It was a decent weekend for Holcombe’s sides in the latest round of indoor games.
England Hockey Super Sixes Women’s Premier Division
Holcombe 3-2 Reading
Watton, Pittard, Zapulla
Holcombe 4-3 Sutton Coldfield
Maasdorp, Pittard, Zapulla, Watton
Holcombe 2-5 Slough
Pittard, Elliott
Holcombe 7-1 Buckingham
Elliott x2, Watton x2, Pittard x2, Maasdorp
Holcombe women returned to Phoenix in Telford for the second weekend of their Premier League Indoor Campaign on Saturday.
Some tough results against last season’s top four sides left the Kent side in a precarious position going into their final four games, knowing that they required two big results on Saturday to relieve the pressure that would inevitably accompany the final day’s proceedings.
Opening their weekend’s account against high-flying Reading, first-half goals from Ellie Watton and Emma Thomas cancelled each other out to send the sides in level at the break. A goal from Georgina Bathurst wasn’t enough for the Sonning Lane outfit however as further goals from Harriet Pittard and Flor Zapulla sealed a valuable victory for Holcombe as they showed resilience to twice come from behind.
Having put together a disciplined performance earlier in the day, Holcombe’s second game of the day came against an experienced Sutton Coldfield side. Goals from Clare Florida-James and Julie Stowe were enough to keep the Midlanders in touch as Leigh Maasdorp, Harriet Pittard and Flor Zapulla ensured Holcombe went into the break on top. A further goal from Ellie Watton nullified Sarah Parkinson-Mills’ response as Holcombe ran out 4-3 winners to secure a maximum 6 points from the day.
Such is the nature of the English Indoor season that, having gone into the weekend looking over their shoulder, Holcombe women went into the final day with an outside chance of making finals night at Wembley after other results had left the door to the top-four temporarily ajar.
Sunday morning saw Holcombe take the court against an accomplished Slough side with vast Premier League Indoor experience.
Having been level 1-1 at half-time, goals from Harriet Pittard and Steph Elliott weren’t enough as Slough eventually ran out 5-2 winners with goals from Dilly Newton, Charly Brydon and a hat-trick from Ashpal Bogal.
Going into their final game against Buckingham, Holcombe knew that a strong victory would give them the opportunity to steal that coveted forth spot on goal difference if other results went their way.
In their most ruthless performance of the campaign, Holcombe scored 7 goals to run out 7-1 winners with goals through Leigh Maasdorp and Captain Steph Elliott, Ellie Watton and Harriet Pittard scoring two-a-piece.
Having just been promoted to the Premier League last season, Holcombe maintained their top-flight status as they look to build on this campaign’s performances next season.
England Hockey Super Sixes Men’s Division 1
Holcombe 4-3 Brooklands MU
Lane x2, Trusler, Fox
Holcombe 7-5 West Herts
Lane x3, Bandurak x2, Fox, Andrew
Holcombe 4-1 Cannock
Bandurak x2, Lane, Field
Holcombe 12-1 Harleston Magpies
Bandurak x6, Field x4, Trusler, Lane
Holcombe’s men set about their task of righting the wrongs of last season in their quest to return to the Premier League with four straight victories in Nottingham over the weekend.
Fielding a small squad with a number of absentees, Holcombe methodically went about the process of picking up valuable points against the top sides in the division with an early victory over Brooklands MU. Being 3-2 down at half-time with a Richard Lane double answering goals from Thomas Russell, David Flanagan and Oli Clarke, Holcombe found their rhythm in the second period. They wrestled back the ascendency from their northern opponents, scoring twice through Harry Trusler and Dan Fox to break down a structured Brooklands defence and claim the points.
Later that afternoon, Holcombe challenged West Herts, who had opened their account with a massive 11-goal victory earlier in the day.
Slightly changing their defensive strategies, Holcombe conceded 3 early goals as their opponents carried their momentum from game 1. Having recognised the problem, Julian Halls’ time out reverted the Kent side back to their original defensive structure as they began to dominate proceedings. A Hat-Trick from Captain Richard Lane, a brace from Nick Bandurak and further goals from Dan Fox and Gareth Andrew saw the Kent side run out comfortable winners.
On Sunday, Holcombe faced Cannock in an early game that saw the struggling Midlanders look to pick up their first points of the campaign. In a balanced and disciplined performance, Holcombe ran out comfortable 4-1 winners with a brace from Nick Bandurak and further goals from Richard Lane and Robert Field whilst managing to save legs ahead of their final game of the weekend that afternoon.
Facing off against Harleston Magpies just a few hours later, Holcombe put on an exhibition of Indoor hockey as they ran riot to win 12-1. Nick Bandurak helped himself to six goals as Rob Field added a further four and Harry Trusler and Richard Lane rounded off the scoring.
Holcombe Captain Richard Lane was pleased with his sides’ performances in their first weekend of competition; “With fewer numbers due to injuries, the first indoor weekend was going to be a tough one. We set out to defend as a unit and be difficult to break down, which the lads executed well. As the weekend progressed, so did we, finishing off playing some excellent indoor hockey. Focus now moves to the final four games, with a top of the table clash against Beeston first up on Saturday.”
Playing with just 2 substitutes as opposed to some sides’ preferred utilisation of six, Holcombe are one of two sides left with a 100% record in the competition. They return to Nottingham Trent University next weekend to complete their campaign as they look to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Pictures supplied by Andy Smith.