HC Knole Park had another fantastic weekend in the league and cup as all three adult sides continued their successful league campaigns, and three out of five junior sides progressed to the National Quarter Finals! There was also more junior international joy as the finalised squads are announced!
The match of the weekend it was in the England Hockey Cup as Knole Park’s U14 Girls hosted Sevenoaks HC. Sevenoaks were excellent in the first 15 minutes of the match as they raced into a 2-0 lead. The Knole Park girls managed to adapt and stop the scoring before an outstanding second half saw Daisy Edwards score an excellent strike from a penalty corner, before Connie Coquelin netted the equaliser after a superb run by Erin Tuffield. Cue a penalty shootout! In a tense set of penalties, the scores were tied again as Liliya Dale and Mali Nicholls both scored, and Lilian de Bruin saved three of the Sevenoaks penalties. Onto round 2 and Nicholls, Dale and captain Whitehead netted for the win for Knole Park, with de Bruin saving three more Sevenoaks efforts! An amazing match that both sides should be very proud of. The win sees Knole Park through to the National quarter finals for third season in the row and keeps the dream alive to defend the trophy they have won for the last two years.
Knole Park also beat Sevenoaks HC in the U16 Girls competition with goals from Amber Croll, Summer Knight-Thompson, and Biba Mills in the 3-1 win. Knole Park’s U18 Girls are also through to the final 8 as they thrashed Canterbury 9-0. Four goals from Annabel Cheveley were the difference, as she led from the front. Player of the Match Jess Lewis netted twice in an outstanding performance, Camille Poracchia also scored twice, with Amy Wakeham-Dawson picking up the ninth.
Elsewhere in the Cup the U16 Boys made the perfect start against Canterbury as they went 2-0 up with goals from Isaac Dale and Louis van der Rijse. But some poor passing from defence was capitalised on by Canterbury and they ran in three unanswered goals to win 3-2. The U16B Girls were hit by injury, illness and unavailability but still put up a great effort in a defeat to East Grinstead.
In friendly matches, the U10 Girls had a superb time at Surbiton HC as they won all their matches, whilst the U12 Boys headed to Old Georgians where they picked up two draws in a tough competition.
In the adults section it was once again three wins from three as the Men’s 1s, Women’s 1s and Women’s 2s all won comfortably. In the Women’s 1s it was an away trip to Holcombe HC. The game started very slowly as Holcombe set about implementing their low block. But some magic from Biba Mills finally broke the deadlock as she scored twice in two minutes. Just before half time Lottie Bingham scored twice and Jess Lewis also scored for a 5-0 lead. The second half was more comfortable as goals from Charlotte Watkins (2), Boadicea Cannon, Amy Wakeham-Dawson, Phoebe Gough-Cooper, as well as three more from Bingham, and one more from Lewis sealed the 14-0 win. The Women’s 2s won 9-0 at New Beccehamians 3s. Goals from Mali Nicholls (4), Farrah Hilden (2), Ruth Bingham (2) and Sarah Eversfield.
In the Men’s 1st team match it was the visit of Blackheath and Elthamians 4s. A very slow start for the team saw them concede within minutes of the start. However two goals from Duncan Parnis meant it was 2-1 at half-time. An much improved second half saw the team run in 7 unanswered goals as Parnis scored two more, Louis van der Rijse scored a hat-trick and Matt Goodwin and Isaac Dale both picked up single goals. The final score was 9-1 and it keeps the Men’s 1s in second place.
This weekend HC Knole Park’s Men’s 1st team travel to the University of Kent, the Women’s 1s host Sittingbourne 1s, and the Women’s 2s play Herne Bay 3s. The U14A Girls play Sevenoaks once again, but this time in the league, the U14A Boys travel to Canterbury and the U16B Girls have a chance to bounce back from last week’s defeat with a home match against Tunbridge Wells. The U18 Girls will also be contesting the South East Indoor Finals with a spot at the National Finals at stake.
Many congratulations to the following who have been selected for the 27 player England U16 Girls squad: Bella Muñoz, Biba Mills, Boadicea Cannon, Evie Smith, Lilly Holmes, and Summer Knight-Thompson. Many congratulations also go to Isaac Dale who has been selected for the England U16 Boys squad. And finally, to Lottie Bingham and Josefina Hippe who have been invited to the second stage of the England U21 assessments aged only 16!
