, Holcombe were looking to extend their winning run and ensure they finish the league in pole position before the Christmas break.
In their 21st game in the just over three months, Holcombe immediately settled into proceedings, winning a penalty corner in the opening minute.
The young Reading side showed no fear in attack, winning a series of penalty corners of their own in response, leading to Sam Ward having to clear off the line from a Tom Carson drag-flick.
With Tommy Alexander in the Reading goal standing tall to a series of Holcombe chances, the game became littered with errors as the hosts failed to perform in the first half for the second week in succession.
Some disjointed play through their attacking six from Holcombe led to increasingly frustrated responses as they struggled to reach the heights that had seen then take hold of the top spot in the Premier League.
With a fantastic diving stick-save from Alexander and a glorious chance for Tom Carson after an unforced turnover from Holcombe serving as the only highlights, the game limped towards the interval at 0-0.
Some choice words from Holcombe Coach Julian Halls saw his side come out with the intensity required to wrestle the momentum into their behaviour and move their whole side deep into Reading territory however 10 minutes into the period and it was the visitors that took the lead under controversial circumstances.
With the ball being pushed into a Reading player who had fallen to the floor, play was allowed to play on as the away side broke to take the lead against the run of play with Montgomery Jefferson finishing from close range.
Holcombe sprang into action and responded shortly after. A long ball forward from Dan Fox was deflected high into the Reading net by the talismanic Sam Ward for his 10th goal of the season.
With 15 minutes remaining, the game began to open up; Holcombe continued to pile men forward as Reading looked to threaten on counter attacks in what was becoming a disjointed and desperate affair.
A series of balls flashed across the face of the Reading goal and a number of chances went begging as Holcombe hammered on the visitors’ door which remained held firmly shut by the inspired Alexander in the Reading goal.
With time running out, there was a final penalty corner for Holcombe but Alexander was there again to deny Ward from the top of the circle.
The result sees Holcombe sacrifice two of their 3 point lead in the National Premier League in a forgettable afternoon at Holcombe Park.
“We’re disappointed not to go into the Christmas break with another three points but, after a busy few months, we’re delighted to be top of the Premier League.” said James Steadman after the game.
Holcombe’s attention now turns to the Indoor season as preparations begin immediately to return to the top flight of England Hockey’s Super Sixes.
Pictures supplied by www.groutphotography.co.uk