University of Nottingham 3

Ben Rhydding Women 1

Ben Rhydding Ladies 1st XI travelled to Nottingham to take on the students at the summit of Division One North. The visitors hoped to build on the solid team performance that saw them take three points against Gloucester the previous weekend.

It took the table-topping hosts 20 minutes to find their way through when a reverse stick strike from Nike Lorenz opened the scoring at the start of the second quarter.

The Rhydding midfield, led by skipper Sophie Davies, worked tirelessly in the press to hold off a Nottingham attack and keeper, Charlotte Smith, put in a player of the match performance for a fearless performance in goal. The score remained 1-0 until the final quarter. Lorenz slotted home a second from a 56th minute penalty corner and a clinical field goal from former Rhydding player, Minnie Pollock, secured Nottingham’s 10th win in a row. However, Ben Rhydding refused to give up and grabbed a late consolation through Tanisha Janzen.

 

Ben Rhydding Men 3

Chesterfield 0

The men chalked up a 3-0 victory over Chesterfield to go top of the league as previous leaders, Lindum, were unable to raise a team for their game and did not play.

Rhydding took the whole of the first half to eventually turn possession into goals. Chesterfield played some organised and creative hockey that tested Rhydding on the break a few times but they had very little of the ball. Just before half time Charlie Smith took a glorious solo goal on his back hand to give his side a timely lead.

Not long into the new half, Will Musgrave put away a corner and as Chesterfield tired, Rhydding attacked the gaps and a third goal was scored by a sparkling Musgrave and Smith combo. With a further goal disallowed and Smith hitting the crossbar, it could have been a bigger tally, but Rhydding got the job done with some composed and technically outstanding hockey.

Ben Rhydding v University of Durham, Saturday (March 19) at 1.30pm – Birch Family Outing!

This Saturday the men travel to Stockton while the women entertain Durham University at 1.30pm at Ben Rhydding Sports Club. This match sees the reunion of the Birch twins as Rebecca, now playing at Ben Rhydding will be up against her twin sister Katie who now plays for Durham. Both have recently returned from playing their hockey in the US and this will be their first competitive encounter at Ben Rhydding – Durham having won the game between the two sides in Durham last November. Keeping it in the family their brother, Matt, has recently been appointed as the women’s first team coach – a role he takes on alongside playing for the men.