Marlow's seconds teams steal the mid-season spotlight

Captain Sam North led a training session ahead of the men’s 1sts friendly with the men’s eights this weekend. Photo credit:@gmwsportphoto

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With Marlow’s first teams resting aching limbs during the mid-season break in the England Hockey League, attention turned to the club’s other teams whose league fixtures continue for a further two weekends.

The men’s second team took the short trip to play table-topping Henley’s first team, in South Central Prem 2, knowing that victory would see the two sides swap league places. Alas, it was not to be, Henley securing a 2-0 win with penalty corner strikes either side of half time. The defeat leaves Marlow fourth in the table, five points behind Henley, but with two sides to be promoted, there is all to play for in the second half of the season.

The women’s second team had a slightly longer trip in their own South Central Prem 2 fixture, visiting mid-table Southampton University W1s.

Having had a frustrating time in front of goal in some of their recent games, it all clicked for Marlow who returned home with a thumping 6-0 win.

Particularly pleasing was the hat-trick by Vic Allen in her first game back after a long injury. The win leaves the W2s also fourth in their league, but catching the top two in the table, Winchester W1s and Havant W1s, seems unlikely.

Further down the club, four sides have excellent prospects of promotion from their respective leagues. The men’s thirds - despite a shock 1-0 home defeat to Henley 2s - the men’s fourths - after a tight 3-2 win against Reading 4s - and the women’s fifth team - 3-0 winners at Wycombe 4s - all top their tables, while the women’s fourths (3-1 winners against Reading 6s) are in second place.

Leaving the best to last, the match which captured the imagination of everyone in the club was the inaugural fixture between the men’s 1sts and the men’s eights.

The M8s were newly formed this season as a first step into adult hockey for junior players, ably supported by skipper Toby Arnold and a few other seasoned campaigners.

The youngsters loved the warmup session led by Men’s first team captain, Sam North, and greatly enjoyed the mix of game play and coaching which followed.

Highlight of the afternoon was young Owain Ashton’s demonstration to his M1s stalwart father Matt of how to roof a drag flick.

This seems likely to be the first of what promises to be an annual event.