Their ladies’ third team top the league at the first attempt and their Under-12s and Under-10s represent Wiltshire in regional tournaments – the 2013-2014 season that has just ended has been a memorable one for Marlborough Hockey Club.
Marlborough News Online has been reporting the tremendous successes of the ladies’ first team, who also won their league, and the troubled times and great efforts of the men’s first team, who were relegated from their league.
However, behind the headlines made by the club’s two first teams, there is a thriving hockey community in Marlborough – with 250 under 18-year-olds on the club’s books and other successful teams.
It was Marlborough ladies second team’s first year in Wessex Division 1 and they have had a ‘mixed season’. Their captain, Julie Fellows, told MNO: “We have found that this league is a good level for the second eleven and we have played competitive hockey at a very good standard.”
They are in fifth place in the league having won five, lost eight and drawn two: “This is a very positive result for us and one that can be improved on next season.”
One of their highlights has been the way they have encouraged junior members of the club and taken players up from the third team.
It was the ladies’ third team that emulated the first team and won their league – at the first time of asking.
Building on the success of the club’s junior section, it was decided to enter a ladies third team in the Wessex League 3. This would give the club’s youngsters a taste of the league game.
The team had a good mix of new talent and valuable experience: it included two mother and daughter combinations.
Third team captain Caroline Baynes told MNO: “It was a bit of a gamble as we weren’t sure how many players we would attract, however it has been a huge success. Not only have we won Wessex Division 3 at our first attempt, we have had a full squad every week and played some fantastic hockey.”
The third team’s statistics speak for themselves: played 21, won 20. Goals scored 88, goals conceded 15. This record gained them 60 points – eleven points clear of their nearest rivals.
But, as the captain tells it, it is not just about statistics: “I put our success down to the great coaching at the club and the fantastic club atmosphere which aims for a balance of competitive hockey and fun.”
The club juniors train on Sunday mornings and the older teenagers often play in appropriate senior teams.
Under-12 and Under-10 teams have competed regularly in tournaments in Cheltenham and Bath, improving their results every time. The girls Under-12 team came second in the county-wide “In2Hockey” tournament and then represented the county at South West regional level doing very well. They conceded only three goals in their six matches.
The Under-10 team will be representing the county at the end of April and a number of junior players have also played for the county in U-14, U-15 & U-18 teams.
It was very challenging season for the men’s section.
First team goalkeeper, Brian Marnane summed up the team’s season for MNO: “Sadly it was the polar opposite of the success being achieved and enjoyed in the ladies section. That said, it was only a few years ago that the ladies section were going through challenging times and look at them now!”
Throughout the season, the men’s teams battled with availability and injury. Although at times they enjoyed some great performances, hard fought wins and unbeaten runs (like the men’s first team’s – unbeaten run of six games.) Unfortunately this turn around in fortunes came too late to effect what was overall, a disappointing season for all concerned.
But, says Marnane: “With the men’s section going through a rebuilding phase, we hope to replace the players we have lost with new players from our ever growing junior ranks and combined with the more experienced senior players, see our teams return to former periods of success and promotion.”
Without wishing to rub in any more salt than necessary, here are the statistics for the very successful ladies’ first team who had only been promoted from the Wessex 1 league to the Northern Division at the start of the season.
They played 18 league games and lost just one of them. They scored 114 goals and conceded 24. Their top scorer was Kate Battty with a tally of 38 goals – and she only played in half the games. Their player of the season was Helen Durrans.
There is also good news of a past Marlborough player: Will Seward, who came through the club’s junior section and now plays for Bath Buccs, has been selected for the England Under-18 team for the European Easter tournament. They will be playing Holland, Germany and Belgium.
Dick Lovett BMW Swindon year sponsors Marlborough Golf Club’s Seniors Open for three years
