W1s. What is to be said about our W1s – Andy’s Aces? What a team, we are so proud of them. Led by Ellie Rob (Robbo) this team has guts and talent in abundance. If anyone (David LW) has access to the Women’s league records, we would love to see them for this is surely a record for the W1s. 15 wins from 15 games, goal difference of plus 48: 54 scored and just 6 conceded all season. The team has confidence, strength, and depth.
In any other season this would surely be enough to secure the league but alas Guildford, in second place, are not giving up and are pushing us to the wire. Guildford are just 3 points behind us and we play them at home in the final game of the season. No team in this league is a pushover however, so there is still work to be done and two tough games before that encounter beckons.
We go away to Wayfarers this week, before coming home to the ‘Gate for the last 2 games, let’s get them to that last game against Guildford with a huge home crowd to cheer them on.
W2s. Our W2s play in the London Prem, just one league below the W1s, this league is a tough gig. Despite losing some key players mid-season and being dogged by injuries, the team sits a very respectable 7th having won 8, lost 8, drawn 3. Above us it’s an open field and we are leading the chasing pack. The games are frustratingly close each week with narrow margins. We have pushed the top 3 teams, Teddington, Tulse Hill and Wapping hard in those games and have notched up notable victories against other club’s 1st teams such as West Herts, Wanderers, Chiswick and Kings & Alleyne.
In the last few weeks Coach Charles and new Captain Rhi Hart have guided the team to a string of wins most recently beating Wapping 2s 3:0. They play Surbiton next who sit just one place above them, before playing Tulse Hill who they will be looking to turn over having narrowly losing 2:1 to them in December.
W3s. The W3 are having a stormer of a season currently sitting 2nd just 3 points off the leaders Ham & West. It’s been a 3 horse race most of the way between Southgate, Harrow and Ham & West and were going strongly until a couple of games in February saw us lose our mojo and we slipped behind Harrow. However, Captain Mim and Coach Lucca rallied the troops and they pushed through, concentrating on their own game and waiting for Harrow to slip up. And slip up they did last weekend. So, in a plot twist, we find ourselves above Harrow in second place, 3 points off the leaders, with 3 games to go. Our goal tally with 67 scored (14 against RUMS in one game) and 18 conceded is not too shabby at all. We play the league leaders Ham & West in the penultimate game that could decide the league.
W4s. Our W4s, newly promoted last season find themselves sitting in 8th place in their new division. There aren’t many easy games in this league and Spencer have run away at the top scoring 80 goals. Our ranks have been boosted by the return to the fray of some experienced players in Maz and Zoe G and the junior talent coming through. New captain Michelle has managed to steady the ship and they have notched up 3 wins from 3 in the last few weeks beating Chiswick in an 8:3 thriller and despatching East London 5:0. They play Wapping at home this weekend and will be hunting for the win that should see them safe in that division.
W5s. It’s been a mixed season for our newly promoted W5s, just 6 wins and no draws show just how tough it’s been. They sit 8th in the league but there is not much between the lower teams, another win is needed from the remaining 3 games. The goal difference of -4 tells its own story but that is now being steadily clawed back thanks to the arrival of our superstar juniors who started playing senior hockey after Christmas. They are a joy, quick, skilful and annoy the opposition like mad. They also come with rather handy Mums who run the side-line, offer words of comfort, prop up the senior players and even provide sweets. The team finally has some consistency and is playing as a team. Sarah’s experience and tactics combined with Bhu’s recruitment, organisation and boundless energy are a heady combination. The results are frustratingly close and the team really do deserve to have won more games. They deserve a place in this league, one more win should do it.