Ladies 1’s
March V Bourne Deeping Ladies 1’s The Dragons started off composed and ready to deliver with an early goal they were never really put under any pressure scoring another 2 in the first half. With a positive halftime team talk the dragons came back strong with 3 more goals in quick succession. Precision and text book hockey (2 on 1’s as always). March had a few breakaways which led to a couple of lucky goals but the Dragons were never truly threatened. Play continued with the team attacking strongly and linking well to produce 2 further goals ending with a final scoreline of 8-2 win. Job done!
Scorers:-
Jo Addison
Sophie Britain
Izzie Oakley
Carol Murray
Hannah Curtis
Emily Murray
Ladies 2’s
Bourne Deeping Ladies 2’s v Long Sutton 2’s The Home team were keen to make a good start to this fixture to end the first half of their season without any losses and remain at the top of the table going into their Christmas break. Despite their good intentions the first 10 minutes were a little frantic and lacked shape and structure. The team soon settled down, gained their composure and scored a simple goal to settle the nerves. A second goal followed shortly and the dragons seemed to be off to a great start. Long Sutton were not going down easily and were strong on the break and came back straightaway with a quality strike from their young centre forward. The dragons then stepped up, moving the ball linking up well and delivered 2 further goals before halftime. The second half saw strong performances from Dawn McShane & Helena Darragh with driving runs from midfield and great shot making from Ella Henson upfront resulted in a further goal giving a final scoreline of a 5-1 win. A comfortable win in the end but not the best display from the Dragons, they take the win and remain unbeaten going into the New Year, pushing hard for promotion.
Ladies 3’s
Bourne Deeping Dragons Ladies third team played an away game against Spalding Ladies third team on Saturday. It was an evenly matched game, with good play on both side which resulted in a 1-1 draw. This continues the Dragons unbeaten run for a third game, which is unprecedented this season, and a great boost to morale.
The first half included lots of excitement, including 5 short corners by the home team, only one of which resulted in their first and only goal. The first short corner for Spalding was saved by the Dragons goalie, Rose Taylor-Jackson, and the rest were cleverly blocked by the Dragons defence. The Dragons achieved one short corner in the first half, resulting in a shot on goal by Janet Eagle-Smith, but unfortunately it didn’t go in.
In the second half, after some great defending by Nancy Simmons there was a breakthrough and a goal was scored by Janet Eagle Smith. Unfortunately, this was Dragons only goal but later in the half there were some good runs up the pitch and pressure on the defence.
Men’s 1’s

No game

Men’s 2’s
BDHC 2s v Kettering
A key encounter in the race for promotion from div 3NW saw the Dragons entertain Kettering with a top 3 finish at the mid-point of the season at stake.
A cagey start saw Kettering strike first blood when a hopefully crashed ball ballooned up off a defender’s stick on the edge of the D, looping up into the area around the penalty spot where it was smashed home emphatically above shoulder height by a Kettering forward. The Dragons stuck to their task but were struggling to test the Kettering ‘keeper when Kettering doubled their lead with another hit and hope ball fired into the D which the centre forward managed to deflect past his marker and inches inside the left post.
A 2-0 halftime deficit was the deserved scoreline; although not all one way traffic, Kettering had definitely had the better opportunities and threatened with their excellent movement and physical style of play up front.
A quick and positive response was needed from the Dragons, and to their credit they came out looking to attack and get themselves back onto the game. Robin Edlington went close but was denied by a fantastic save from the Kettering ‘keeper, and just as it seemed BDHC were working themselves back into the game, a defensive tangle saw them concede a 3rd and then a 4th from another defensive lapse saw them suddenly staring at a 4-0 loss.
Yet with the game seemingly lost, the Dragons seemed to shake off their shackles and play some decent hockey. Matt Clarkson grabbed one back; Ollie Vartan made it a contest, and though Ollie Browne’s short corner was disallowed, Ryan Mountney’s short corner flick with just 3 minutes to go made for an exciting finale in what was a tale of very much too little too late in a disappointing performance from the Dragons. The two teams meet again in the last game of the season; the Dragons will be hoping they are still in contention when they make the trip up the A43 next March.

