Senior Match Report 3rd Oct 2020

HC Knole Park Men make it two from two!

HC Knole Park Men’s 1s hosted Old Williamsonian’s Men’s 3s on Saturday at the club’s new home venue at Radnor House School. In a very tough match, Knole Park bounced back from going a goal down to win 5-1. A first Men’s 1st team goal from Louis van den Rijse and four from Duncan Parnis sealed the victory and moved the team up to second in the table.

A very tight first half, chances came and went for both sides, however the match remained scoreless.

A good half-time team talk meant Knole Park came out with more accuracy and a more clinical second half was a joy to watch! Old Williamsonian’s took an early lead in the first few minutes of the second half. Some nice interplay saw their centre forward finish from close range. However with a change of gear coming out of half time, the team responded immediately. Some fantastic midfield play from youngsters Charlie Harrison and Lars Hansen, put in Maarten de Widt who passed to Dave Smith. His delightful reverse pass to Louis van den Rijse meant all Louis had to do was roll it into the empty goal! The goal of the match!

Moments later, Duncan Parnis then put Knole Park into a 2-1 lead after a mazy dribble through the OWs defence. The third and fourth goals both came from set-pieces: a well worked penalty corner and a penalty stroke from Duncan to complete his hat-trick, before a trademark open play strike from Duncan late on sealed the win and the 3 points!

Next week the team travels to Herne Bay 3s. Both teams currently have 100% records so it should be a cracking match!

HC Knole Park Women produce an excellent performance in Round 2!

HC Knole Park’s Women’s 1st team won 19-0 on Saturday in the second round of the Kent Division Two league. Once again the team had eight different goal-scorers in a good natured match. Lottie Bingham top scored with four goals and there were hat-tricks for Anna Faulstich, Polly Brownlow and Ruth Bingham, as well as two goals for Charlotte Watkins (2), Amelie Allen (2) and single goals for Josefina Hippe & Sasha Kelbrick.

Lottie Bingham started ‘on fire’ on Saturday as she dominated the midfield throughout the first half. She was involved in the first five goals for Knole Park. The first two were excellent penalty corner finishes. For the team’s third and fourth goals she eliminated a number of defenders before rolling in Polly Brownlow & Sasha Kelbrick to finish. Lottie’s hat-trick was a goal out of the top drawer! Intercepting the ball, Lottie took on the Old Williamsonian’s defence before brilliantly rounding the goalkeeper to finish. The final goal of the half was scored by Charlotte Watkins in her first game of the season for the women’s 1s.

The second half was a much improved performance as Captain Ruth Bingham gave some very clear instructions on what to improve to the team. Then leading by example Ruth scored one of the goals of the game as her penalty corner strike flew into the bottom corner! Moments later she pounced onto a pass from Polly to finish from close range. Polly then scored her second of the match after some superb work from Anna Faulstich. More good skills from Josefina Hippe saw Amelie Allen score her first goal of the match. Polly then finished off a wonderful flowing team move where Elloise Paler assisted to Polly with accuracy.

Then came the goal of the match as Charlotte Watkins took the ball from a long corner and rifled the ball into the top corner of the goal - an absolute rocket! Further penalty corner goals from Anna (2), Amelie and Lottie, as well as two excellent finishes from Josefina Hippe (assisted by Anna) and Anna Faulstich (assisted by Ruth) to finish off the match.

Old Williamsonian’s were very magnanimous in defeat and their goalkeeper was excellent throughout The Women’s 1s host Marden Russets 2s next week in what is looking like an early season top of the table clash as 1st plays 2s in the league. Knole Park will have to start well to ensure they are ready for this one!

Socially distance watching is permitted at Tonbridge School for an 11.15am start.