Another bright weekend at Tuddenham and across the East, although the weather was considerably less obliging. Sunday offered the clearest indication of the club’s growing depth. The U14 girls continued their excellent season with a commanding 13-1 victory over Peterborough and in doing so moved confidently into the next round of the cup. The club also hosted an U10s tournament against Bury. Credit is due to Sarah Logan who oversaw proceedings while I travelled with the U12s. At the same time the U12 boys were at Blueharts and the U12 girls were hosting a tournament of their own at Tuddenham.

Only a few years ago this volume of junior activity would have felt implausible. It is a testament to the commitment of coaches, parents and players and we are grateful for it. The rhythm continues this coming weekend with an U8 festival at and the U10s heading to Bury from nine thirty to half past twelve.

Attention then returned to the senior sides and Saturday proved to be a mixed affair. The Women’s Seconds produced a fine win and with it the possibility of an unlikely escape gains a little more substance. It was an excellent turnaround and they deserve full credit. The Men’s 1s, having secured their National League indoor status for another season, played like a side still reacquainting itself with the pace of the outdoor game. They struggled for rhythm against a Bedford team that was aggressive and prickly in equal measure but somehow found a way to engineer a late comeback. Trailing 2-1 with five minutes remaining they summoned enough composure to turn the match around and win 3-2. The report sits below.

Elsewhere the Men’s 3s continued their battle to avoid relegation with a much needed victory while the Men’s 2s showed the inconsistency that has hindered their challenge for promotion and fell away at BSE. The opportunity to go up now seems remote which is frustrating for a side capable of much better. The Women’s 5s added some cheer with a welcome win.

A brief administrative point to close. You may have seen a payment request relating to England Hockey. This fee is genuine and as Emma our treasurer has already explained it needs to be settled. I will resist the temptation to offer a lengthy reflection on the workings of the governing body although perhaps the restraint speaks for itself. You may also notice a second half season training fee on the payment page. This is simply for juniors who joined after Christmas and apologies for any confusion.

Results and reports follow including a slightly delayed account from the Women’s 1s who enjoyed an impressive win the previous week. They were unfortunate to go down 2-1 to Broxbourne in their most recent outing. I watched that game expecting the equaliser to arrive at any moment. Sport does not always bend to expectation.

Men’s 1s W3-2
Men’s 2s L1-3
Men’s 3s W5-0
Men’s 4s D2-2
Men’s 5s W1-0
Men’s 6s D0-0
Women’s 1s L1-2
Women’s 2s W4-2
Women’s 3s L0-7
Women’s 4s L0-1
Women’s 5s W1-0
Women’s 6s W1-0

Men’s 1s W3-2
Rusty. Very rusty. And undeniably slow to begin with. For Ipswich, the eventual result brought relief more than triumph, yet the opening passages had all the hallmarks of a side still reacquainting themselves with the rhythms of outdoor hockey after more than a month indoors. The touch was off, the timing uncertain, and the patterns of play disjointed.

With their National League Division 2 indoor status now secure, the Men’s 1s find themselves six points adrift of the summit but with two games in hand. The schedule ahead is not for the faint hearted: Bedford, CCHC, Blueharts, leaders at present, and Magpies in succession. Win them all, and the complexion of the season changes entirely. First, though, there was Bedford.

Ipswich began tentatively. The first quarter concluded goalless, though not without controversy, Wardy steering the ball home just as the umpire’s whistle sounded for the quarter break, the timing cruel in its precision. The second period offered flickers of fluency: Milo and Cookie combined neatly, the move ending with Ipswich taking a deserved 1–0 lead. One expected that to settle them, but instead it ushered in a period of error strewn uncertainty. Bedford, direct and uncomplicated, found repeated routes into the circle. Cherry, impressive throughout, kept Ipswich afloat with a series of fine stops, yet on the stroke of half time Bedford forced the equaliser that had been looming.

The third quarter was one way traffic, Ipswich dictating play but inexplicably failing to find the goal their pressure merited. By the start of the fourth, the equation was clear: a draw would not suffice. They pushed, repeatedly, but with little return. The inevitability of sport intervened, Bedford broke, and with five minutes remaining, Ipswich trailed 2–1.

What followed was the kind of frantic, improvised surge that so often defines late game drama. Southgate began to assert himself in midfield; Midwood drove forward relentlessly; Milo, Cookie, and JTG buzzed with renewed purpose; and Cutting, mercurial from right back, embarked on a series of adventurous runs more reminiscent of a winger than a defender.

Cookie levelled in curious fashion, an unconventional finish, but they all count. And then, with two minutes left, Ipswich produced their finest moment of the afternoon: JTG released Cookie, who slipped the ball to Milo, and with a deft reverse stick flick of real quality, he completed the turnaround.

A 3–2 victory. Hard earned, slightly brazen, and perhaps bordering on larcenous—but the Ipswich ticker is strong.

Women's 1s - a performance to be proud of.

The ladies 1s travelled to Cambridge for their second meeting with city 2s. Their last meet being their biggest defeat, Ipswich had a lot to prove. We welcomed back into the squad, youngster Annabel Bryce and, like she never left, Emma Logan.

They started off just trying to find their feet. A bit of back and forth between the ends yet City 2s won the corer game first. A strong save from GK Maddie White denied city’s first chance. Shortly after Ipswich got their corner chance and also denied. Ipswich sustained the pressure though and won another corner soon after. Ipswich got 1-0 up after just 12 minutes with POTM Taylor Ball deflecting the ball into the net.
Ispwich stayed hungry for more but couldn’t quite find the final outcome. City found a way through the Ipswich defence and then into the goal, bringing it to a 1-1 deadlock before half time.

Ipswich had to work hard and they definitely entered the pain cave. The passages of play worked very well, yet there were some times where it didn’t quite connect. Yet any mistakes made, every single Ipswich player worked to get back behind the ball and defend as a team. Ipswich had to manage their game when they went a play down going into the final quarter and they did this with such composure and patience. This paid off with 8 minutes to go with Erin Hammond winning Ipswich a penalty corner and a chance to go ahead again. And that they did; an exact replication of their first set piece and Taylor finding her second goal of the match as they go 2-1 ahead.

City pushed Ipswich hard and forced them to defend deep in their own half. Ipswich successfully defended and within the final minutes Lizzy Wheelhouse took matters into her own hands and chucked an aerial over everyone and landed right in Chloe Williams space, where she then finds an unmarked Taylor at the top of the D who finds her hatrick and Ipswich cement their win, leaving City out of options.

What a turnaround and performance. After Ipswich lost 4-1 to them at home, this weekends result showed the level of growth and progression of Ipswich over the season. Next up, Broxbourne, home, under the lights at TR. A goalless draw last time. Are Ipswich hungry enough for the 3 points?