On Friday, Councillor Derek Burke and his wife were the guests of Southampton Hockey Club at their end of season dinner/dance held at the Highfield House Hotel. One hundred and forty six sat down to dinner and were joined later by thirty other club members for the presentation of the trophies won by the club members and teams during the season. The club would like to thanks Councillor Burke and his wife for making the presentations and their attendance and Deidre Lehan-Matthews and her team for organising this year's most successful event.
On Saturday Southampton entertained Olney, a team touring from Buckinghamshire. It is always difficult to gauge the strength of touring sides and despite fielding a side reflecting all levels of the club, Southampton overwhelmed the visitors 11 - 3. Southampton opened the scoring through Bex but Olney replied quickly. However Southampton greater experience started to show and soon regularly found the net through Sue Crowley [5], Bex [2], Suzanne Quinton, Annie Day, Brenda Kimber, and Charlotte Gallagher.
In the club game with Bournemouth, the seconds/thirds enjoyed a 5 - 1 victory with Rebekah Sharr [2], Lyn Price, Hollie Nutt and Sarah Deighton scoring.
The Fifths found the pace of Eastleigh second team's forward line too much to handle as they carved out opportunities from quick breaks. Southampton's Claire Howells scoring for Southampton in the 1 - 5 defeat.
The Third team fell 1 - 2 in their friendly match with Yateley. Southampton's goal coming from a short corner injected by Steve Quinn who scored following the ball being returned to the far post for him to convert high into the goal.
The Vets had to thank skipper Geoff Danby for his deadly shooting from the top of the D for their two goals in their 2 - 2 draw with Fareham vets.
Otters Captain, Phil Loukes took the opportunity to introduce several new players in this friendly with Hamble. Southampton raced to a 3 - 0 lead through Craig Harris, scoring his first goal for the club, and brothers Will and Allie Brown. Hamble then grabbed one back before Rob Gibbs made it 4 - 1. As the youngsters tired Hamble came more into the game, getting back to 4 - 3. These new Southampton youngsters played some cultured hockey and showed a good foundation for next year's team.
The Fifth team, also meeting Yateley also went 3 - 0 up from Jason Pearson, Mike Foulds and Martin Rosher before Yateley came back into the game. Southampton again took the initiative in the second half as Yateley's keeper was temporarily suspended for unprofessional comments following a Southampton goal from Mark Cozens. Yateley were spurred into action and found the Southampton net four times but Chris Dunn secured the game for Southampton for a final score of 5 - 4.
The Ladies Veterans are the fourth and latest Southampton side to represent Hampshire at the South playoffs. Playing five twenty minute matches in a three hour period tested all teams but Southampton overcame the tiredness to win through the Hampshire round, beating Winchester, Aldershot & Farnham, City of Portsmouth and New Milton before meeting Basingstoke in the last match. With Basingstoke requiring a win to go into the South round and Southampton only needing a draw the stage was set for a challenging finale. Basingstoke pushed hard from the start and took the lead from a short corner. However Southampton were back on even terms within minutes when Annie Day followed up on a Karen Jordan shot to equalise. Sue Crowley then scored from the penalty spot and then settled it when she rounded the keeper to hit the ball into the empty net. The South round is at Surbiton on 29th April.
The under 12 boys played a development match against Fareham, which they lost 2 - 3. David Stokes and Sam Meacher scoring. Sam's an excellent goal according to coach Jill Stokes.
New Sarum staged their annual under 14 & 19 girls tournament at their South Wilts ground with 8 and 9 teams respectively playing in each section. Southampton, who sent their under 12, 14, 16 and 19 team enjoyed mixed results with the under 16s coming sixth and the under 19s coming first in the under 19 competition and the under 12s and 14s finishing eighth and fifth respectively in the under 14s tournament.
Southampton are to run a friendly women's hockey programme over the summer in conjunction with the Hampshire Umpires' Hockey association in a drive to develop new umpires for the 2001-2 season. In all fifty-five matches will be played at Southampton Sports Centre and Romsey School. An opportunity to listen to the rules and take the theory paper will be held at The Sporting View on April 26th. Details can be obtained from Roger Merry 02380 735737.