Men’s 1st team back on top!
HC Knole Park’s Men’s 1st team returned to the top of the league in a much improved performance on last week. The defeat to Barnes was the perfect tonic for the team to recheck their diaries, scrub out their plans and ensure they left their Saturday afternoon’s free once more!
The squad was boosted by the return of several 1st team players, but despite this the team were relatively slow to start and it was HAC Sutlers that were first to carve out some chances. Mark Webster dealt with the early threats superbly in the Knole Park goal showing his quality and experience to keep the score at 0-0.
As the half progressed the Knole Park forwards started to find some space and some lovely skills by Will Gough-Cooper won the first penalty corner of the match which Duncan Parnis coolly dispatched. Moments later Parnis followed this up with a superb individual effort as he rounded six or seven defenders before calmly placing the ball into the bottom corner. This goal seemed to spark HAC into action once more and a string of attacks and penalty corners meant they scored a well-deserved and exquisitely taken backhand strike. Not to be outdone Fin Webster threw in an ankle breaking v-drag before smashing an excellent power shot into the bottom corner from the left hand shoulder of the D.
The second half proved once again to be the better half for Knole Park as the youngsters pushed the tempo of the match and the team rolled the ball around in true Knole Park style. The quality and energy of pressing from Adam Ward created havoc in the HAC defence and their outletting patterns were all at sea. As the pressure told, it was the penalty corners that seemed to be HAC’s Achilles heel as Parnis scored four more set piece goals for his double hat-trick, before another solo effort took him to seven for the afternoon. HAC did score one more goal on the break towards the end of the game, but it was Knole Park that had the final say as another run from Parnis put the ball on a plate for star forward Ward who got his reward for a superb afternoon’s work. A really enjoyable match and a 9-2 victory. Player of the Match was the musical pro Will Gough-Cooper who put in a sensational performance in a great weekend for the club!
Next week Knole Park welcome second placed London Edwardians to Kent for another top of the table clash. The team hope they can go one better than last time it was first v second!
Ladies 1st team hit double figures again!
HC Knole Park’s Ladies 1st team scored 13 goals to take their goal tally up to 64 goals and stay top of the league after just six matches.
The team started in familiar fashion as Lottie Bingham opened the scoring with a superb individual goal. Further goals from Lottie, Belle Kramer, Cara Gould, Josefina Hippe, Phoebe Gough-Cooper and a lovely solo goal from debutant Harriet Medlen made the score 7-0 at half time.
The second half followed a familiar pattern as Lottie re-opened the scoring from a penalty corner, before scoring again moments later to take her tally to four for the match. Cara Gould scored two more for her hat-trick, before Jessica Lewis and Polly Brownlow scored a goal each to make the final score 13-0. Blackheath were very magnanimous in defeat and were very impressed with the skills and team work of the young Knole Park team which was really appreciated.
The Player of the Match couldn’t be split between the attacking duo of Polly Brownlow and Charlotte Watkins who were at the centre of everything positive from Knole Park. Debutant Polly’s energy, pressing, assists and goal up front was a welcome addition to the 1st team’s forward line. Whilst Charlotte’s individual skills and passing were second to none and she picked up three assists for the match! Superb stuff!
This win moves Knole Park nine points clear at the top of the league with one more match against Gore Court to play before the Christmas break.
