Report submitted by Stourport Hockey Club

Despite battling hard in a tough match due to the weather for seventy minutes the ladies 4th XI, went down 3-2 against their hosts Bromsgrove in their Midland Division 2 match last weekend.

Stourport dominated possession in the first half their early passing and moving into space, in the first twenty minutes, left Bromsgrove trying to match their visitors pace and tenacity. 

This confident play by Stourport resulted in a clean goal by Nicola Beasley which raised their spirits and spurred Stourport on.

But, Bromsgrove came back after half time with a renewed vigour and despite a second goal for Beasley and some good defending especially from Stourport's player of the match Heather Harris, who made some good decisions in defence and listened to her teammates, however two second half goals by Victoria Burton and two from Anna Perrott sealed the points for the home side.

Stourport did begin to transfer the ball around more confidently towards the end of the second half.

The Men’s 2’s beat their visitors, Edgbaston 2nd's, 7-0 in their West Midlands Premiership match last weekend.

The home side were 2-0 up at half time after some good composure from Leo to beat the last defender and pass for Elliott to tap in his and Stourport's first, at the back post.

Stourport added a second before the break and there great counter attacking hockey, produced five more before the final whistle, with five of those goals coming from penalty corners, and the final one coming in the dying moments from ex Olton 1st team GK Alex Cook by tipping in the penalty corner.  The other Stourport goalscorers were Ben Harris x2, Phil Baldwin x2, Elliott x2 and a goal for ex-Olton GK Alex Cook on his club re-debut.

The Men's 3rd XI lost to their hosts, West Bromwich 1st, in last weekend's T3 South West Premier league match. The first half of this match was a scrappy affair as both of these sides got back into playing in what was their first league match of the season. Dan Baldwin produced some good saves in the Stourport goal, allowing helping the visitors to keep the scores level at 0-0 at the break.

The second half was more relaxed end to end affair, with Stourport unable to convert several good chances from breakaways and penalty corners. However, it was the home side that opened the scoring with a well taken deflection goal and was quickly followed up with a second fiercely driven reverse stick shot.

West Brom then secured the win with a third goal before the 3rd's captain David Knott scored a consolation goal, in the sixty fifth minute. Despite the result this match proved to be promising starts for a 3rd team playing against 1st team opposition and saw the junior players continue to develop and mature at this very competitive level.

Stourport's player of the match was Pete Moulam for his consist defending and marshalling of the Stourport defence against a quick forward line.

The men's 5th's made up for the previous weekends defeat by beating their hosts, West Brom, in the South West 3 league, 7-0 last weekend. Stourport began well with some good close passing which split the West Brom defence, allowing David Henderson to open his account for Stourport after only four minutes.

Stourport's second arrived through a swift break, and defence splitting pass by Luke Edwards which was deflected through the keeper's legs into the goal. The visitors continued to score freely as Henderson added a third and his second before the half time break.

Stourport came out strongly in the second half with Henderson scoring another brace from two short corners, the visitors weren't finished with their hosts though, adding a further two goals through Rob Claris and Robin Conway to complete the 7-0 victory. Stourport's player of the match was Ben for a super individual performance .

It was a case of another Saturday and another three points for Stourport ladies 2nd XI as they continued their Premier league season with a 6-3 victory over their hosts, Rugby & West Warwickshire 1st's last weekend.

After getting ready in their cars the ladies started the game in the pouring rain, and then found themselves a goal down, from a short corner, within the first ten minutes of the first hit back.

This was a wakeup call for the 2nd's that realised that it wasn't going to be an easy match.  After shouted instructions from the back Stourport organised their structure enforcing a press that prevented the home sides hits down the middle.  With some great picks by Leanne dribbling from Mimi, Harriet on wings and distribution by Alice Stourport's aggressive attacking play finally paid off, with a great goal from Gabby.

Despite Rugby pressing high and strong Stourport's backline still managed to deliver some fabulous balls forward.

Stourport added a second through Liv, before a lapse of concentration allowed the home side to level the scores at 2-2 after a swift ball down the middle evaded the Stourport defence.  Stourport still managed to take a goal into the break when Harriet added a third before the break. 

As the second half began so the driving rain returned, Stourport not deterred by this and not happy to sit back on their lead, pushed forward, looking for more goals.

The visitors achieved this with more goals, two of which came from Gabby, her hat trick goal being the pick of the lot. A superb reverse hit effort from the top of the 'D,' which sailed over the head of the keeper. Stourport added number six with shot from Captain Amy Miller.

The home side did pull another goal back to make the final score 6-3 but this victory is confidence boosting win for the ladies from Wyre Forest, who lost to the same side last season, and would've brought some cheer to those hardy souls that braved the rain on the sidelines.

Next week the ladies will be entertaining Northampton at 'The Kingsway,'

It was third time lucky for Stourport ladies 5th XI as they recorded their first win, of the new season, when three first half goals sealed a 3-0 victory over their visitors to 'The Kingsway' Harborne 5th's in last weekend's friendly.

Stourport were the stronger side throughout the opening minutes of the match as their excellent passing hockey, saw them sweeping through the Harborne team who were unable to get a grip on the match.

As the home defence looked on as virtual bystanders, their forward line continued to pile on the pressure, with the breakthrough arriving, via a shot from youngster Lottie, the lead was then extended to 3-0 when another youngster Mya scored a brace before the half time whistle.

Stourport had taken their foot off the pedal somewhat in the latter period of the first half, encouraging Harborne to push forward quickly on the break.

This was something that the visitors built upon in the second half as the once redundant home defence were called more and more into action. Stourport were still looking dangerous when they pushed forward, but were unable to add further to the score, still Stourport's performance will give them to go forward with confidence in the coming matches.