The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
City chase Chelmsford win to secure National League spot
Hockey - Brummitt Trophy this weekend
City of Peterborough’s date with destiny has finally arrived.
Three weeks after the official end of the East League season, City travel to Chelmsford on Saturday knowing that victory will seal the Premier A Division title and a coveted return to the National League.
City should win. Chelmsford have fallen on hard times in recent seasons and have rarely threatened to venture into the top half of the table in the current campaign, winning just four of their first 20 league matches. They did, however, thrash relegated Spalding 10-0 on Saturday.
But City manager Graham Finding will ensure there is no complacency within his squad by pointing out a few Chelmsford results this season to his players before the big game.
“This game unfortunately clashes with the Roger Brummitt Mixed Hockey tournament, but all the players have of course prioritised playing at Chelmsford so we should be at full strength,” Finding said.
“And we will need to be. Chelmsford have drawn at home to Harleston and had single goal losses there to both St Albans and Wapping (both 2-1), so it will definitely be another tough game for us.”
City can only be caught by St Albans who have a tough final game at home to fourthplaced Harleston.
St Albans are a point behind City going into the final match.
■ Bourne Deeping seconds clinched promotion from Division Three North West when winning their last game against Ely 3-1 with goals by Jonny Allen, James Taverner and Ollie Brown.
■ City of Peterborough advanced to the quarter-finals of the national mixed cup when beating holders Harleston 2-1 on Sunday through goals by Joe Finding and Anna Faux.
They will play either Southgate or Staines away in the next round.
BRUMMITT TOURNAMENT
Camp Retro will defend their unbeaten record in the Roger Brummitt Mixed Hockey Tournament at Bretton Gate this weekend as they seek a hat-trick of titles.
The superstar side led by National League ace Cameron Heald have only entered the Brummitt twice in 2016 & 2017 and they’ve emerged victorious on both occasions.
Some teams will be weakened by City of Peterborough’s decisive match in the East Premier A Division at Chelmsford on Saturday, but the 16 teams will still be expected to provide much entertainment.
Ragamuffins, the team beaten by Camp Retro in the last two finals, are also involved as are the legendary Jurassic Beavers.
The action starts at 10am on Saturday and Sunday.
There are four groups of four on the opening day with the top two in each group progressing into the main draw on Sunday when the bottom two will compete in the Plate competition. The finals are scheduled for 5pm and 5.35pm on Sunday.
The Jack Rouse Fairplay Trophy will again be on offer for the tournament’s most sporting team.
There are tributes in the tournament match programme this year to Peter Leaton, who has just stepped down as chairman of Peterborough Town Sports Club after 28 years in the role as he approaches his 80th birthday.
And to legendary umpire Don Merrington-Warm who passed away recently.
Merrington-Warm officiated at the first Brummitt at the Grange in 1958 and took charge of over 500 matches before becoming tournament referee in his later years.
ROGER BRUMMITT MIXED TOURNAMENT DRAW
Pool A - Ragamuffins, Fairly Legal, Barely Athletic, GPO.
Pool B - Camp Retro, Beavers, Ragamuffins B, Inches of Post.
Pool C - Sons of Pitches, Jurassic Beavers, Almighty Ones, Bourne Again.
Pool D - Mighty Cocks. Too Keen, Blue Green Zeds, Bourne Deeping Dragons.