Lincolnshire Hockey, sporting many Lindum Hockey past and present players, top England Hockey’s County Championships

In a pulsating weekend of hockey in Pool 1 of the top Division A England Hockey County Championship at Abbeydale Sports Club, Sheffield, Lincolnshire, for the second year running, dominated the tournament and were the team that every other county needed to beat. The draw was kind to Lincolnshire this year with their first matches on each day commencing at sensible times around midday. With seven Lindum Hockey Club players in the squad and another six who previously learnt their hockey with or played for Lincoln, Lincoln Roses or Lindum Hockey Club when younger, this was a tremendous advert for our club.

Leicestershire

Drawn against newly promoted Leicestershire in their first game on the Saturday one would have expected this to be one of Lincolnshire’s easier games, but not so. Leicestershire started well and threw everything into this game, possibly forgetting that there were a further three games in very warm conditions over the weekend. Surprised by their opposition’s play Lincolnshire took a long time to settle and some outstanding defensive work and good goalkeeping kept their rivals at bay. Eventually Lincs started to play the better hockey, pacing themselves to the conditions and finally broke the deadlock with a goal from Josh Pettinger. 1-0 and that’s how it remained until the end and, maybe, a bit of a let off forLincolnshire.

Hertfordshire

On into the late afternoon Lincolnshire played Hertfordshire, so often in the past their Achilles’ heel, but not this time. Lincolnshire totally dominated the play from the start with Sam Perrin opening the scoring, and goals following from Dave Dykes, Pettinger and Stu Cunnington. Further goals from Pettinger, Matt Bell, Cunnington, two more from Perrin, and finally a goal from Rob Johnstone completed the rout at 10-1, Herts only scoring a consolation goal. Tired legs but good spirits and belief stopped the boys enjoying themselves into the night and reasonable bedtimes ensued!

Derbyshire

On Sunday Lincolnshire’s first game was Derbyshire, again on paper one they should win, but Derbyshire were unlucky that it was their fourth game andLincolnshire’s third. Derbyshire scored first and it looked like a possible upset, as the game was still 0-1 at half-time. Then it was our player’s time to turn the screw and Cunnington scored a deflected goal from a pass into the Derbyshire “D”. 1-1 and game on, with Lincs then totally dictating the pace of the game and the goals followed. First Pettinger slotted home, followed by Perrin being fouled when about to shoot and Joe Finding flicked home the ensuing penalty stroke. Perrin made it 4-1 with only a few minutes remaining and Derbyshire scored a consolation goal in the dying minutes to make the score look a little more respectable for them.

Yorkshire

The last game of the day was Lincolnshire v Yorkshire and this has always been a cracker in the past. Last year Lincs won by the odd goal in 13, so they were determined to start well and pressurise the Yorkshire defence. Yorks needed at least a point to go through this year, whereas Lincs had already qualified for the semis by already winning three games. Lincs got off to a flying start with goals from Cunnington, Perrin and a drag flick penalty corner from Finding. Rob Johnstone made it 4-0 and Lincs were unstoppable with their defence outstanding and Dave Overton really fired up in goal saving everything that Yorks threw at him, particularly with one literally flying save to his right keeping out what looked like a certain goal. Lincs continued the pressure and Yorkshire capitulated, as further goals followed from Bell, Cunnington, James Wright with a penalty stroke and finally George Johnstone getting on the score-sheet to make it an 8-0 thrashing.

A thoroughly enjoyable weekend of hockey watched, with Lincolnshire players giving everything for their county. They now go on to the Nottingham Hockey Centre at Highfields / Beeston HC on Saturday 2^nd June to play Somerset in the semi-finals, hoping to get through to play either Warwickshire or Derbyshire (who had edged out Yorkshire on goal difference) in the Final on the same day. All support would be most welcomed.

Results:
Lincs v Leics      1-0
Lincs v Herts   10-1
Lincs v Derbys  4-2
Lincs v Yorks     8-0

Goal scorers: Sam Perrin 5, Stu Cunnington 5, Josh Pettinger 4, Matt Bell 2, Rob Johnstone 2, Joe Finding 2, Dave Dykes 1, James Wright 1, George Johnstone 1 (23)

Lincs Squad: Ross Booth – captain (City of Peterborough), Dave Overton – GK (Lindum Hockey Club), Joe Finding (City of Peterborough), Matt Bell (Lindum Hockey Club), James Wright (Doncaster), Sam Perrin (Brooklands MU), Sam Temple-Baxter (Lindum Hockey Club), Ben Treadgold (Lindum Hockey Club), Ben Read (City of Peterborough), James Gunthorp (Doncaster), Rob Johnstone (Lindum Hockey Club), Dave Dykes (Leeds), Stuart Cunnington (Spalding), Josh Pettinger (Doncaster), Jake Read (Canterbury), Louie Sadler (Lindum Hockey Club), Cameron Foster (Lindum Hockey Club), Gorge Johnstone (University of Birmingham)