Ten out of ten for Newarkers
The Newark Hockey Club ladies’ first team can look back proudly on their efforts in the first half of the Notts Premier League season.
Saturday’s 6-2 win at home to South Nottingham was their tenth win from ten games, and they go into their Christmas break with a ten-point lead over their nearest challengers.
After their recent back to back wins, South Nottingham went into the match at Newark full of confidence, but the home side were in no mood to surrender their 100% record.
Megan Beard’s reverse stick drive screamed just over the bar after just 90 seconds, and Newark were 1-0 up three minutes later when the blistering pace of captain Sarah Pask took her through the visitors’ defence before a deft reverse stick pass found the in-form goal machine Emma Wilson who made no mistake.
But South Nottingham had not read the script, and great work from South’s captain Sarah Morgan released the tricky Jade White who levelled with an exquisite finish on eight minutes.
Maybe this was the wake-up call that Newark required, because a terrific ball into the Notts circle from youngster Charlotte Mills caused defensive mayhem and Emma Sanders was on hand to slip the ball over the line, and she soon added another following good work by Pask down the left flank.
Only the solid defiance of visiting keeper Amy Binch kept out a rampant Newark, but the home side broke through again on the half hour mark when Wilson netted her second to give Newark a healthy 4-1 lead at the break.
A penalty corner was finished on the far post by Nicola Jenner to give Newark a fifth early in the second half, and the hosts twice hit the post before the visitors pulled a goal back with a second from White.
Newark had the final say when player of the match Wilson completed her hat-trick, finishing a slick penalty corner routine on 66 minutes to give the home side an excellent 6-2 victory.
Unfortunately the game finished on an unpleasant note after a collision between Newark’s Jemma Gough and South’s White left the visiting player on the ground, writhing in agony. An ambulance took her to hospital with a dislocated knee.
Newark coach Paul Halfpenny said: “The first half of the season has gone really well and all credit goes to the girls, who have been brilliant.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to be involved with such a receptive team, and it makes me so proud to receive the opponents’ compliments week after week.
“However our thoughts are with the South Nottingham player, Jade White, and we wish her a speedy recovery.”
Newark men’s 1st XI continue to struggle in East Midlands One as they lost 1-0 at Derwent, going down to their seventh successive league defeat.
