Hockey Club Knole Park’s ladies made it nine wins in a row and are on the brink of winning the Kent Division Six league title as they recorded a superb 11-0 win over Tunbridge Wells on Saturday afternoon. Knole Park now move 12 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 games against Tunbridge Wells, second placed Wells showed some real 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 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 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. So onto the 22nd February and the home tie against Blackheath and a chance to win the title.
Goal-Scorers: Lottie Bingham (6), Anna Faulstich (3), Polly Brownlow and Sally Paler.
HC Knole Park’s Men’s 1st team return to the Top of the League!
HC Knole Park’s Men’s 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.
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.
Goal-Scorers: Duncan Parnis (2).
