The Hockey Season Finally Begins!

Date: Thursday 17 January 2008

After last week's impossible playing conditions, the elements relented and allowed the two senior boys' sides - the Firsts and the Pilgrims - to take to the field against teams from the Duke of York's RMS at Dover.

The Pilgrims, under the new management duo of Messrs Buckingham and Jones, started their season with a good win, coming out on top by 3 goals to one. Early pressure led to a goal from Nick Clapham, but the DoY boys snatched an equaliser straight after the break.

SES stepped up a gear, and two later goals from Marc van Rooyen and Matt Dixon sealed a comfortable, but tiring victory, in the end.

And, to make a good day even better, the Firsts braved horrendous conditions above Dover to fight their way to a 2 - 0 'away win'. Joe Rawlins made a string of good saves early on to keep the opposition at bay, after which a sweetly struck reverse stick shot from Ben Clarke gave SES the lead just before half-time.

The game was secured by a second half solo goal from Ben Easter following a short corner. This was an encouraging performance from a virtually 'new' side from last year. Ben Pape impressed as sweeper, Peter Edlin settled well into his left-sided defensive role, and Oliver Perry was penetrative on both wings!

Jack Barwick can now deliver his first Hockey report on Monday from a position of six points out of six!