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| Hockey 1st XI Team 'Blog' |
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Match One Wednesday 27th January V Parkside at Surbiton Hockey Club Eagle House 1 Parkside 7 Goal scorer: Adam Dewes This was our first match of the season and the score line reflects how badly the weather has impacted on our training; just one 20 minute session playing as a team meant that this was always going to be a tough ask and the match was made all the more difficult because Parkside had been on tour and our opposition had not been hit as badly as us by the weather. to the teams credit they went into the lead when Adam Dewes made a brilliant run from defence and running the length of the pitch opened the scoring to give us a the lead! Parkside came back strongly and a combination of lack of tackling and a lack of teamwork meant they turned things round and went into the second half with a 3-1 lead. Further goals in the second half gave them the final score line. A tough opening match from which the team can take some positive points in that they never gave up trying and as the game continued they began to get some idea of where they should be playing. Hopefully the next training sessions will help us to build on the good points and try and correct some of the areas of weakness. Those who played: Max Chawner-Davis, Eoin O'Kane, Adam Dewes, William Kirk, Patrick Dow, Oscar Gaff, Hamza Rubbani, George Joslin, Adam Robinson, Charlotte Earwaker, Thor Winkler von Stiernhielm, Reece Williams Match Two Wednesday 3rd February V Hoe Bridge at Goldsworth Park Eagle House 3 Hoe Bridge 2 Goal scorers: Adam Dewes x 2, Reece Williams This was a much improved performance with the side showing a much better defensive performance. With a change in formation and a back line that improved as the game went on we began to look as though we had had the opportunity to undertake some training. Like ourselves Hoe Bridge have struggled with being able to do some early season training and as a result the game was fairly even with both sides playing some good hockey. Having had several chances to go ahead we were behind just before half time with a well taken goal by our opponents, but much to the team's credit they came back and in the best passing move o the game they created the opening and Reece scored from a well worked situation. In the second half we had most of the chances and from two short corners Adam Dewes converted from a good push out from Adam Robinson. Throughout the match Adam Dewes was a tower of strength in the mid-field and at the back William and Oliver broke down most of the threats that came their way. There are still areas where we need to improve, but this was a much improved performance and resulted in a well deserved win. Those who played: Max Chawner-Davis, Eoin O'Kane, Adam Dewes, William Kirk, Patrick Dow, Oscar Gaff, Hamza Rubbani, Toby Barnard, Adam Robinson, Oliver Cook, Thor Winkler von Stiernhielm, Reece Williams
Match Three Saturday 6th February V Cranleigh on Cranleigh Astro Eagle House 3 Cranleigh 0 Goal scorers: Adam Dewes, Thor Winkler, Adam Robinson After the disaster of the first match, when we had played only 20 minutes of hockey, the side are beginning to show that they are capable of playing fast, attacking hockey. The back line of Oscar, Oliver, Will and Toby is now a much more secure unit and are working well together as they cover across the pitch. In mid-field there were outstanding performances by Adam Dewes and Eoin O'Kane who moved over to the left side and instantly gave us many more attacking opportunities. From the start of the game the side produced the passing game they had done against Hoe Bridge and the opposition found it difficult to cope with this and in addition Adam, Thor and Eoin were able to join the attack and help create chances. Up front Reece had his best game of the season so far as he hugged the touchline and so made himself always available for the wide pass. As the game progressed the side grew in confidence and it as from a quick counter attack that a penalty corner resulted and Adam Dewes was able to convert, the ball only being cleared when it had crossed the goal line. another attack allowed Thor to run through the Cranleigh defence and calmly score past their goalkeeper when on a one on one situation. The side continued to produce some outstanding attacking hockey and if it had not been for the superb performance by the Cranleigh goalkeeper the score line would have been even greater. Just before half time another well taken penalty corner resulted in Adam Dewes shot being saved, but Adam Robinson was on hand to flick the ball past the goalkeeper and across the line. The side turned round leading 3-0 and once again created several chances, but they were unable to convert any of their opportunities into goals. The second half was much more closely contested and as the side began to tire a little Cranleigh came more and more into the game. Max, in goal, made several important saves during the game. All in all the players should be pleased with the progress they have made this week and the success they have had as a result. Those who played: Max Chawner-Davis, Eoin O'Kane, Adam Dewes, William Kirk, Patrick Dow, Oscar Gaff, Toby Barnard, Adam Robinson, Oliver Cook, Reece Williams, Thor Winkler von Stiernhielm Match Four Wednesday 10th February V St. Andrew's, Woking at Wellington College Eagle House 3 St. Andrew's 1 Goal scorers: Patrick Dow x 3 On a very cold afternoon which was interspersed with snow showers the side played their last match before half term. From the start Eagle house seemed to have the better of their opposition and proceeded to put pressure on their opponents goal and this resulted in a number of penalty corners, but unfortunately we were unable to convert any of our chances due to some excellent goal keeping and a goal line clearance. It was from a resulting 16metre hit out that St. Andrew's launched a telling attack down field from an excellent through ball which resulted in the ball hitting the foot of an Eagle House defender, the St. andrew's players continued to 'play to the whistle' and with none of the defenders making a telling tackle the St. Andrew's attacker carried the ball into the circle and placed a well taken shot past Max in goal. Going one nil down seemed to rally the side and they continued to press for the equalizer; this eventually came from another penalty corner which St. Andrew's were unable to clear and Patrick swooped to place a well struck reverse shot past the goalkeeper and into the goal. Turning