Ladies 1st team on the brink of winning the league! HC Knole Park’s Ladies 1st team made it nine wins in a row and are now on the brink of winning the Kent Division Six league title as they recorded a superb
11-0 win over Tunbridge Wells on Saturday. Knole Park move twelve points clear with just three matches left to play as the season comes to an exciting climax for the club! In the third match of the trilogy of league matches against Tunbridge Wells, second placed T.Wells showed some really quality in the first 10 minutes as the team struggled to open the scoring. However a well worked penalty corner saw Lottie Bingham’s shot stopped on the line by a defender’s foot and the subsequently penalty stroke was expertly converted by Lottie. Polly Brownlow then converted the team’s second goal after a rebound from another penalty corner. Lottie added her second of the match after a lovely long corner set piece move, before becoming the provider for Sally Paler to tap-in on the far post. Just before half-time an excellent run from joint-Player of the Match Polly Brownlow fed Anna Faulstich who flicked the ball into the top corner. 5-0.
The second half was more the same as the ladies continued to play their beautiful flowing hockey. Captain Ruth Bingham was on fire on the right and won a number of unconverted penalty corners. However it was the inter-linking quality of joint-Players of the Match, Lottie and Anna, who combined several times to increase the score line. Anna scored from one of the ten second half penalty corners, before two solo Lottie goals took the team to 8-0. Lottie added two more to take her total to six goals for the day after two selfless assists from Anna. Lottie then returned the favour rolling Anna in for her hat-trick and the team’s eleventh of the match and a 11-0 win. The T.Wells Goalkeeper must be commended for an outstanding performance between the sticks. Despite the big win, Knole Park couldn’t quite secure the title as Tunbridge Wells still have a match in hand and could therefore take the league title to goal difference assuming a huge swing in form from the KP Ladies - which clearly we hope doesn’t happen! So onto the 22nd February and the home tie against Blackheath and a chance to win the title! Book your tickets early - it’s going to be a sell out!!
HC Knole Park’s Men’s 1st team return to the Top of the League!
HC Knole Park’s Men’s 1st team travelled to West London to take on PHC Chiswick on Saturday. In a very even match, two goals from Duncan Parnis were the difference as Knole Park ran out 2-1 winners.
The defensive quartet of David Gough-Cooper, Dale Carman, Rob Harrison & Stuart Medlen had particularly strong games, alongside youngster Lars Hansen who came to life in the second half making a number of strong runs down the right hand side of the pitch. Indy Morris was his usual skilful self and made some good runs from midfield, with Man of the Match Mike Legon producing his performance of the season to help Knole Park launch their attacking plays from deep. The forward line of father and son duo, Matt & Nik Hebden, and Adam Ward worked tirelessly throughout the game to pressurise the Chiswick defence and force the goalkeeper into action on several occasions.
With Barnes dropping points to Hampstead & Westminster, who Knole Park face next week, Knole Park move back to the top of the league with six matches to play.