HC Knole Park’s Men’s 1st Team produce an excellent team performance the week before the league starts!
HC Knole Park’s Men’s 1st Team beat Burnt Ash 2s on Saturday as they completed their pre-season programme ahead of their new league campaign in the Kent league structure. Four goals from talisman, Duncan Parnis, and a superb individual goal from Lars Hansen saw them beat higher league opposition Burnt Ash 2s 5-1.
The team has been training together now for just over two months are really starting to gel. In a dominant first half, Knole Park started very well and created a number of chances in attack with some excellent passing, movement and individual skills. Burnt Ash did have a couple of counter-attacks in the first half, but the play was mostly in favour of the home side. After a barrage of penalty corners, Duncan scored the first goal of the match into the top corner! 1-0.
The second half was a more open game and the midfield trio of Duncan, Charlie Harrison and Lars Hansen started linking up more. Adam Ward and Matt Hebden in the forwards also looked to threatening as Knole Park launched more attacks. Shortly into the second half Duncan scored two excellent individual goals to complete his hat-trick. Eliminating a few defenders both times before slotting the ball into the goal with confidence. Duncan’s fourth was a similar effort as he rounded the excellent Burnt Ash goalkeeper before finishing into the open goal. Moments later youngster Lars Hansen scored a very similar goal as he rounded the final couple of defenders and the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the empty goal. Burnt Ash were much better in the second half too and scored a well-deserved goal towards the end of the match. Despite excellent play from debutant Riley Webster, fellow U14 Jago Ongley-Dellar and many good saves from David Gough-Cooper Burnt Ash scored with a good finish.
The final score finished 5-1 to Knole Park who travel to Holcombe 6s on Saturday afternoon in the first game of the season.
Player-Coach, Duncan Parnis, said: “It’s been a very tough summer for everyone. To be able to get out and play some hockey has been great for everyone’s mental health and well-being. The progress of the new players has been fantastic, linked with those that played last year and the U14s who are growing in confidence all the time. It should be a really exciting season! We look forward to getting started.”
HC Knole Park’s Women’s 1st Team win at East Grinstead tournament.
The HC Knole Park Women’s 1st Team played against East Grinstead 2s and 3s and in a three-way tournament on Saturday. A convincing 9-0 win against EG 3s was followed by a narrower and more exciting 3-2 win against EG 2s.
In the match against EG 3s, the young Knole Park side came flying out of the blocks and scored the goal of the match in the first minute! A sweeping move starting with debutant Betrys Galloni and running through Lottie Bingham, Charlotte Watkins and Anna Faulstich resulted in Lottie smashing the ball into the goal with an excellent forehand strike! Further goals followed in quick succession as the Knole Park team passed and moved to link up and create chances. An opportunity for debutant Amelie Allen was only just missed, before another debutant Sasha Kelbrick slotted home after a good run from Phoebe Gough-Cooper. Annabel Cheveley, another summer signing for Knole Park, scored the third goal of the match from a rebound before last season’s top goal-scorer, Lottie Bingham scored her second goal from the penalty spot. 4-0. The girls continue to play at an amazing tempo and a very good carry from Josefina Hippe saw Annabel score her second of the game. Just before half-time, Elloise Paler, also on debut, set up Amelie Allen for the team’s sixth goal. 6-0.
The second half was a slightly less fluid period, however the Knole Park team continued to create chances. A slick passing move was finished off by Anna Faulstich, before another debutant, Sarah Eversfield tapped in from close range. Sasha Kelbrick scored her second of the match, also from short range after some good work in the D from Captain Ruth Bingham. Final score 9-0.
The match against EG 2s it was a much closer game. In an even opening exchange the Knole Park team were tested a lot more. East Grinstead were able to get the ball out and threaten the defensive unit of Knole Park. Pascale Pottier in goal was called upon many times as EG looked to open the scoring. However, it was Knole Park that did so. A mistake in the midfield by EG was capitalised on by Josefina Hippe as she rounded three defenders and the goalkeeper to slot into an empty net! A really high quality goal! The reply from EG was almost instant however, as a penalty corner hit the defender on the line and the EG forward coolly dispatched the penalty stroke. 1-1
In the second half Knole Park were much better again. More passing, more link-up and more chances created. Elloise Paler was sublime with her carrying and passing and it was her running from half back that proved the difference. Despite going a goal down early in the second half from an outletting error, the rest of the game was very positive for Knole Park. A trademark dribble from Elloise was latched onto by Josefina Hippe who rolled in Amelie Allen for her first goal of this match. The second goal was very similar. The rejuvenated Elloise was involved again, as she beat numerous defenders, before passing to Phoebe Gough-Cooper who slotted home for the winner! The final scored finished 3-2 to Knole Park. An excellent match against a very good team.
Coach, Duncan Parnis, said: “We are really grateful to East Grinstead for putting on the matches and wish them all the best this season. Since the return to play, the whole of the squad at Knole Park has been a pleasure to coach. Throughout pre-season, the level of the women’s 1st team has gone up as everyone gets back to playing and training regularly. It’s great to see all the new players gelling with our players from last season and the standard of all the trainings and match play has been incredible! It’s such a fantastic environment for them to all play their hockey! There are a lot of new and exciting challenges that await us this season and we are hugely excited and we cannot wait to get started!”
Captain, Ruth Bingham, said: “It was fantastic to play a proper match again. We haven’t played one since we won the league back in February! It was great to welcome so many new players to the club and score some wonderful team goals.”
Knole Park Women’s 1st Team host Blackheath 3s on Saturday in their season opener in Kent Division 2.