Bridgwater Hockey Club captains look back at 2017/18 season

Q. What were your aims at the start of the season?

Men’s 1st XI (captain Tom Lott)

“Our target at the beginning of the season was to get promoted, after being relegated the previous two seasons.

“Unfortunately we finished fourth, not quite reaching our target, but after a poor start to the season playing the top two teams in the first few games, we turned our season around to be reasonably happy.”

Ladies 1st XI (Cass Walker): “At the start of the season, it was difficult to place where we would end up in the league.

“After a couple years of floating dangerously near the bottom, the aim was to wrap up safety early on.

“After finishing in sixth place, a huge 12 points ahead of seventh, their aim was definitely achieved, with the team looking to be on the rise.

“After welcoming a few new faces, the team gelled really quickly, and the team spirit was key.”

Men’s 2nd XI (Mike Morrish): “We aimed for promotion after relegation last year, but with a new squad, it’s never straightforward.

“We did have quite a settled team in the end, and did well to finish in the top half.”

Ladies 2nd XI (Clare Wilson): “We wanted to build a good core team which would make playing together better and lead to winning games.

“I think we achieved this and showed great teamwork throughout the season.”

Men’s 3rd XI (Phil Morrish): “We wanted to establish a regular side, but the team was different every week due to availability of teams above and the players’ ability to go away from home.

“We ended up being relegated, having wanted at least to stay up.”

ACTION: Bridgwater C take on Minehead B

Men’s 4th XI (Kev Hicks): “Last season the 4ths didn’t win a single game and were relegated, so we were aiming to steady the ship, and be competitive in the division below.

“We certainly achieved this, finishing fourth, not far off promotion.

“Most importantly, we had a competitive mix of youth and experience, and were in with a shout in pretty much every game.”

Men’s 5th XI (Steve Morrish): “This season was a tough one.

“Early on I wasn’t even sure we could get a team out, as finding new players was hard, but we pushed forward and found some extra legs.

“Some weeks were a struggle and we knew that the top three (Sidmouth and Ottery D, ISCA E and Mid Somerset B) would be stronger than us.

“It was going to be close between us, East Devon D and Ashmoor C.

“We managed to field at least 11 every week, so we exceeded our target, finishing third – a huge bonus.”

Q. Who was your player of the season?

Men’s 1s: “Tom Lott, who scored 29 league goals throughout the season and accumulated the most man of the match votes from other players on the team.”

Ladies 1s: “Sapphy Reed-Yang, in her first year at the club after leaving Swansea University.

“Sapphy epitomised the team spirit, always giving 100 per cent every game, never having a bad word to say about anyone and always contributing to every game.

“In a season where goals were hard to come by, we could always rely on her to get the goal that made the difference in the game.”

Men’s 2s: “Harry Rose, who played lots of games and was consistent, not making many mistakes.

“Mulberry Threlfall-Eyres won the club award for best young player, while Will Kelly scored a hatful of goals.

Ladies 2s: “Hilary McNeil, who was a solid central defender all season and saved us many times from conceding goals.”

CONTEST: Bridgwater Ladies 2nds take on Taunton Vale 5ths

Men’s 3s: “Goalkeeper Dom Rauch, who certainly had lots to do!”

Men’s 4s: “Alex Howe pushed on again.

“He is a very skilled young player, and opposition players are misled by his small stature.

“Alex is strong, as a defender takes the ball off much older experienced players effortlessly, and then proceeds to dribble round them and distribute the ball well.”

Men’s 5s: “Toby Knight, who was also the joint best player last season.

“He started in the 5ths but was up in the 4ths, where I was told he struggled a little bit.

“For a young player who is small he has a huge heart and can go a long way.

“He found himself back in the 5th XI and was put into a key role in the middle of the park where he flourished.”

Q. Who was your most improved player?

Men’s 1s: “Todd Barrett, who scored 11 goals from the right wing, which is his highest goal tally for a season in the first team.”

Ladies 1s: “Our most improved players this year were Willow Hobbs – who grabbed the best youth female award – and Beth Porter.

“At the start of the season, the pair were flitting between playing 1st and 2nd XI hockey, so weren’t able to have a consistent run.

“But they really started to shine around the halfway stage of the season and have merited their run in the 1st team towards the end of the year.

“As the only younger players in the side, they’ve really matured this year and we’ll reap the benefits of this improvement next season!”

Men’s 2s: “Lewis Coad has stepped up a few levels in the last two seasons and is maturing well, never looking out of his depth.”

Ladies 2s: “Lauren Morrish and Jess Shobbrook – both of these young players have listened to advice and improved in all aspects of their game.”

Men’s 4s: “It’s between Alex Howe and Tyler Coleman, both young players really finding their feet in senior hockey.

“They both have very bright futures in the sport and at the club.”

Men’s 5s: “Too many to mention, but will give it a go...

“Christian Durkin got some pads and went in goal, improving each and every week, to make the position his own.

“Harvey Larcombe showed more confidence on the ball, never gave up, and scored some key goals.”

Q. Who was your ‘unsung hero’?

Men’s 1s: “Pete Saunders, as the club and first team was in a keeper crisis and Pete came out of retirement after injuring his back, slotting back into the first team to make the position his own.”

Men’s 2s: “Our keeper Brandon Durkin has moved up a lot of levels quickly, as a number of our more experienced keepers have retired or left the club.

“He’s had some good games and tough games, but improved week on week.”

Ladies 2s: “Karen Chilcott, who stepped up to go in goal when our keeper got injured for a few games.

