Excellent support for Ben Rhydding Ladies

York Ladies.........0

Special mention must go to the supporters of Ben Rhydding Ladies this week, who travelled to York in force outnumbering the home team's crowd and surely contributing to the massive effort that Rhydding put into this crucial needle match.

It was especially appreciated as morale needed a lift since skipper, Jackie Goodwin was unwell and unable to lead her side.

York were promoted to division one of the Northern Territories League with Ben Rhydding this season so it was always going to be a meaningful battle and all credit must go to the ladies for sticking to the task and patiently flogging it out to the last breath.

It was a sticky, clogged up game from the first whistle, with York employing swarming , spoiling tactics which put Rhydding's physical and mental stamina to the severest of tests.

The defence were determined to withstand this stranglehold and were right in hoping that no team could keep up such a policy for a whole game.

Sure enough in the second half, York visibly tired and the avenues of release were easier to find. York became very jittery when the Rhydding midfield began running at them and hunting in packs.

Some beautiful moves started coming off and led to a precious goal; Jackie Barrett using a daring yet confident switch of play to the left where Izzy MacDonald made an incisive run, releasing to Jo Wilson to change the direction of play again and Melanie Thompson was able to send a deadly cross across the face of the goal for Catherine French to convert.

French and Thompson , always a scintillating combination and well deserving of a goal after so much hard work.

The remaining ten minutes seemed an eternity for Ben Rhydding as so many times this season victory has been snatched from them at the latest hour but today was their day and an utterly vital three points ensure they will stay up.

However the ladies will want to end the season on a high and plan to put on a grand finale of 'champagne ' hockey against Don Valley next week.

Ben Rhydding........4

Harrogate.............3

BEN Rhydding men's first XI got back to winning ways this weekend with a 4-3 defeat of Harrogate.

Harrogate took the lead early in the first half with a goalkeeping blunder from James Baughan.

Rhydding battled well and went in 0-1 down at the break.

Ian Cussons levelled the scoring early in the second-half. A quick reply from Harrogate put them back ahead.

Rhydding replied with two goals from King but another Harrogate goal equalled the score at 3-3.

In the dying minutes, J Schofield clinched a winner in open play to seal victory for Rhydding.

Following their good performance two weeks ago beating Sheffield Bankers 3-2, Rhydding now look certain to consolidate a mid-table position for the season.

Sheffield Bankers.........2

Badgers.........................1

It is the mark of a good captain if he can take a day off and yet his team still performs to the best of their ability. Malcolm Birdsall, skipper of the Badgers, has many strings to his bow and this Saturday he was guest lecturer at the prestigious Yorkshire achitectural society.

So his team of youngsters travelled to Sheffield Bankers without his experience and leadership skills and yet came away from the game having proved that they are maturing as a team and in a few years time will be pushing for first

team places.

Their opposition comprised young, strong and fit university students who dominated the first twenty minutes as the Badgers reorganised in Birdsall's absence.

But 'keeper Adrian Martin and full-back Ryan O'Keefe were outstanding in defence and repelled all attacks.

The Badgers gained confidence from this and were unlucky not to go a goal ahead when first William Musgrave and then James Metcalfe almost took advantage of Oliver Hall's silky skills in midfield.

It was goaless at half time and Sheffield Bankers were visibly losing that air of superiority as the Badgers weaved their intricate patterns to turn defence into attack.

It will not be long before they add that killer instinct and convert possession in to goals.

When Bankers finally took the lead against the run of play their relief was

palpable. A sceond goal soon followed and the floodgates threatened to open.

But the Badgers continued to play constructive hockey and, had the Bankers keeper not made a fantastic save, Tom Zillessen would have laid on the goal of the season for Paul Monkman.

As it happened, a powerful Monkman cross was soon converted by Peter Grummitt and the last ten minutes developed into an end to end affair.

Musgrave, growing into his midfield role, made numerous perceptive passes one of which almost prompted an equaliser seconds before the end.

The Badgers walked off the field with their heads held high knowing that Skipper Birdsal would have been proud of them all.

UNDER-14S

Ben Rhydding Under-14 squad took part in the Yorkshire Youth Hockey League. They travelled to Dewsbury to play against Almondbury, Sheffield Bankers and Wakefield 'B' teams. Unfortunately, Sheffield Bankers did not turn up so there were only two teams to play.

The team started well with a 2-0 win against Wakefield 'B'. Ben Rhydding dominated the play but was unable to score until Amy Rawson found the goal. Lucy Dennison scored the second.

The game against Almondbury was almost a re-run of the first with Almondbury having to soak up a lot of pressure. Ben Rhydding finally scored two good goals struck at the top of the circle by Lucy Dennison.

The squad included Lucinda Tullie, Anna Fardell, Amy Rawson, Rhiannon Jones, Laura Beardsmore, Hayley Zillessen, Raine Ellis, Jenna Appleby, Ellie Banks, Karina Kilner and Lucy Dennison.

Two new players Emma Shaw and Dawn Barrett played very well in their first league games of the season.

UNDER-12S

An Under-12s girl's team from Ben Rhydding played in their final Yorkshire League Tournament at South Elmsall.

In their first match they met Wakefield and as expected had a very closely fought game. Play switched from end to end but both defences held strong and the game ended 0-0.

The second game against Adel was much the same story - plenty of good attacking hockey but no goals! A 0-0 draw was the final score.

In the third game Ben Rhydding knew they had to score at least two goals to have a chance of reaching the semi-finals. Ben Rhydding pressurised the Almondbury goal from the whistle and had lots of shots on target but were thwarted by the Almondbury goalkeeper and defence.

Halfway through the game Ben Rhydding were rewarded after Leanne Turnbull hit an accurate, hard cross from the right wing to Emma Flather who connected well and scored.

Despite more pressure in the attacking circle, and plenty of sideline support, Ben Rhydding were very unlucky not to score again and consequently missed out on a semi-final place by a whisker!

Although disappointed, the following squad must be pleased with their performances and remember that they didn't lose a single match or concede any goals during the morning.

The squad consisted of Krista Royston, Vicky Sutherland, Georgie Brown, Caroline Picken, Karina Kilner, Laura Tweddle, Leanne Turnbull, Annabel Rose and Emma Flather.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.