Men's 1s Edge GB Ladies in Training Match

On Tuesday 29th May Henley Men’s 1st Team were invited to The National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey to provide a training game for the GB Women’s Team ahead of the World Cup taking place in London from 21st July.

After 4 successful years, skipper Ed Foster has handed over the mantle to previous vice-captain Jonny Taylor, this game was sure to provide a strong first test. With Interim Manager Ian Heggie also stepping down at the end of last season , after pressure from the Henley Hockey Fans Association became too much, and with Player/Coach Rhys Joyce enjoying a couple of weeks topping up his tan it was left to Taylor and Interim Coach Danny Newcombe to organise the out-of-season team.

The game started very evenly with both teams creating good chances, Rob Green in goal for Henley made some excellent saves from the GB Ladies short corners. A well worked passing move up the right hand-side by Henley ended with Steve Harding finishing coolly into the corner to put them 1-0 up after the first quarter.

The second quarter was just as fast-paced with both teams converting short corners, Luke Gupta with his un-trademark finish for Henley. Henley were stepping up their attacking threat and went 3-1 up through the unlikely scorer of left back Ed Hughes-Burne. Ed had never scored in a competitive match for Henley Men’s first team, that is still the case.

Henley took more control in the last two quarters with Sam Heaver, Tom Walter and Danny Newcombe defending well outside the D and transitioning well around the back. Benji Hetherington won many battles in the midfield, showing a physical presence we hadn’t seen in the men’s league throughout the previous season. Gupta, Taylor and Foster were holding the ball up well further up the pitch to help Henley’s tired legs. The GB Ladies fitness strength showed towards the end of the game, with Harding seeing a card for a very late challenge but the blooper moment of the day went to Jeff Goseph for using the wrong side of his stick to the hilarity of the crowd, the opposition and his own team. Joseph was put in the sin bin and did not return to the field due to the instruction from Henley Hockey President Julian Herbert who was running the subs on the sideline.

Green finished well to get his goal and GB got another one back but Henley took the win 4-2. It was bright game for Henley, Fred Newbold likely playing his last game for Henley but new player Brad Upton making a strong start to his Henley career in midfield and U18 Toby Pratt looking comfortable making a step up from the 2nd XI.

The teams then followed with penalty shuffles, Newbold and Hetherington both converting for Henley, Newbold with a very cheeky nutmeg of the current Olympic Champion’s hero goalkeeper, Maddie Hinch. Hinch saved from Harding and Gupta before Walter’s reverse stick-strike was harshly disallowed for a Joseph-style back stick. GB went on to convert and win the shuffles 3-2.

Coach Joyce Facetimed into the changing rooms after the game to congratulate the team but most importantly to explain to Heaver what he could have done better “if it were me.” No word from Ian Heggie, rumors are circulating he’s going to take the First XI Manager role at Sonning for what would be the largest managerial fall from grace since Steve McLaren.

The game was intense and played in good spirit. Henley wished the England players good luck in the World Cup and can now rest easy for a month or so before the dreaded pre-season fitness begins.