“Karen had never played in goal and was coming back from injury herself at the time.”

Men’s 3s: “It has to be Kieran Wood.

“An unfussy performer, played lots of games, and grabbed cups of coffee for the opposition ladies team in the match before us, when one of their players was injured and waiting for paramedics.”

Men’s 4s: “Alex McNeill stepped in to captain when I was wasn’t available, and I also had a couple of injuries.

“This really helped keep things together.”

Men’s 5s: “James Kettlewell didn’t get too many cards this season, always drove (one of only four over the age of 18 to play), and kept the kids going with his quality defending.

“Sue Durkin for allowing Christian to go in goal and driving the 5th XI ‘bus’; and Alan Baldwin for being coach, driver, player and mentor.”

Q. Which match brought the team’s best performance?

Men’s 1s: “Our best performance of the season would have to be the home match against Chippenham – a team we lost 8-2 against in the away fixture.

PASS: Jordan Rawles against Taunton Vale

“We beat them 4-3 in true Bridgy style, and I think Chippenham were by far the best team in the league, so beating them was a big success.

Ladies 1s: “We’ve had two standout games this year, both important for different reasons.

“Firstly we defeated Clifton Robinsons in the league, on their turf.

“At this stage, they were unbeaten in the league and had won every game at home, looking to walk to the league title.

“We turned up and spoiled the day, winning 2-1 with goals from Sapphy and Sue Chaplin – it was a game that really highlighted the importance of our team spirit.

“Our second was in the third place playoff for the Somerset Cup, where we defeated Weston 4-0.

“After losing to them in both league games, we went out with a massive point to prove – and in winning 4-0, we certainly proved ourselves a worthy opponent.”

Men’s 2s: “Probably the away game against Firebrands, which we won 9-1.

“It’s always a difficult place to go, as they are a big club with strength in depth, so it was very satisfying.”

Ladies 2s: “White Eagles 2nds at home, as we played great passing hockey and beat them 3-2.

“They were top of the table and had not lost a game up until that point in the season!”

Men’s 3s: “There were games in which we were smashed, but there were also games where we played well and still got beaten unfortunately.

“The league ultimately proved too strong for us.

“Relegation is never good, but we can rebuild in a league where we are not going to be outplayed every week.

“We’re dropping down tier for next season, and we may be in South East 2, subject to any league re-structure.”

Men’s 4s: “We had a couple of big wins by 14 goals to nil, but probably one of the best was turning round our home game against Sherborne.

“The game see-sawed, and we had to show some character to get in front, and then consolidate, to grab a strong 8-2 win.”

Men’s 5s: “There were some good wins during the season, but it was the last two games where we were a goal down with minutes to go and fought to a 3-3 draw with Ashmoor and 2-2 draw against East Devon.

“We gave it everything, never stopped and the young players really showed how they can play and how much they hated losing.”

Q. What are your hopes for next year?

Men’s 1s: “We should be playing in the same league next season, and our target has to be to get promoted and build on this season.”

Ladies 1s: “Our aim in the league next year is to carry on the work of the last season.

“With our league only just finishing, but the summer league about to begin, the hard work will be starting almost immediately!

“We’ll be aiming to finish in the top half of the league but knowing we can give a serious challenge to any team on our day.”

Men’s 2s: “We will be in the same league next year and hope to finish at least as high if not higher.”

Ladies 2s: “We will be in Sedgemoor Division 2 after finishing sixth this season.

“Our aim next season is to try to beat this and get into the top five.”

Men’s 4s: “We’ll be in the same league, and with a couple of more wins, we could be in the promotion places.

“We may be in the same league as the 3rds, so it would be nice if we were both promoted!”

Men’s 5s: “Hopefully we will be in a league with 10-12 teams in it, as you can get too familiar with the opposition, playing them four times apiece.

“But if nothing changes it will be South East 3, hopefully getting a team out.”

Q. Are you hoping to keep a similar squad to this year?

Men’s 1s: “We would hope to keep the nucleus of the same team, but with a few players leaving for university there is always room for new faces, which is something we would like to happen to make the next step.” 

Ladies 1s: “Without knowing quite who’s coming and going, we’re unsure about the composition of our team next year.

“Whoever stays and goes, we know we’ve got a really good core of the side.

“We may have a few players returning from university and their travels, to strengthen our squad.”

Men’s 2s: “The 2nds will be affected by the needs of the 1sts next season.

“I can see a couple of the talented younger players making a strong case to go up, and swap out some of this year’s 1sts.

“It would be great to nudge ahead to go for a couple more wins, and get close to promotion.

“We may lose a couple of the younger players if they head off to university.”

Ladies 2s: “We have built a great team this year and hope to keep the same squad for next year; everyone has trained well and played hard in matches.

“We do, however, always welcome new faces and would love for new people to come down to training and join the club.”

Men’s 3s: “We are aiming for a more settled squad of committed players for next season.

“Our 3rds and 4ths are quite close in ability, so we may introduce some younger faces from the 4ths into the squad for next season.”

Men’s 4s: “The 4ths will lose their captain, as I’m going to be living in Germany – I hope to guest if I can though!

“Otherwise if we can keep the same nucleus, now with a positive season under our belts, we should be able to push on.”

Men’s 5s: “As the bottom team we lose players all of the time.

“There are some new faces coming of age and will be eligible next year.

“Hopefully not too many players will leave for higher up.

“But we are here to develop kids in not only hockey, but personal skills, to enjoy sport, be positive and most importantly have a good time.

“On reflection, I think we did a good job of that this year.”