A new year and a jam packed Roundup! Covering the Marlow action for the first two weeks of 2020.
If you have any sports stories you want to share, match results, feel your club should be included or know of someone who deserves a mention in the roundup next week, email me: ben.dawson@mymarlow.co.uk
HOCKEY
Marlow Men’s teams
With league action resuming on Saturday the 1st team made a good start by doing the double over Witney away in winning 3-1 and keeping third place in the MBBO 1st Regional league. The team had prepared well during the week and were confident in defence against a physical Witney side.
Marlow always looked threatening on the counter and the third goal was testament to the quality of of that to help secure all 3 points. Their goals were scored by Matt Bilsland (2) and Lewis Goodman next Saturday they will be playing Reading 3 at Pound Lane at 1.30pm.
The 2nd XI hosted Milton Keynes 2nd XI and made a strong start. A team goal was converted by Leo Pennant, with his first league goal. More chances followed but MK dug in and fought back to 1-2 at half-time. Marlow equalised to make it 2-2 but subsequently lost the lead again in what became a ding dong affair. With 15 minutes to go the side were 3-4 down, but continued to create opportunities. Goals from Matt Ashton and a well taken finish from James Ashburner proved enough to take all the points
Other Men’s results: –
- Marlow 3rds lost at home 2-1 to top of the league S.Berks 2
- Marlow 4ths beat OMT 3 away 2-1
- Marlow 5ths beat Oxford OBU 5 3-0 at home
- Marlow 6ths beat Aylesbury 4 4-1 away
- The Strollers (veterans) lost 4-1 away to Stoke Green.
Marlow Ladies’ teams
After the long festive break all teams were in action with a mixed bag of results. The 1s lost away 3-2 away to Reading Ladies 2s. The 2s claimed a 2-1 victory over Amersham and Chalfont Ladies 2s, the 3 points gained seeing them move into second position of Trysports Premier 1. The 3s faced a tough fixture away to run away league leaders of Premier 2, Phoenix and Ranelagh Ladies 1s and unfortunately lost 4-1. The 4s secured a much needed victory against bottom of the league Abingdon 1s, winning 3-1. The 5s travelled to Amersham & Chalfont to play against their Ladies 4s who were lying below them in the league in 3rd place. A 2-1 defeat meant they swapped places in Division 3. The 6s who have won 8 out of 11 league fixtures were unfortunately defeated 3-2 at home to Thame Ladies 4s. However they still sit as comfortable league leaders of Division 7.
Marlow Juniors
There was a large programme of junior matches from Under 12s upwards and the most notable results were:-
- U16 A team boys beat Wycombe U16 boys 2-0
- U16 B team boys beat West Herts 2-1
- U16 B girls beat Wycombe U16A team 8-0
- U14 girls beat Spencer 1-0
On 20th December Marlow Hockey Club welcomed back players, both girls and boys, from Universities all over the country. This is an initiative started by Kate Porter last season to keep the connection to Marlow for these players and also a chance for them all to catch up. The match format would usually be Uni players against current U18s, but there were so many Uni players that turned up, they were split into Uni year 1, and Uni year 2 and above. A round robin tournament was played and the winners being the Uni Year 1 side, who were presented with the KP Cup by chairman Keith Packer.
Special Mention
Great Marlow School PE teacher Lottie Porter top scored with nine goals for Buckingham Hockey Club in the England Hockey indoor premier league, held in Telford over the last two weekends. Lottie’s goals helped Buckingham to a record of played 7, won 4, drew 2, lost 1, including a notable draw with last year’s champions East Grinstead, for whom Rio gold medalist Sophie Bray was the star performer. Buckingham finished the league in the top 4, and thus qualified for the second year running for the Jaffa Super 6 finals day, the biggest date in the domestic hockey calendar, to take place at the Copper Box on Sunday February 2nd.
