Stourport Hockey Club

Men’s Section

Stourport Men’s 1st XI 3-2 Warwick 1st XI

Stourport men's 1st XI began the last match of the season as unbeaten champions of the Midland Division 1, and against visitors Warwick 1st XI, a 3-2 victory ensured that they were unbeaten for all twenty-two matches.

Stourport fielding a strong squad started brightly against fourth-placed Warwick, dominating the early stages with the surging runs of Dan Drew from right-back being the main catalyst.

Stourport took the lead through Chris Miles who tapped the ball in, after finishing off a good passing move. Stourport added a second through a Simon Claris drag-flick before Warwick pulled a goal back from a penalty corner to make it 2-1 at the break.

In the second half, a swift counter-attack saw Callum Stanley find Claris in the 'D', before a challenge by the Warwick defence led to a penalty stroke. Claris stepped up and duly dispatched the stroke to make it 3-1. Stourport had to earn this win though, as Warwick scored a second on the counter-attack, and forced a save out of keeper Alex Cook, at a penalty corner awarded as the final whistle blew.

Stourport Men’s 5th XI 7-5 Birmingham University 6th XI

Stourport men's 5th XI played Birmingham University 6th XI, they beat their visitors, 7-5, in the Midlands Men's Division 9 South West league. Goals by a David Bedford in the twenty-second, and David Henderson in the thirtieth minutes, kept Stourport within touching distance at the break with Birmingham 2-3 ahead. Five goals in the second half, beginning in the fortieth minute with Bedford's second and ending twenty minutes later with an Olly* goal in the sixtieth minute sealed the victory for the home side.

In between, there was a hat trick goal for Bedford and a second for Henderson, whilst there was a single goal for Will Terry in the fifty-fiftieth minute. Birmingham ran their host close with two more goals in the second half, but Stourport had done enough to seal the points.

Stourport Men’s 6th XI 0-9 Barford Tigers 3rd XI

Despite Stourport creating a number of early chances to take the lead, Barford proved less wasteful and more clinical in front of goal and was leading 0-5 at the break. Stourport's youngsters Dominic*, Elliot*, and Ben* continued to show great promise.

Ladies’ Section

Stourport Ladies’ 4th XI 0-5 Olton & West Warwickshire 3rd XI

In their last Midlands Women's Division 3 South West match of the season Stourport Ladies 4th XI again had to battle hard when they visited Olton & West Warwickshire 3rd XI. Stourport frustrated their hosts for long periods of the match with the ball twice being hit off the line in the second half. The pressure on the Stourport defence was relentless as the Olton attack pressed forward but to their credit, the Stourport backline never stopped fighting but was unable to keep the Olton side out on five occasions.    

NB:* Names without surnames are junior players.

Report submitted by Stourport Hockey Club