Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
CANTERBURY MEN: NEW FACES ARE GIVEN HARSH LESSON IN LIFE IN THE TOP FLIGHT
Canterbury’s new-look squad were given a tough initiation to the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division season by defending champions Surbiton.
Craig Boyne’s squad included no less than 11 debutants and they were quickly shown what life in the top flight is all about as the visitors scored three times in the first 11 minutes on their way to a 6-2 win at Polo Farm on Saturday.
The Londoners were 5- 0 in front before player-coach Boyne and new short corner specialist Michal Nowakowski added some respectability to the scoreline.
Boyne admitted Canterbury could not have had a tougher start but was pleased with the fight shown by his side and he feels they can only get better.
A frenetic opening included an early sending off for Canterbury’s James Oates, which was followed, just a minute later, by the first of Alan Forysth’s three goals.
With just six minutes played it was 2- 0 after Luke Taylor struck from a penalty corner and, as the visitors continued to swarm all over their hosts, Dave Beckett added a third at which point home supporters were fearing the worst.
Canterbury went close from a rocket short corner, saved well by the Surbiton keeper and, as the game went on, they began to enjoy some good possession.
Surbiton, though, stood their ground and early in the second half, two quick goals from Forsyth (37 minutes) and Lewis Prosser (39) stretched their advantage.
Canterbury responded well with Boyne slotting home a penalty after 50 minutes and they thought they had a good call for another when Harry Roberts found his stick hacked from every angle but the umpires disagreed.
New signing and big flicker Nowakowski stepped up to fire home a penalty corner to make it 5-2 but further pressure failed to produce any more goals and any hopes of a comeback were ended with Forsyth’s third seven minutes from time. Canterbury men’s 2nd XI took a 3- 0 lead against Wimbledon in the London Hockey League, Premier Division but were pegged back to draw 4- 4.
Richard Keir put them in front and Hugo Creaney-birch doubled the lead before Teague Macarano scored on his debut to make it 3- 0.
Wimbledon pulled a goal back before half-time and then scored twice after the break to level at 3-3 before Creaney-birch netted his second to nudge Canterbury back in front.
However, a late deflected goal for Wimbledon meant it finished all square.
Rich Wade scored twice as Canterbury Pilgrims beat Burnt Ash 2nds 4-1 in their final pre-season friendly.
Zak Williams and Ollie Kent were also on target for the Grims.
Canterbury 3rds warmed up for the season with a 4- 0 win against Holcombe 2A.
Matt Lea scored a hat-trick and set up the other goal for Callum Lea.
There were four goals for Chris Ashenden as Canterbury 4ths beat Holcombe 3rds 9-2 in another friendly.
Glenn Prebble scored a hat-trick with Matt Hammond netting the other two Canterbury goals.
Canterbury Millers saw off Herne Bay 4ths 6-3 with Tom Hill scoring twice.
Also among the goals were Chris Stephens, Sushant Lama and Adam Lee Brown.
Canterbury 5ths trailed 2- 0 to Holcombe 4ths early on and although Ed Laslett and Mark Lister drew them level, Holcs went on to win 3-2.
David Upton scored both goals for the Squires in their 2-1 win against Holcombe 5ths, although Friars lost 5-1 to Holcombe 5A with Pete Bowell’s late goal a consolation.
Women’s Hockey Investec Premier Division: East Grinstead 0 Holcombe 0, University of Birmingham1bowdon 3, Canterbury 2 Surbiton 2, Clifton Robinsons 2 Leicester 0, Slough 3 Buckingham 1. east League Premier Division: West Herts 1 Maidstone 0, Wapping 5 Old Loughts 0, St Albans 2nds 2 Sevenoaks 2nds 2, Ipswich 3 Canterbury 2nds 1, COP 5 Cambridge Uni 1, Norwich Dragons 4 Cambridge City 2nds 3. east League Division 2 south east: Ashford 1 Basildon 4, Gore Court 0 Redbridge & Ilford 1, Canterbury 2nds A 5 Havering 0, Sevenoaks 3rds 2 Tunbridge Wells 2nds 1, Brentwood 0 Southend & Benfleet 1, Brom & Becks 2nds 0 Waltham Forest 0. kent Women’s League, Premier Division: Cliftonville 3 Maidstone 2nds 1, Folkestone Optimist 2nds 2 Bromley and Beckenham 3rds 1, Kings Alleyns 2 Blackheath & Elthamians 2, Bexleyheath & Belvedere 3 Sevenoaks 4ths 1, Canterbury 3rds 0 Old Williamsonians 1, Marden Russets 3 Old Bordenian 4. kent Women’s League Division 1: Ashford 2nds 3 Herne Bay 3, Gravesend 0 Sevenoaks 5ths 4, Kings Alleyns 2nds 2 Blackheath & Elthamians 2nds 2, Burnt Ash 2nds 0 Meopham 0, Sevenoaks Acorns 6 Gillingham Anchorians 2. kent Women’s League Division 2: Deal 0 Burnt Ash 3rds 2, Edenbridge 3 Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds 0, New Beccehamian 18 Cliftonville 2nds 0, Tunbridge Wells 3rds 2 Ashford 3rds 0, Old Williamsonians 2nds 2 Canterbury 3rds A 0, Holcombe 3rds 0 Dartford 1. kent Women’s League Division 3: Sevenoaks 6ths 4 K Sports 0, Bromley and Beckenham 5ths 0 Folkestone Optimist 3rds 2, Maidstone 3rds 1 Tunbridge Wells 4ths 4, Gillingham Anchorians 2nds 2 Gore Court 2nds 2, Herne Bay 2nds 3 New Beccehamian 2nds 2, Burnt Ash 4ths 1 University of Kent 3. kent Women’s League Division 5: Faversham 0 New Beccehamian 3rds 1, Sevenoaks 7ths 0 Meopham 2nds 0, Dartford 3rds 0 Gillingham Anchorians 3rds 1, Blackheath & Elthamians 4ths 0 K Sports 2nds 0, Marden Russets 3rds 0 Bromley and Beckenham 6ths 3.
men’s Hockey Premier Division: Canterbury 2 Surbiton 6, Sevenoaks 1 Reading 4, Beeston 1 Wimbledon 1, Hampstead & Warminster 4 Brooklands MU 0.