Winchester Hockey Club Oracle Edition 17
Further success for the U16 boys’ team in the EH Cup this week with a win that takes them to Nottingham to play for the national title in the finals.
This week’s update also has information for those interested in the pathway to becoming a hockey umpire.
Winchester U16 Boys: Marsh Double Sends WHC To National Final!
EH CUP Semi-FINAL V Sevenoaks - SCORE 5 - 1
Scorers: Alfie Marsh (2), Harry Wilson, Harry Cooke, Dylan Coleman
After the previous week’s dramatic win over Surbiton, the Winchester U16 boys served up a far more comfortable victory in the semi-final of the England Hockey National Championship. In front of a lively crowd, Winchester were never seriously threatened and will now travel to Nottingham on Saturday to take on a very strong Bowdon side in the final.
After a cagey start to the game, with both sides moving the ball well but not creating many clear-cut chances, it was Marsh again who provided the game defining moment. With the game still scoreless after 20 minutes, he picked up a loose ball, beat a couple of defenders and slotted coolly passed the Sevenoaks keeper. With the deadlock broken, Winchester then hit their opponents with two quick fire goals, both from short corners. Marsh scored his second, firing in a rebound after a good save, and the impressive Wilson deflected another Lander flick into the net.
The second half started with Winchester in fine form and in total command of the game. Two more goals went in, great shots from Cooke and Coleman, and the game was as good as won. Winchester continued to dominate, but couldn’t add to their score and Sevenoaks gained a consolation goal close to the end.
These are exciting times for this talented bunch of boys. They will head to Nottingham full of confidence that they can compete at the highest level and bring back a national title to round off this difficult season in style.
2021-2022 Season Junior Umpire Training Programme
For any juniors from around school year 9 upwards, wishing to take part in the Club junior umpire training programme, now is the time to start! To complete the national umpiring award the on-line theory course must be completed, and now is a good time to do that, in time for the start of the 2021-22 season.
There is a charge for the theory course part run by England Hockey (EH) and the Club will repay that fee for any juniors wishing to take it. Upon completion the Club will also award a free set of umpire cards.
Come the start of the season, all trainee junior umpires will be given games to umpire (at a level they can handle) and will be helped and mentored by an experienced umpire. As they gain experience, they will then be recommended to be assessed for EH National Level 1 umpire award and with that achieved they will be able to umpire a wide range of matches. The award will enable the junior umpire to claim £10 umpiring fee for Winchester HC matches umpired and is also a great thing to add to any junior player’s CV, as well as being a skill for life.
You may have noticed Matt De Lara has recently been “umpired assessed” and he has now qualified as a Level 1 umpire. Well done (again), Matt.
Last summer several juniors did complete their national theory ward and were given their set of Winchester HC umpiring cards. They have started to cover a few matches in this last, very disrupted season and hopefully they will all soon be ready to be assessed to gain their Level 1 award (as Matt has done) recently.
Can all new budding junior umpires please contact Richard Macer, in the first instance? Matt’s father, Paul de Lara, has recently volunteered to run the junior umpiring programme and he will be preparing all-comers for the new season, as and when all the volunteers are known. That will signal the start of we hope a vibrant youth umpiring programme from now on!