Stourport Hockey Club's men’s 1s welcomed Norwich City to the Kingsway on a warm and sunny Sunday, for their National League Midlands Conference, match, and endured a frustrating and difficult first loss, going down 2-3.

The hosts started the first quarter brightly, taking the lead after three minutes, through a smart Leo Delves strike.  The visitors grew into the match and equalised after twenty-eight minutes and then took the lead two minutes later.

Stourport was 1-2 down at the halftime break and started the third quarter with positive, aggressive pressing and high-tempo-smart attacking play.

Stourport equalised early in the fourth quarter when a long overhead pass from Simon Claris was taken down by Delves before Joe Schubert struck the ball home.

Minutes later Schubert had the ball in the net again only for it to be disallowed for an infringement, as Stourport searched for a winner Norwich dealt the killer blow, as they counterattacked with a long ball finding its way through, to give a final score of 2-3.

In what was a vastly improved performance the Men's 5th XI fought out a 0-0 draw with their visitors, Finchfield 5th's, in the Midland South West 9 Division.

Both sides had chances to secure the victory, Stourport's player of the match Mark Darch, put in an outstanding display in midfield, was denied by a great save by the visitor's goalkeeper. Whilst Rob Rosewarne missed the goal by inches when he hit the post, Stourport still had to defend with Martin Roberts in the home goal, organising the defence and making two great saves to keep the scores level at the final whistle.

The men's 6th XI remain unbeaten and move up to second in the Midlands Men's Division 10 South West league after they beat their hosts Hampton-in-Arden 5th XI 1-0. It wasn't a vintage performance by the sixes but some outstanding saves by Oliver* in the Stourport goal.

Stourport created numerous chances Hampton always looked dangerous going forward with only a series of great saves from Oliver* keeping the scores level.

Stourport took the lead just before half-time Kas Abbas following a good exchange of passes between Reuben* and Will*.  In the second half, the two teams could only cancel each other out as the match became a stalemate. 

The ladies' 2nd XI sits second in the Midlands Division 1 when a Louise Butcher brace earned the Stourport a share of the points when they entertained Solihull Blossomfield. In an end-to-end encounter, Butcher opened the scoring, with a net rippler, when she uncut her shot into the top right corner after six minutes.

The home side lead didn't last when four minutes later the opposition capitalised on a rare defensive error which allowed them to draw level. Stourport kept on creating chances with a great effort from Catlin* which hit the post, but it was the visitors that took the lead when they went 1-2 up at the break.

Stourport pushed forward again in the second half and leveled the score in the forty-seventh minute when Butcher found the net again.  The home side continued to push for the winner but were denied a winning goal when a Sophie Tibbert deflection hit by the post. Three points next week will help them push for the top spot.

Report submitted by Stourport Hockey Club

* Names without surnames are junior players.