Mixed fortunes for EG 1st Teams

EG's Womens and Mens 1st Teams hosted Surbiton and Beeston respectively over the weekend.  The feast of hockey was amaxing, but the results were mixed... 

On Saturday Feb 17th, EG's Women hosted Surbiton in the England Hockey Premier League.  Straight afterwards, EG Men hosted Beeston.  The next home "Double Header" will be on Saturday March 2nd and you can buy your tickets online HERE.  Remember, u18s go free !

Beginning at 16:00, the Women started the day off beautifully with team mascots in full attendance with thanks to the Junior Section.  The match was very tight between two sides which both have ambitions for the business end of the season.

Issy Field was exceptional in goal, making numerous key saves and a very strong team performance was rewarded with a Tess Howard goal from open play shortly before Half Time.  Receiving the ball on the half way line, Captain Guadalupe Lacort spun away from her marker and threaded a pass through to Bray on the top of the circle.  Bray's attempt was saved by Sabbie Heesh in the Surbiton goal but fell to a diving Tess Howard who found the roof of the net.

Although Sophie Bray and Lily Walker both went close in the second half, Tess' goal proved to be the winner.  Surbiton pushed hard throughout the game with notable attacks from Sophie Hamilton and Izzy Petter.  EG Women remain in third place, in a strong position ahead of Phase III of the competition.

The GALLERY of images from Eva Gilbert is HERE

You can watch the game back in full HERE

You can see the highlights HERE

At 18:00, the Men faced off against Beeston in a crucial match in the Lower Half of the England Hockey Premier League.  Both sides are battling to finish in the top two places to earn a chance to compete in Phase III of the competition alongside the top 6 teams.  EG went into the game in 7th place with Oxted and Beeston close behind.

This match was dramatic in the extreme with EG Men coming back twice from two goal deficits.  At 4:4 however, Beeston created the opportunities they needed and secured their win and a score of 4:6.

Jamie Rawlings and Henry Croft put the visitors ahead from a penalty corner and open play respectively.  Hugh Pembroke scored two goals in 3 minutes by way of reply again an open play goal and a penalty corner.  Henry Croft and then Gareth Griffiths put Beeston two ahead again.  Trevor de Lora secured his first goal of the season followed again by another corner, this time from Max Lowrey and the sides were again all square at 4:4.

Beeston's winners came from Jamie Rawlings and Brendan Andrews.  EG Men fall to 9th place and have three crucial matches to look forward to against Nottingham University, Reading and Oxted.

The GALLERY of images from Eva Gilbert is HERE

You can watch Saturday's game back HERE

You can see the highlights HERE.