round on equal term was no more than the side deserved and they entered the second half determined to put their positional advantage to better use. A series of good attacking moves was broken up by some excellent defending by the St. Andrew's players, whilst at the other end Will kirk and Toby Barnard had outstanding games in our defence. Eventually the pressure told and from another penalty corner the St. andrew's players failed to play to the whistle, after a foot in the circle, and patrick again swooped to flick the ball past the goalkeeper and into the new. Further pressure came from the St. Andrew's team and from a break out by Adam Dewes he was fouled and had to go off injured. Whilst off the pitch the team held out several attacks and eventually, with the return of Adam we broke out and the ball was passed quickly by Eoin to Adam who then made a telling pass into the circle for Patrick to receive the ball and in one motion turn and fire the ball past the goalkeeper to put the game beyond doubt, at the same time he completed his hat trick. Despite a winning the match this was not as good a performance as those against Hoe Bridge and Cranleigh last week and this was dow, in part, to the players being too quick to look for faults in their own game and instead of lifting their head and getting on with it they allowed themselves to be over critical about their performance. A win is always a good way to end the first part of the season and it is to the team's credit that they think they can do better. After the start we had a few weeks ago they thoroughly deserve the rest half term will bring. Those who played: Max Chawner-Davis, Eoin O'Kane, Adam Dewes, William Kirk, Patrick Dow, Oscar Gaff, Toby Barnard, Adam Robinson, Oliver Cook, Reece Williams, Thor Winkler von Stiernhielm
Match Five Wednesday 24th February V Hall Grove at Wellington College Eagle House 1 Hall Grove 0 Goal scorer: Adam Dewes On the warmest match day of the term the side ran out for their penultimate match of the term. The side has now being playing together unchanged for some time and after their superb performance in practice on Monday they looked as though they were ready to produce another outstanding performance. However, although they still played some good hockey, it was clear that the half term break and perhaps the Common Entrance trials had taken something from their game. The score line does not really reflect the fact that we were in control for most of the game and apart from the threat from the opposition Number 7 we managed to prevent any real threat to our own goal. In the first half we did not play with the width we have done in previous games and there was not the support for Adam Dewes in mid-field to allow him to play the ball square and move into space. The result was that despite all out dominance and time on the ball we did not open up the opposition defence as we have done on previous occasions. In the second half their Number 7 had less of an influence on the game as the team stopped diving in on him and instead supported one another in the tackle. Despite several chances to score from penalty corners we failed to convert any of our chances and this was down to some good goal keeping and little bit of bad luck and our inability to look for the rebound off the keeper's pads. The deadlock was eventually broken when Ollie Cook picked the ball up in defence after making a good tackle and then moved up field before laying the ball off to Adam Dewes who drove into the circle and hit a superb shot past their keeper. Chances continued to come our way, but we did not capitalize on these and the game ended with just the one goal separating the two sides. Throughout the match Will Kirk, Toby Barnard and Eoin Kirk continued to ensure that down their flank excellent opportunities were created and opposition attacks were quickly snubbed out.
Those who played: Max Chawner-Davis, Eoin O'Kane, Adam Dewes, William Kirk, Patrick Dow, Oscar Gaff, Toby Barnard, Adam Robinson, Oliver Cook, Reece Williams, Thor Winkler von Stiernhielm
U13A TEAM MATCH Wednesday 10th March V Edgeborough at Wellington College Eagle House 1 Edgeborough 3 Goal scorer: George Joslin With half of the Eagle House first team unavailable due to a Rugby 7s tournament, an U13A team was selected to play against Edgeborough School at Wellington College. Although the team had not played together before, Eagle House were the quickest out of the blocks and had two early chances, which unfortunately weren't taken. Patrick Dow, playing as the high forward, always looked dangerous on the break and it was no surprise when one of his powerful runs unsettled the Edgeborough defence and left George Joslin free at the far post. George gave the keeper little chance to save with a clinical finish into the bottom left hand corner of the goal putting Eagle House into a 1-0 lead. However, Edgeborough were coming more and more into the match and only two excellent saves by Max Chawner-Davis kept the one goal lead intact. Some fantastic play by the three Edgeborough forwards, who were starting to link up well, created another chance which just went past the far post and kept the Eagle House defence busy. Although Eoin O'Kane was playing well in the middle of the pitch and starting a number of attacks, Eagle House were constantly under pressure trying to outlet the ball from deep defence and welcomed the sound of the half-time whistle. (HT 1-0) The second half started in similar style to the first with Eagle House on the attack. Following good work by Adam Robinson and Eoin, continued by Mohammed Rubbani, Patrick was set up with another chance on goal which was inches away from making the score line 2-0, but it hit the right post. This was as close as Eagle House came to a second goal and the pressure finally told at the other end as Edgeborough clinically finished a fast counter attack with a smart shot into the bottom left hand corner of Max's goal to tie the match up at 1-1. Although Eagle House continued to press for another goal it was clear that Edgeborough were becoming the stronger of the two sides and they took the lead following an intercept on the 25 yd line. A third goal just before the end was harsh on the U13As as the game was closer than the 1-3 score suggested, but Eagle House paid the price for missed opportunities especially when leading 1-0. (FT 1-3)
Those who played: Max Chawner-Davis, Eoin O'Kane, Patrick Dow, Oscar Gaff, Adam Robinson, Nathaniel Hatch-Johnson, Luke Orechoff, Ruari Hutchinson, George Joslin, Mohammed Rubbani, Tom Cracknell
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