The weekend saw Sevenoaks Hockey Club’s men and women’s indoor sides back in action at the England Hockey Super 6s Indoor tournaments.
After a year out from the indoor courts, the teams were finally back in action indoors with the Men playing in the Premier League at Repton School and the Women in Division 1 at Telford.
Sevenoaks’ men started proceeding against the host team Repton, going down 2-0 early on to a field goal and penalty corner. However after an exhilarating game, goals from David Smith (3), Nathan Palmer and Ben Selby saw the Oaks home with a 5-4 win. They then faced local rivals East Grinstead, losing narrowly 3-2 on Saturday afternoon. Sevenoaks’ goals coming from Smith and Ian Haley.
On Sunday, Sevenoaks started with a match against Holcombe, which they won 3-1, Smith scored again before a brace from Ben Allberry. Their last match of the weekend was against Brooklands MU and in a very high scoring game Sevenoaks came out on top 7-4. Sevenoaks’ goal scorers were: Smith (2), Haley, Allberry (3) and Nick Barker.
The men finished their first weekend Premier League campaign with a very respectable three wins and one loss to take into the second weekend of competition. This weekend they will play Wimbledon, Reading, Surbiton and Hampstead & Westminster, for a chance to be crowed indoor champions.
Meanwhile the women were also making waves in the tournament with an opening 3-1 win against the University of Birmingham. Sophie Maunder, Susie Rowe and Maddie Thompson on the scoresheet. They then faced an inform Surbiton side, losing 6-2 with consolation goals from Thompson and Hannah Bond.
On Sunday Sevenoaks got going again with a 7-2 win over Harleston Magpies who played with only nine players. After going 7-0 up thanks to goals from Rowe (2), Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Bond and Thompson (3), Sevenoaks then gave away two penalty corners in the last two minutes. However, their last game of the weekend saw them face Gloucester City, and the result was an emphatic 9-2 victory. Scorers in the match were player-coach Jen Wilson (3), Maunder (3), Rowe (2) and Sophie Crosley.
As per the men, they also finished their weekend with a very respectable three wins and one loss. This weekend they will face Clifton Robinsons, Guildford, Cambridge City and Reading. With 21 goals over the first four matches, the women will be looking forward to the forthcoming weekend. And with a chance to get promoted to the top flight, the matches for Sevenoaks and Surbiton against Clifton will be key.
• You can find more match statistics at englandhockey.altiusrt.com where you can also follow the forthcoming matches for both sides