Men’s 3’s

BDHC 3’s v BDHC 4’s
3’s won 4-1
Andrew Vartan, Jonny Meadows, Simon Goode, Harry Fountaine
This Saturday saw an inter club match in the league with Bourne Deeping 3’s taking on the 4th team. The first half ended with honours even at 1-1 with both sides having chances and it being a competitive game. Jonny Meadows equalling after the 4’s took an early lead from a penalty corner.
The second half was a different story with the 3’s showing their dominance with a wonder strike from Harry Fountaine, matched by a Simon Goode goal and Andrew Vartan flourishing in the opposition ‘23, his natural habitat.
This takes Bourne Deeping 3’s winning streak to 6 games and only 2 points off second place. Dizzy heights at the half way stage.

Men’s 4’s
With both teams needing the points for different reasons. There was an air of excitement surrounding this inter club game. The 4’s shot out of the blocks and a good save from the 3’s keeper inside 2 minutes thwarted White from getting his first of the season. The half flowed from end to end with neither side getting many clear cut chances. The 4’s broke the dead lock when the short corner king Stedman fired in. The 3’s equalised with a deflected corner of their own half time 1-1
The game was opened up when a thunder strike from the 3’s winger gave them the lead. Confidence grew within the in-form home side and another scrappy corner gave them a 3rd. By now the 4’s where hanging on but never stopped trying. The game was wrapped up when the 4th goal was swept in from close range. The correct winners even if the score line flattered them.
M.O.M Oscar Morley who despite playing on one leg kept the very dangerous player quiet

Men’s 5’s
Spalding 5ths 0 Bourne Deeping 5ths 1
A well-deserved clean sheet for debutant keeper Joe Ashby and some stunning dribbling by Leo Clack were the outstanding features in this top of the table clash.
Events led to The Dragons having the bare 11 against a youthful, numerous and well organised Spalding side. The game started evenly with chances at both ends but strong defences limited these.
It was somewhat of a shock when a disputed penalty was awarded to Spalding midway through the first half. Fortunately for The Dragons, the flick hit the post and deflected wide.
Into the second half The Dragons played with more precision, with keen passing and more confidence in their play, earning a series of penalty corners. Good keeping prevented them scoring but a later goal mouth scramble finally finished by Harry Wakeman with a close range shot finally opened the scoring.
The Dragons continued to push forward and the welcome return of Paul Matthews helped the defence to move the ball forward with pace and accuracy. The last 10 minutes saw The Dragons starting to tire and Spalding driving forward for an equaliser but good defensive organisation led by keeper Joe Ashby rightly denied them.
A long Christmas break now awaits the 5th team with hope and expectation to move further up the table.

Men’s 6’s

Games for Saturday 9th December 2017
Team League Opponents Location & Time
Ladies 1 3 NW Horncastle 1 : Bourne Deeping 1 Horncastle HC astro 11am
Ladies 2 4 NW (N) No Game
Ladies 3 4 NW (N) CoP 4 : Bourne Deeping 3 City of Peterborough HC astro 10am
Men’s 1 Prem B Dereham 1 : Bourne Deeping 1 Dereham HC astro 12:00pm
Men’s 2 3 NW Bourne Deeping 2 : Spalding 2 Arthur Mellows Village College Astro 11.00
Men’s 3 4 NW Bourne Deeping 3 : Cambridge City 5 Arthur Mellows Village College Astro 12.30
Men’s 4 4 NW CoP 6 : Bourne Deeping 4 City of Peterborough HC astro 1pm
Men’s 5 6 NW (N) No Game
Men’s 6 6 NW (N) Bourne Deeping 6 : Wisbech Town 4 Arthur Mellows Village College Astro 2.00