HC Knole Park were in celebration mode again this weekend as the U18A Girls won the South-East Indoor Championships and have qualified for the National Indoor Finals in January. The U14A Girls were also celebrating as their draw with top of the league Guildford means they have qualified for the England Hockey Supra League. All three adult’s teams picked up three points and every member of the club was offered matches as the U8s, U10s and U12s all played in their festivals. Finally, the Women’s 1st team played and won an exhibition match against the English Universities XI too!
The U18A Girls beat both East Grinstead and Woking on Sunday as they won the South-East Indoor Championships in convincing style! The girls beat Sussex Champions East Grinstead 11-4 with goals from Amelie (5), Annabel (2), Lottie (2), Jessica, and Camille. Then they beat Surrey Champions Woking 11-3 to seal the title. Goals from Annabel (4), Lottie (3), Amelie, Jessica, Camille, and Polly. The team have now progress to the National Finals in Nottingham in the new year for a chance to win the title they won last season!
The U14A Girls drew 2-2 with top of the league Guildford in a fantastic end to end match. A goal in each half from Georgie and then Emily B. Chances for both sides came and went for a winner but it wasn’t to be! The draw secures Knole Park’s place in the post-Christmas England Hockey Supra League for all the top teams in England.
The U16A Boys were in action in their Supra League playoff against Epsom. Once again, the boys played very well, but came up short losing 8-3. Goals from Mack, Isaac, and Louis. The U16B Girls were also facing Epsom and lost 5-1 in a tough match. Celia with the only Knole Park goal.
The U12A Girls travelled to Canterbury and won all their matches with Canterbury, Marden Russets and Ashford. Erin top scored with seven goals, and Liv scored four goals. The U10 Girls were also in Canterbury and won all but one match. Caroline scored six times, Imogen four times. The U12 Boys played very well in their tournament with Folkestone, Sevenoaks, and T.Wells. This is the first time the club has been able to field two U12 teams which is a massive plus for the club! Jude and Lucas top scored for Knole Park.
The U8s loved playing in their first tournament of the season too at Old Williamsonians on a freezing morning! It was a great first tournament and we definitely wouldn’t have known it was some people’s first time playing a match. We played with Sevenoaks, Holcombe, Ashford and Old Williamsonians. There were lots of Year 2s and some Year 3s, and there were moments of great skills, passing, goal scoring and loads of effort running up and down. Thank you to OWs for hosting a fantastic morning and to all the players and parents - and especially to our fantastic young coach Sophie!
In the adults section it was three wins from three in the league. In the Men’s 1st team match it took a last-minute winner from Isaac as part of an excellent hat-trick to ensure the team got across the line and picked up the points that keeps them second in the league. Louis and Moritz with the other two in an epic 5-4 win. The Women’s 1st team won 10-0 at Blackheath and Elthamians with goals from Lottie (5), Biba, Amelie, Alessia, Jessica, and Katie, and the Women’s 2s won 7-0 against Dartford. Goals from Aurelia (2), LJ (2), Ella, Amie, and Farrah. Both Women’s teams continue to set the pace in their respective leagues.
In the final match of the weekend the Women’s 1st team played the English Universities XI. The English Universities team is a selected squad from higher education institutes around England and features some of the best U21 players in England. In a superb match, Lottie scored a wonderful opening goal as she danced past the visitor’s defence before slotting the ball home. Lottie doubled the Knole Park advantage from a penalty corner to make it 2-0. The visitors then scored on the break for a 2-1 score at half-time.
Lottie completed her hat-trick early in the second half. After an excellent steal in midfield, she linked up with Phoebe, before rounding the goalkeeper to push the ball into the open goal. A last minute second goal from a penalty corner for the English Universities team made it a 3-2, but the girls held out for a memorable win for Knole Park! It was a joy to watch the girls play such fantastic hockey against such good players. We wish the English Unis the best with their season and international matches in the summer.
This weekend HC Knole Park’s Men’s 1st team travel to Gillingham Anchorians 1s, the Women’s 1s host Cliftonville 1s, and the Women’s 2s travel to Tunbridge Wells 5s. The U16A Girls and U16A Boys are both competing in the South-East Indoor Finals for a chance to try and join the U18 Girls at the National Finals. Whilst closer to home the U14B Girls, U14A Boys and U16B Girls are all playing Tunbridge Wells.