NEWSLETTER

Sunday 22nd

February-1st

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

Coaches’ Jacket Sponsorship by FENICS

Last Sunday our lead coaches were delighted to trial our new club coaching jackets, which have been kindly sponsored by FENICS. The jackets carry the Marden Russets and sponsor logos, and say COACH on the back plus the coach’s initials on the front. One of the most important reasons for doing this was so that parents and opposing teams at away games could identify us in the event of any emergency. Huge thanks go to Richard Brunt who arranged the sponsorship. We hope you agree that they look great and will help increase the pride we all share in our club.

We have many other ideas for sponsorship, and would love to hear from members who can either directly, or through other relationships, both help the club and gain significant PR benefits from the contact with our 300 juniors and parents and promotions in the local press. Please contact Charlie Ridge: c.ridge@impaxam.com with any suggestions.

JAC Tier 2 Successes Congratulations to all Marden juniors who have successfully made it through to Tier 2 of the JAC. Commiserations go to those who did not make it through this time and we hope that they will carry on working hard and try again next year. If your child was successful and hasn’t been included please email a photo to familyridge@fastmail.co.uk for inclusion in the newsletter.

More of our U13/14 Boys were selected for Kent squads this season than ever before

Kent Daisy Henley, Amelia Semmens (U13 Girls) Olly Addis, Guy Butler-Felton, Sam Jones (GK), Louis Ridge, Sam Wheatley, (U13 Boys) Finn Swaine (GK), Ben Fox (U14 Boys) Sophie Baxter, Georgie Mancais (U14 Girls) Purdey Duncan, Maddie Fox (GK) (U15 Girls) Dan Edwards, Alex Moen (U16 Boys) Matt Connell (U17 Boys) Berkshire Ben Butler-Felton (U15 Boys) NAGS Through to England U17 Girls NAGS (National Age Group Squad), one of only two girls in Kent Katie Latter (Young Leader for U14 Boys and former Marden junior)

Dan Edwards Matt Connell Alex Moen Daisy Henley First Aid Course The welfare of our junior players is always paramount, so earlier this month we ran a First Aid course over two evenings at the club for coaches and Young Leaders. The course covered a wide variety of medical situations that could occur around hockey pitches, and was fun and interactive. Thanks to all of those who attended (photos overleaf).

First Aid Course contd…

Cranbrook School Gunfire!

There will be some shotgun practice at Cranbrook School on Sunday morning (obviously well away from the pitch!) so please don’t be alarmed if you hear gunfire! ______________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday Summary – The Week That Was

Marden U13/14 Girls beat BromBeck 1-0 on 22nd February

Clive Baxter, U14 Girls In our final game of the EH Championship League we crossed swords with Horsham, who have had a similar season to ourselves. In terms of possession the first half was quite even but Marden’s finishing was better than the home side and we were probably lucky to be 3-0 up. Defensively we still looked weak at times and a better side would have punished us, though it has to be said that our keeper, Flo, was there to ensure a clean sheet. Despite being 3-0 up, the team had a stern half time talking to, in order to counter the flaws the opposition should have been taking more advantage of. Wow! The difference was striking as the Russets tore the opposition apart. Within the first few minutes Marden had scored 4 goals and never looked like being vulnerable for the rest of the game. Everyone was playing the game as instructed and it was a joy to watch, unless you were from Horsham! To their credit Horsham continued to probe our defence and were rewarded with a fine consolation goal. At the other end their keeper prevented the score being a complete rout and the game ended 8-1 to the Russets. Well done to all the team as it was a true team effort.

Clive Felton, U14A Boys On a sunny but cold Sunday we travelled to Sevenoaks. Having played them earlier in the season we knew they had an excellent goalkeeper. However in totally untypical fashion he made a basic error with the first couple of minutes and let an Olly Addis shot creep in at the near post, much to everyone’s surprise. This really buoyed up the Russets and they totally dominated the first half and had at least 10 short corners. However we only managed to score once, via a good deflection from Sam Wheatley off a Louis Moen pass. On the others, we made things too easy for a high quality goalkeeper. The second half was a similar story to the first with us dominating down the right with Martin, Olly and Max but all our forays into their D came to nothing. On the left Tom had an excellent game at left defence totally dominating their right winger and continually released Sam down the left where he looked really dangerous but again none of our pressure could be converted into another goal. Oli Milbourne gave great support to the attack and it was unlucky that he could not convert a chance into a goal on his debut. The boys played really good hockey - it was a shame that the scoreline did not reflect the true possession and domination they had.

U16 Girls

The girls went into the match on 8th February determined for a win, after having both won and lost against Sevenoaks this season. We had a strong team, consisting of Sophia, Purdey, Emily, Cecilia, Lizzie and Ellie in defence, (with Ellie, Cecilia and Emily all helping out in mid field too), Eleanor and Rachel as mids, Georgie, Thara and Poppy as forwards and Maddie in goal.

