29/09/2026
Our season has officially begun! 🏑💜
After our first match against Scarborough ended in a walkover, our game against Newland HC was our first real test to see whether we’d managed to retain any of our hockey skills over the summer… or whether we’d simply forgotten how to play.
Thankfully, sunny skies greeted us on Saturday as we arrived ready for our 1pm pushback. The start was perhaps a little unsteady as we all attempted to rediscover our hockey legs after the summer break.
Some lovely passing kept us in the Newland half, but Newland eventually managed to break through and a well-struck slap shot into the left corner gave them an early 1–0 lead. We kept our heads up, settled into the game and gradually started to find our rhythm. Our persistence paid off when a beautifully worked short corner saw Sue Wardill fire the ball into the back of the net to bring us level going into half time.
After an invigorating team talk from our captain, we came out stronger in the second half and showed that practice really does make perfect. Another short corner presented the opportunity, and Sue calmly delivered again to put us 2–1 ahead!
Newland certainly weren’t going to make it easy for us, though, and we soon found ourselves having to organise our defence and dig deep to keep their attack at bay. Both teams were putting up an excellent fight, with plenty of pressure at both ends of the pitch.
Then came a moment of magic from our captain, Lorraine Wood, who found the back of the net to make it 3–1! At that point, our efforts were definitely starting to feel like they had been worth all those summer training sessions… although we still weren’t quite ready to breathe a sigh of relief.
And rightly so! Newland continued to push until the very end, but we held firm and finally heard that glorious final whistle. Our Woman of the Match this week was Ann-Marie who absolutely smashed her debut!
What an exciting start to the season! A brilliant team effort, some great hockey, plenty of running (some of it intentional), and most importantly, a very fun match to be part of. If this is anything to go by, we’re in for a cracking season! 🏑🎉
