Romsey Hockey Club

The U12 Boys, pictured, suffered a disappointing time at the In2 Hockey U12 Champioship

Romsey were the dominant side on a cold windy morning against Fareham B, with goals from Tomo Flood (2), Zak Cooper (1) and Tim Loescher (2).  Tomo started Romsey’s tally early on with a quick attack on goal, but despite good passing and determined play by Ben Davidson, they were unable to score again with a shot on goal by Ben Manning going wide. However, the fates intervened during the second third, as Tomo scored his second, and then Zak being well placed on the corner of the goal took a cross from Tim to make it 3 nil to Romsey. Fareham pulled one back following a good pass from the back line, and powered it in. Tim then made it 4-1 to Romsey following a short corner with a precise powered hit on goal following injection from Zak Cooper. During the final third, Fareham tried hard, but were thwarted by Romsey’s backs, Dan Clack and Joe Powell, and failed to make accurate shots on goal. Due to mistimed tackle during the final third, goalkeeper Hal Cross had to face a Penalty Flick, but it was no threat and went wide of the goal. Romsey then finished the game off with the final goal from Loescher.  A good result for the team who all played well together.

Romsey quickly went 1-0 down to Salisbury following a short corner, but Tomo Flood (2) as centre forward went quickly on the attack and at the end of the first third Romsey were ahead 2-1.   Excellent defence by  Joe Powell, who found himself playing left back for the first time, and great goalkeeping from Hal Cross, prevented Salisbury scoring in the second third, whilst some great play by Ben Manning, Ben Davidson & Tom Rugge Price allowed Tim Loescher to run with the ball and take a third and Ben Manning took a cross to make it 4-1.

In the final third, Salisbury pulled one back following another short corner, but Romsey sealed their fate when Ben Manning took another shot on goal which looked to be going wide, so Tim Loescher erring on the side of caution helped it on its way to find the back of the goal to make it 5-2.  An excellent game with all round excellent performances from all members of the team

Romsey took a squad of 8 boys to the Hampshire region of Yazoo National Minis Competition at Thornden School on Sunday 20th March.

In the first match against Havant, Romsey were quick off the mark and caught Havant on the back foot, and were able to capitalise with a quick goal from Tim Loescher. Zac played a good game up front, trying to pin down the Havant defence but was not lucky enough to find the goal. However, Havant regrouped and fought back. Callum Darch in goal played a blinding game, and saved most of what came his way. Sam Bishop did his utmost to get the ball back to our forwards, however, Havant had strength on their side and they scored 3 very good goals.

The second game was against Winchester. Sean Rademaker had now arrived and played a very good game in defence stopping most of what came his way. The whole team played its positions well with Ben Davidson (the youngest on the pitch) keeping at the ball. Sam Bishop & Ben Manning were also stalwarts in the game, with Tim playing the position he likes best covering the centre field, culminating in another 3 goals for him. Winchester were able to claw one back, but Romsey ended the game as winners.

Final match saw Romsey play Haslemere A. This was another tough match but Romsey never gave up. Ben Davidson perservered on the left wing, with Ben Manning on the right wing. However, Haslemere were too strong and the final score was 4 – nil to Haslemere.

Squad: Callum Darch (GK), Tim Loescher, Ben Manning, Zac Cooper, Ben Davidson, Alex Tooley, Sam Bishop, Sean Rademaker.

Sunday 13^th February saw an all-round wonderful team effort from Callum the goal keeper to centre forward Zac Cooper. The match started in cold and wet conditions but Romsey took the game straight to Fareham. Romsey dominated the match with Sam Bishop, Tim Loescher and Sean Rademaker commanding the centre of the field. The pressure on Fareham paid off with Romsey winning a short corner after 14mins. A classic short corner routine saw the ball fly towards Sean who took into the D and smack it home, hitting the back board, goal. In the second third the match was more even and the only difference between the two teams was a goal given to Fareham from a short corner. The ball was hit to the top of the D and a sweep shot, hitting the ball, which went in off the under side of the cross bar and pinging into the back of the net. This proved to be an unstoppable strike!  Romsey fought back with a tireless Ben Manning in the middle of the park winning everything that came near him. Romsey cleared their lines with a fifty meter hit into the oppositions twenty-five. Oliie Bryant gave chase making an incredibly fast 40 meter dash, spurred on from the vocal Romsey supporters, to catch the Fareham defence with the ball. Romsey were unable to capitalise. The last third saw Fareham dominate as a tired and wet Romsey tried to keep the match from slipping away. Man of the Match, Alex Buck, played a storming game through out clearing the ball from the right back position countless times. A special mention for both Toby Clemmett playing his first game for the Club who bravely played on after taking the ball in the face and Callum clearing his goal multiple times through out.

Fareham got a fortunate goal two minutes from time with a well struck shot from the top of the D heading high towards Callum’s top left corner. An out stretched hand, save? Callum got to it only to deflect the ball back towards his right hand post, goal. Romsey deserved more from the game but the supporters were proud of a fine performance by all.