U16 Girls contd… The result was a well-earned 3-0 to Marden. The first goal was scored by a strike from Thara, in the first half. During the second half, the girls really challenged Sevenoaks, and kept more control of the ball rather than passing it away, which led to the last two goals being scored, the first being a deflection by Georgie into the goal after a cross from Thara, the second being a hit into the back of the net from Eleanor. A special mention also has to be given to Ellie who gave her all in to this match and did a great job at being both a solid defence and a pivotal mid. Sevenoaks did push the team to work hard, and though we did have the majority of the possession they managed to have a few shots on goal which were all well saved by Maddie.

Paul Sunnucks, U16 Boys 7-3 win v Blackheath The U16 Boys travelled to Blackheath on Sunday 15th February in the Kent League. Expecting a tough game, as this league featured all the league winners from before Christmas, Marden were put under pressure from the start, with Blackheath moving the ball well. Eight minutes into the game Blackheath got their first penalty corner and managed to score from a rebound off the keeper which they failed to clear. This stirred the Russets into action and the game became a very neutral affair with both teams displaying good movement of ball, but stern defence. Alex Moen managed to break the shackles with a fine individual effort and reverse hit shot into the bottom corner on 14 minutes. The Russets assumed control and ball retention with wonderful hockey using all the players. However Blackheath struck on the break 5 minutes before halftime. A quick shuffle up front and Marden hit back immediately with Kit Wilson equalising. More was to follow as Kit got another a minute later and Cameron Sprent from a rebound penalty corner making 4-2 at half time. The usual half time talk worked well and the boys came out all guns blazing. Kit, our new centre forward, bagged his hat trick to wild celebration and Wilf Andrews made it 6 shortly later. The goal of the game came when a whole team effort was casually rolled over the line from a foot by Dom Barber. Now 7-2 up with 15 minutes left the boys went back to running with the ball and giving away sloppy possession. Blackheath grabbed a token goal towards the end. All in all a great effort and some of the best hockey played this year.

6-6 draw v Canterbury

Dan Edwards... catch me if you can

U16 Boys contd… Marden Russets U16 Boys took on the might of Canterbury last weekend in the Mercian League. Normally a draw against Canterbury would be a great result but this time a bit of a disappointment. Marden controlled the early exchanges as each team weighed up their opponents. Having the better desire Marden soon went ahead with Dan Edwards scoring after 6 minutes and Ben Butler-Felton adding a second 3 minutes later. The Russets assumed full control, with Canterbury only getting scraps to play with. Dan made it 3-0 after 18 mins and Dom Barber 4 after 21 mins with a great poach after a shot hit the post. Canterbury did hit back with a slightly dubious penalty corner on height. So 4-1 at half time, the team buzzing and full of confidence.

Wilf: three of you? Ha, mere bagatelle!

The coach stated ‘the next goal wins it’ and sure enough 4 minutes into the second half Dan got his hat trick. Canterbury struck straight back with a penalty corner but straight from the restart the Russets made it 6-2 with a 4th for Dan. So, 25 minutes left and all seemed done and dusted. 10 minutes to go and still 6-2. How quickly things can change. Canterbury heads bowed and resigned to defeat scored a goal on the break. Two minutes later another. 6-4 with 5 minutes left. The experience seemed to show as the boys held possession and ran down the clock in the opposition’s 23, but a rash pass and a break led to 6-5 and 3 minutes to go. Momentum to Canterbury, and poor defence sees it 6-6 with a minute to go. This is how it finished, huge disappointment for the boys but a sharp lesson leant on how to defend a score.

Moen to Felton, catch us if you can

Sunday Schedule – The Week Ahead

Sunday Schedule - 1st March 2015 Under 7 & 8 Mixed - No Training Under 9 & 10 Girls - Match v Tunbridge Wells/Canterbury (Away) 11am Training for those not in match at St Ronan’s 9.15-10.30am - organised by Clive Felton Under 9 & 10 Boys – Match v Sevenoaks at Marden 9.30-11am Under 11 Girls - Match v Ashford/Herne Bay (Away) No Training for those not in the match Under 12 Girls – Match v BromBeck (Away) 9am start No Training for those not in the match Under 12 Boys - Match v Gore Court (Away) Training for those not in the match at Cranbrook 9.30-11am Under 13/14 Girls - Match v Sutton Valence (Away) No Training for those not in the match Under 14 Boys – Match v Folkestone (Away) 11am Training for those not in the match at Marden 11am-12.30pm Under 16 Girls - Training at Marden 11am-12.30pm Under 16 Boys – Match v Ashford at Marden 12.30-2pm Goalkeepers - No Training

Sunday Schedule - 8th March 2015 (to be confirmed)

Under 7 & 8 Mixed - Training at Marden 9.30-11am Under 9 & 10 Girls - Training at Cranbrook 9.30-11am

Under 9 & 10 Boys - Training at Marden 9.30-11am

Under 11 Girls - Training at Cranbrook 9.30-11am

Under 12 Girls - Training at Cranbrook 11am-12.30pm

Under 12 Boys - Kent Championships at Canterbury

Training for those not involved in match at Marden 11am-12.30pm

Under 13/14 Girls - Training at Marden 11am-12.30pm

Under 14 Boys - Training at Cranbrook 11am-12.30pm

Under 16 Girls - Training at Marden 12.30-2pm

Under 16 Boys - Training at Marden 12.30-2pm

Goalkeepers - No Training

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!