RUGBY
Marlow Men’s 1st XV
A tense and nail biting defeat for Marlow at home against Reading Abbey, which could have gone either way, however Abbey came out on top by the tightest of margins, 32-33. Marlow had seemingly secured the 4 try bonus point win by the 47th minute of the match after a dominant 1st half performance against Abbey
James Forsyth playing on his debut bagged 2 tries and was part of yet another new back row combination including the combative Ryan McGealy and James Branch returning from injury. Harry Yeomans, switching from scrum-half to right wing scored Marlow’s second try and Charlie Cotton had another solid game in the centre, touching down twice. Marlow were 11-25 up with 30 minutes to play and the slope in their favour; all the ingredients of a rout against a seemingly demoralised Abbey side.
The next 20 minutes saw a complete turnaround in spirit and fortune as Abbey ran in 3 tries and slotted a penalty to make it 33-25. Suddenly Marlow realised that the game was slipping away and with 5 minutes to play secured phase after phase to set up a great team try punctuated by an individually excellent finish from Charlie Cotton bringing it back to 32-33. Marlow pressed and forced 2 kickable but difficult penalties in last 5 minutes but Christian Witney was just wide with the 1st and with virtually the last kick of the game the 2nd fell short of the posts.
The following week, Marlow came back strong against Stow-on-the-wold, after going 7-0 down at half time, three Marlow tries in the second half secure them a 7-19 win away from home.
Marlow Ladies XV
Marlow Ladies were the visitors at Reading Abbey for their first game back after a well earned Christmas break. Hoping to turn around their recent fortune after a run of two defeats, Marlow were fired up for the game ahead. Unfortunately, almost immediately after kick off, Reading took advantage of a disorganised Marlow defence and were able to run in two successive tries in short order. Fortunately for Marlow, neither was converted and the score remained 10-0.
The early Reading tries served as a wake up call for Marlow and they were quick to respond, Phae Cocks able to squeeze over the line into the corner after a strong run and offload from Marlow’s ever-present number 8, Linda Kavumbura. Soon after, Phae reacted quickly by breaking away from the back of a ruck and running through a slow to react Reading to score directly under the posts. Linda Kavumbura promptly converted to leave Marlow leading 10-12. This lead was short lived however, and as half time approached, a tired Marlow back line allowed Reading to break through twice in quick succession, scoring on both occasions to go in at half time leading 20-12.
As the players returned for the second half, Marlow were able to reduce the deficit immediately. After catching the ball from the Reading kick off, Linda Kavumbura showing great strength and speed, ran in a superb try, shrugging off several tackles in the process. Almost unbelievably, the next kick off by Reading was caught by Phae Cocks who managed the same feat as Linda, again shrugging off several Reading tackles to add a further score to Marlow’s tally. With both tries converted, Marlow now lead 20-26.
Shortly afterwards Reading responded after good running from their number 14 and a quick offload to score into the Marlow corner, reducing the deficit to 1 point. Marlow responded quickly however, with Kavumbura and Cocks linking up again to restore the 6 point lead. As the final whistle approached, Reading again put pressure on Marlow with a well worked try, denied taking the lead only by the upright. What could’ve been a tense last 2 minutes was relieved by an excellent team try for Marlow scored by Karen Mellor. Marlow finished an exciting and entertaining game as 30-36 winners.
A week later against Oxford Ladies, Marlow were not in as high spirits after being shut out 0-25 at home, with Marlow still looking to catch High Wycombe at the top of the table.
Inspired by this amazingly exciting game and result? Well, why not try something new this decade?
Marlow ladies are an amazing group of women, that welcome ladies of any age or ability.
Why not come to a free taster session this Thursday 16th Jan , you might surprise yourself 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/marlowladiesgirls/
FOOTBALL
Marlow FC
Marlow FC’s 2-1 win over Romania FC was overshadowed by an alleged incident of racial abuse towards one of the Marlow players. Marlow Manager Mark Bartley has called for FA to show that these incidents have no place in non league football.
A week later Marlow suffered a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Hanwell Town. The Blues will be disappointed with the result as they were leading 2-1 at half time.
Marlow United
Marlow United’s new year has not started in the way they would have hoped, a 1-1 draw to Didcot Town Development and suffering a 5-1 loss to Milton United.
