9 out of 10

Last Saturday the club fielded ten teams and nine of them emerged with a win. Quite a day! Congratulations to all nine teams and commiserations to the Ladies’ 2nds on their narrow defeat against table-topping Norwich Dragons. The team are still nicely placed, however, just three points behind the leaders.

Illness kept me away from Weybread last Saturday depriving me of the chance of seeing 34 goals in five league matches – 30 for Magpies with just 4 against!

The Men’s 5ths got the ball rolling with their 9–1 win over Bury 5ths before the Men’s Veterans maintained their 100% record with a 8–1 win, also against Bury. Meantime the Ladies’ 1sts recorded their first home league win of the season beating Staines 3-2 (with two more goals from the prolific Angie Wheelhouse) to move into third place in the league. Later the Men’s 1sts maintained their 100% record with a comfortable 7-0 win over Ipswich 2nds with Andy Hipwell scoring his first hat-trick of the season and the Men’s 4ths beat Pelicans 2nds 3-0 to record their second win of the season with a hat-trick by James Legg, playing his first game since his recent enforced lay-off.

This Saturday the Ladies’ 1sts have the day off while the Men’s 1sts have their most testing game of the season away to Cambridge University. Meantime we have just four games at Weybread with the Ladies’ 5ths playing Norwich City 4ths (10.30am); the Men’s 6ths, after two encouraging wins, taking on Lowestoft Railway (12.30pm); the Men’s 2nds entertaining St Ives (2.15pm) looking to build on their improved form and the Men’s 3rds, who sit proudly at the top of their league, hosting UEA (4.00pm). The 3rds maintained their fine form last Saturday with a 2-0 away win over Ipswich 4ths during which Matt Brand continued his remarkable goalscoring run and Andy Smith scored his first goal since taking up nappy changing duties a few months back!

Good luck to all our teams in action this weekend including the Men’s Veterans who undoubtedly have the most daunting task when they travel to play fellow table-toppers Ipswich who already have the impressive goal record of 25-2 from just four games.

Harleston Fireworks Spectacular (Weybread, Friday 7 November 2008)
I take this opportunity to remind you of this annual event, hosted by HMHC, and which is run by a committee comprising Harleston Lions, Harleston Scouts and Magpies HC. Please click on the link on the Home Page of the club’s website for full details.

HMHC members are asked to please help once again with car parking, teas/coffees and stewarding. If you are able to help and have not already done so would you kindly sign your name on the board in the clubhouse this Saturday or else phone James Smith on 01379 898767.

News and comments in brief:

Congratulations to goalkeeper Alistair McGregor (GB, Scotland & Loughborough Students) on being named by Great Britain Hockey as its Athlete of the Year 2008. After his performances in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Chile and then in Beijing there is no doubt that he is a most worthy winner.

Have you paid your HMHC club subscription yet please? To avoid the dreaded Name and Shame list please do so this weekend.

Since the shameful decision, announced in April 2007, to ditch the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes it was inevitable that the England Hockey would eventually be looking for a new home for its offices and ‘sometime in the spring of 2009’ the offices will be moved to Bisham Abbey where the South Regional Development and Performance staff are already located.




With best wishes and kind regards to all members, supporters and friends of the Club.