LAST DAY SUCCESS TOO LATE
3rd April 2008
Cheltenham Hockey Club 3A team are disappointed to have finished bottom of Hereford and Gloucester One. Hopes were high after their first game, when a solid 1-1 draw gave them a good start after promotion, but they struggled to build on that match.
Younger players such as Matt Goldsmith, George Ratcliffe, Iain Jamieson, Dan Hills and Dean Rae showed dramatic improvements on the previous season.
They hoped a post-Christmas friendly victory over Evesham would kick-start the New Year, but with an increasing lack of available players, they struggled to field a competitive team.
They gained their first win of the season at Stroud in January but this was followed by three heavy defeats in a row, and then a 3-2 defeat to Leominster effectively sealed their drop to Hereford and Gloucester Two.
They rallied towards the end of the season, winning two of their last three matches, ending with a 3-1 success at Newent A.
The club hope to field a more consistent team next season to boost their promotion chances.
CASTLERS ARE UPBEAT
3rd April 2008
Cheltenham Hockey Club's Castlers team believe their prospects are bright for next season after going through a rebuilding process this season. They started the Hereford and Gloucester Two campaign with an almost entirely new line-up after losing numerous key players over the summer.
It took time for the squad to bed into their positions and learn each other's strengths.
Performances improved in the run up to Christmas and their first and only win came against top-half side Winchcombe in January.
With their confidence boosted, the second half of the season looked promising, but a shortage of players led to some heavy defeats and they finished bottom of the table.
Captain David Elks thanked experienced team regulars for their unvarying support, including Peter Millen, Peter Kirkness, Mark Vacher, Dean Rae, Godfrey Morgan and Roy Taylor.
He has congratulated the young players for their commitment, and hailed those who have improved so much over the course of the season, including Eddie Cheadle, James Thomas, Charlie Dolby and Peter Ledger.
He thanked Sam Ridler, Duncan O'Sullivan and Jean-Paul and especially Millen, who captained the side when he was unavailable.
Elks also sent his best wishes to Pete Cole, who missed the second half of the season because of an injury.