Alex Tooley, Alex Buck(Man of the match), Callum Darch, Sean Rademaker(1), Ben Manning, Sam Bishop(Captain), Zac Cooper, Ben Davidson, Tim Loescher, Oliver Bryant, Chris Harwood, Hal Cross, Toby Clemmett,  Daniel Clack (taken unwell in the warm-up)

PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLOWING DATES FREE:

MARCH 13: AWAY V CHICHESTER (PB – tbc)

MARCH 20: THORNDEN SCHOOL 1:30PM TO 4:30PM YAHOO NATIONAL TOURNAMENT (SQUAD OF 10 TO BE SELECTED AT A LATER DATE, HOWEVER IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT AVAILABLE PLEASE LET JULIA KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!)

APRIL3: HOME V CITY OF PORTSMOUTH 9.30PB AT HCS

APRIL 10: END OF SEASON FUN DAY AND PRESENTATION 10:00 TIL 1:00 (WITH BBQ)

U12B (A) vs City of Portsmouth

A fabulous team effort and a towering performance from the man of the match Alex Tooley, but a determined Romsey team could not keep Portsmouth from scoring six goals. The game started well, the score was one nil to Romsey after just 4mins. Romsey scored first from a persistent effort from Hal Cross scoring his first goal, in the Under 12 league, whilst still being able to play for the under 10s. He was able to slip the ball into bottom right hand corner after first hitting the post. The Romsey team played very well at times, passing the ball around the Portsmouth players, but the second Romsey goal came from a great individual effort from Tim Loescher who ran from almost the halfway line, with the ball, to slip his shot past the keeper. The Romsey team showed great team spirit as they needed to make a sizable effort during the match.

Daniel Clack, Alex Tooley (Man of the match), Alex Buck, Sean Rademaker, Ben Manning, Sam Bishop(Captain), Zac Cooper, Ben Davidson, Tim Loescher(1), Oliver Bryant, Chris Harwood, Hal Cross(1)

Romsey U12 boys were unlucky not to win the final third of the game at the HCS ground on Saturday 14th November the score ended up being one goal a piece. Romsey went ahead with a well struck short corner. A simple move which was started by a strong pushed out by Sam Bishop to Sean Rademaker who drill his shot into the bottom left hand corner. Romsey were unlucky not to go further ahead when Tim Loescher failed to connect with the goal after taking the ball around two defenders and the keeper. Ben Davidson also broke into the opponents D and produce a fine shot which was goal bound until it hit a Romsey stick. Some stout goal keeping, by Alex Buck, could not keep Chichester from scoring after the ball should have been cleared by the Romsey defense.

Romsey were playing  against a strong physical Chichester side and were able to kept them them at bay for a lot of the first third. Callum Darch in goal, at this point, made many saves in the first 10 minutes when the pressure, from another Chichester short corn, told. Initially the short was  strongly rebuffed by Sam Bishop and Ben Manning but the ball broke free,to the goal keepers left, and what followed was a fabulously struck shot which went straight pass an out stretched foot, from Callum, and found the far right corner of the Romsey goal. After this there was some excellent defending from Daniel Clark and a near miss from Zak Cooper who came very close with a good effort. The first 20 minutes ended with the visitors to the HCS pitch 2 goals up. The next 20 minutes saw a small collapse as Romsey lacked confidence both in their tackling and on the ball awarness which the visiting team demonstrated. Chichester also had a bit of luck as a deflected shot sent Callum, in goal, the wrong way. The final score was 1-6 to the visitors with a strong recover from a heroic Romsey side, in the final third, who started that third with a psychological nil-nil.

Daniel Clack, Alex Tooley, Alex Buck, Sean Rademaker(1), Ben Manning, Sam Bishop (Captain and Man of the Match) Zac Cooper, Ben Davidson, Tim Loescher, Oliver Bryant(first game for Romsey, well done), Chris Harwood (first game for Romsey, well played), Callum Darch

On a wet Sunday morning Romsey U12 boys opened their season with an away game against Fareham 2, an evenly poised game that saw both teams making attacks. The first goal went to Romsey after Tim Loescher scored. Romsey with a number of players stepping up to U12 level for the first time held on to the lead and Callum Darch played an excellent game in goal with some fine saves and kicks. Romsey stretched their lead with another goal from Tim Loescher. Attacks came from Fareham late in the game but Romsey defended well from a series of penalty corners to win 2-0.

Excellent team performance by all with a solid defense at the back provided by Dan Clack, Alex Tooley and Alex Buck who helped Callum keep a clean sheet. The mid-field was controlled by Sean Rademaker, Ben Manning and Sam Bishop. Then up front a determined show was made by Zac Cooper, Ben Davidson, Hal Cross and Raul Patel who were supporting Tim on his goal spree.