NEWSLETTER

Sunday 15th-22nd March 2015

Club Announcements

Welcome back to Marden Russets Junior Section’s newsletter, which is emailed to members, families and friends every week. Photos of matches or any hockey-related issues are always welcome. News needs to be with Carol Ridge: familyridge@fastmail.co.uk by 9am every Tuesday morning. You can also view the newsletter on the Marden Russets website in the Juniors section, along with archive copies from earlier in the season, club registration forms and this year’s Junior Brochure: http://www.mardenrussets.com/default.aspx?id=4 Distribution is handled by Junior Administrator, Joy Henson: russetsmarden@yahoo.co.uk

County Successes

Last Sunday Marden’s U10A Girls finished runners-up in the Kent County Championships, beating teams from many bigger clubs, and our U10B Girls team also put in an amazing performance, only losing to Canterbury As. On the same day an incredible seven boys from the same Marden U14 Boys’ squad represented their county: Guy Butler-Felton, Ollie Addis, Louis Ridge, Sam Jones, Sam Wheatley (Kent U13 Boys) and Ben Fox and Finn Swaine (Kent U14 Boys).

Sunday Summary – The Week That Was

Clive Felton, U10A Girls

Kent Championships

Marden Russets went into the tournament knowing that they had the toughest group and that they

would need to win the group if they were to avoid the favourites, Canterbury, in the semis.

Our first group match was against Sevenoaks which we drew 0-0 so now we knew goal difference

would decide the group, providing that we won the rest of our matches. We beat Tunbridge Wells 2-0

but then the girls had to dip deep to grind out a 1-0 victory over Canterbury Bs with two minutes left.

Further dominant victories over Folkestone and Canterbury C meant that we were group winners.

A semi with BromBeck followed and the girls played their best hockey of the day to win 4-0 and qualify

for the final and the Regionals - a great effort. We now expected to face Canterbury but they had lost

on strokes to Sevenoaks in their semi final.

Sevenoaks, buoyed by this surprise win, started the final in great form and before we knew it we were

2-0 down. The girls rallied and had a few chances but in chasing the game we unluckily conceded a third

goal to the worthy winners on the day.

A great day and well done to all the squad. Thanks also to the parents for all their support.

Amanda Payne-Cook, U10B Girls Kent County Championships

Marden Cox Team: Sophie Shenton (GK), Sophie Ford, Kiera Sullivan, Maddy Johnson, Jemma Payne-

Cook, Evie Hemming and Aimee Merritt

Results: Sevenoaks B 0 - 0 Marden (D), Marden 0 - 3 Canterbury A (L), Marden 0 - 0 BromBeck (D),

Anchorians 0 - 0 Marden (D), Marden 1 - 0 Canterbury C (W); Won 1, Lost 1, Drew 3

Despite the bitterly cold damp weather the girls kept focused and played their hearts out.

Unfortunately, due to illness the team were down by two players, so the girls had no reserves to roll

on. We were extremely strong in defence thanks to Sophie S kindly offering to borrow school kit and go

in goal, having been on the pitch all season, with the support of Sophie F and Kiera. Maddy played

midfield with Aimee left wing and Evie right wing, Jemma forward, which proved a good combination.

A credit to the team to only let in three goals by Canterbury A, definitely our toughest match and only

loss.

The parents and supporters encouraged the girls throughout and were so proud that they kept three

games to a draw. Then came our goal in the last game in the last minute, put in by Jemma but backed

by the rest of the girls. The team and parents were ecstatic. Well done girls, great team spirit and

excellent results. Particular thanks to Jo Ford for ushering the girls and organising the parents to the

correct pitch on time, as I was umpiring in between.

Andrew Knatchbull, U16 Girls

The U16 Girls had a challenge of perfecting the slap stick skill. This we practised in twos, then went on

to a drill with the ball coming into the penalty flick spot and being slapped in by an incoming player.

After this the girls had an exercise on ball retention across the half pitch. Sounds easy, however a

boxed-off area in the centre of the pitch was an exclusion zone which the ball or player couldn’t enter.

This made the girls think about running into space and the use of the square pass to use the width of

the pitch. After this we moved onto a mixed game with the U14 Girls and it was good to see the age

groups mixing it up, especially as many will play together next season.

Sunday Schedule – The Weeks Ahead

22nd March 2015

Under 7 & 8 Mixed - Training at Marden 9am-10am (Presentation 10-10.30am) Under 9 & 10 Girls - Training at Marden 10-11am (Presentation 11-11.30am) Under 9 & 10 Boys - Training at Marden 10-11am (Presentation 11-11.30am) Under 11 Girls - Match v Holcombe (Away) No training for those not in the match

Under 12 Girls - Kent Championships at Tonbridge

No training for those not in the match

Under 12 Boys - Matches v Sutton Valence & Maidstone - Marden 11am-12.30pm

No training for those not involved in match Under 13/14 Girls - Training at Cranbrook 9.30-11am

Under 14 Boys - Match v Burnt Ash (Away) Training for those not involved in the match at Cranbrook 9.30-11am

Under 16 Girls - Match v Herne Bay at Marden 12.30-2pm

No training for those not involved in the match

Under 16 Boys - Mercian Cup Match v Wimbledon (Away) Goalkeepers - No Training

Rest of the Season

Most age groups finish hockey this Sunday and coaches will communicate directly with

those teams who still have outstanding fixtures:

U16 Girls will be training on 29th March 29th 9.30-11am at Marden and then have a

match against the Ladies Team on 12th April 11am-12.30pm. U16 Boys’ match dates to

be confirmed against Holcombe and The Coaches.

There will be a newsletter next week – please could all coaches and supporters take

photos of their teams and Young Leaders so that we can use them for next year’s

brochure? Many thanks.

Remember to check the location for training and don’t forget to visit the Container Café

and to welcome our opposition by supporting Match Teas in the Clubhouse!