In the first week of the season HC Knole Park fielded five teams across various age groups: the club’s U14, U16 & U18 Girls were all in action, as well as the Men’s and Women’s 1st teams.
The U18 Girls travelled to Nottingham to play the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent. In a wake-up call of a first match the girls were thrashed 9-1! Polly Brownlow finished off a wonderful team goal, but this would be the only goal for the Kent side. Despite this defeat the girls came out fighting the next day and secured two 3-2 wins against the University teams. Against Nottingham Trent goals from Polly Brownlow, Olivia Breed and Summer Knight-Thompson secured one of the 3-2 wins. Then against the University of Nottingham it was Anna Faulstich, Josefina Hippe and Phoebe Gough-Cooper who netted for the victory!
Meanwhile the U14 and U16 Girls travelled to Wimbledon. In two wonderful season opening matches, goals from Boadicea Cannon (2), Celia Foster (2) and Victoria Kern helped the U14 Girls to a 5-3 win. Whilst the U16 Girls won 11-0 with goals from Lottie Bingham (4), Olivia Breed (3), Anna Faulstich (2) and singles from Indira Ferree and Amy Wakeham-Dawson.
In the Adults section the Women enjoyed a pre-season match with Bromley & Beckenham HC. Five goals from Anna Faulstich, a debut hat-trick from Indira Ferree, plus goals from Amelie Allen (2), Josefina Hippe, Lottie Bingham, Ruth Bingham and Robin Zijenbos completed the match. The Men went 3-4 down to Newenden Nomads. In a close match goals from Duncan Parnis, Steve Innes and Louis van den Rijse weren’t quite enough for victory on this occasion.
