Reports submitted by Stourport Hockey Club

Ladies section

Stourport Ladies 3rd XI 2-2 University of Birmingham 3rd XI:

Stourport ladies 3rd's travelled to take on University of Birmingham 3rd's where they fought out a 2-2 draw in the Midland Division 2 last weekend. It was Stourport who took the early advantage, with a goal by Harriet** who strolled into the hosts 'D' and fired in her shot after only ten minutes. Birmingham pulled a goal back but Stourport entered the break ahead when their pressure on their hosts defence paid off, as Lucy** pounced connecting with a free hit, at the back post, on twenty seven minutes. Despite some fine saves by Captain Lucy Tolliday, and some superb defensive play by Stourport's player of the match Georgie Rees, Birmingham equalised just before the end of the match. However, before the full seventy minutes could be played to the distress of the captains, the match was finished early and declared a draw, with the teams having to make way for a National League match. Stourport can be proud of the commitment and passion that they put into, what will be their last match of 2020.

Stourport Ladies 4th XI 0-6 Worcester 2nd's XI:

Hosts Worcester 2nd's, scored two early goals against their visitors as Stourport ladies 4th XI went down on their travels in the Worcestershire Division 1, last weekend. Worcester's first two goals were scored within five minutes of each other and from then on it was a difficult match for the visitors, as their hosts were strong and assertive on the ball. Stourport were better in the second half their scanning for players and better link up play by a predominantly team of youngsters, but they weren't strong enough on the ball and were unable to get past a strong Worcester defence who easily dominated possession. Stourport, drop down to sixth in the table, after a match which gave the Stourport players an opportunity to see where they play best in a high pressure environment.

Stourport Ladies 5th XI 1-3 Bromsgrove 5th XI:

The ladies 5th XI unbeaten run came to an end when they went down 3-1 to their hosts, Bromsgrove 5th's XI, last weekend's Worcestershire 3rd Division match. The ladies gave their usual 100% in this tough away match, but despite some good defending from Ruth Darling and Di Walton, Bromsgrove managed to score three, with only a goal by youngster Emily**, following a great cross from Jean Senior, in reply for the visitors. There continued to be bright spots for Stourport despite the score line, in the form of their youngsters continuing to play and settling in the side well and the performance of  Stourport's player of the match Keira** who made some amazing saves to deny Bromsgrove.

Men's section

Stourport Mens 1st XI 3-3 Telford & Wrekin:

Stourport's Men's 1st XI travelled to take on Telford & Wrekin where they played out a 3-3 draw with their hosts in this Midlands 1st Division match. The Stourport scores were Stourport's player of the match and Captain Andy Cavendish, who scored a brace and Joe Schubert.

 

Stourport Mens 4th XI 3-1 Harborne 4th XI:

Three first half goals were enough to seal the points for Stourport men's 4th XI when they entertained the early league leaders Harborne 4th's last weekend, in the South West 1 league. Harborne came to 'The Kingsway,' having won all of their previous four matches comfortably. Stourport started strongly pressing Harborne hard causing the visitors into making defensive errors, which Stourport capitalised with some clinical finishing, by Pete Gibbins, leaving the home side three goals up after 25 minutes, with Harborne only managing to reply once before the break. The second half was a more even affair with Stourport able to give their impressive junior players more pitch time and valuable experience against a strong side. 

 

Stourport Mens 5th XI 2- 0 Bromsgrove 5th XI:

The men's 5th XI beat their hosts Bromsgrove 5th's, 2-0 in their South West 3 league match, last weekend. After a sluggish start and after withstanding some heavy pressure by their hosts, which saw Stourport's player of the match, Lewis Stokes, make some great saves, the visitors were a goal ahead by the break following a penalty corner which Ben** converted.  Some excellent hockey by Stourport in the second half lead to a long ball forward from Rob Claris, which found Alastair McIntyre unmarked,  slipping a defender McIntyre made a reverse stick pass to the unmarked Jack** who scored at the second attempt at the far post. 

 

Stourport Mens 6th XI 1-3 Kingswinford 2nd XI:

Stourport men's 6th XI entertained a Kingswinford 2nd XI side that hadn't conceded a goal before last weekend, South West 4 league match. This strong Kingswinford team came up against a Stourport side that put in a great team effort, and only took the lead in the twentieth minute, before consolidating their lead early in the second half, before Stourport pulled a gaol back through Stu Peterson from a short corner. Kingswinford weren't to be denied though and despite the best heroic efforts of Kevin Hughes, Bruce Baron, and Mike Taylor, the visitors added a third before the final whistle.

 

* Name of Stourport player not known at the time of writing.

** Names without surnames are junior players