It was a match-winning weekend for many of Bedford Hockey Club’s teams with nine of the senior squads, the Bedford Women’s Masters Over 35s and the Under 12s all taking victories, plus another two senior teams holding their oppositions to draws.
There was success at the top end of the club, the Ladies’ 1st XI finally securing a win with a goal by Kate Costin in the 41st minute of the match, leaving third in the league, Stourport, heading home defeated.
Bedford will hope to make it back-to-back wins when they head to St Albans this coming weekend (23 November).
Following up on the previous two weekends’ victories, the Men’s 1st XI put up another dominant display, beating Ipswich 4-0, with a hat-trick from Vincent Pretorius and a further goal by Finn Lever.
Next weekend’s fixture sees them travel to bottom of the table, Letchworth.
Both 2nd XI teams also bagged wins, although the ladies, who had hoped for a significant increase in their goal tally against Letchworth, had to settle for taking points from their 1-0 win.
Additional goals could have taken them into second place, a spot currently held by Old Loughtonians, ahead on goal difference by two goals. It’s Old Loughtonians that Bedford host next weekend, so an exciting match is guaranteed.
The Men’s 2nd’s, sitting second in their division, defeated bottom of the table Bishop’s Stortford 3rd’s, 5-2. They head away to sixth in the league, Welwyn Garden City, this Saturday.
The Men’s 3rd team were unlucky to suffer a loss, although, playing in the same division as Bedford’s second team, the 3rd’s are doing well to hold seventh spot.
They only lost 2-1 in their match, an impressive effort considering their opposition was top of the table, Luton. Their upcoming fixture has them taking on third placed, St Albans.
It was a 2-1 win for the Ladies’ 3rd’s against Harpenden; Bedford sitting comfortably in third place in the league, whilst the 4th XI’s 5-0 victory over Rickmansworth takes them four points ahead at the top of their division.
The Men’s 4th team continue to struggle this season, and it was a long journey home from Rickmansworth for them after a 7-2 loss.
They will hope for a home advantage this weekend, when they face Potters Bar’s 3rd’s who, interestingly, are higher up the table than their 2nd’s, who are competing in the same division.
There’s always great rivalry between Bedford and Shefford & Sandy and, on this occasion, it was Bedford’s Ladies’ 5th XI who took the victory. The 3-1 result takes Bedford into pole position in the league.
After struggling to pick up points this season, the Men’s 5th XI were pleased to hold second in the table Blueharts, to a 1-1 draw, the same score the Ladies’ 6th XI held their Letchworth opponents to, with Charlotte Goodson returning to her scoring ways and bagging the goal.
After a 3-1 win away to St Albans, the Men’s 6th’s sit top of the table, moving two points clear of Shefford & Sandy in second, and looking for further points when they host Welwyn.
England Hockey championship resumes
The Ladies’ 7th team have been performing well this season but had a temporary lapse in success at the weekend, suffering a 4-1 loss to Potters Bar’s 1st XI. They will hope to find their feet again when they travel away to Welwyn Garden City this coming Saturday.
Two fantastic goals from Luke Killen, in the Men’s 7th team match, helped them to a 4-0 victory over St Albans keeping Bedford in second, with Hertford just one point ahead in top spot.
Bedford travel away to bottom of the table, Southgate Adelaide this coming Saturday.
Bedford’s Women’s Masters Over 35s were back in action on Sunday in the England Hockey Tier 1 Championship. The team will continue their progression in the play-offs following a 9-0 win against Stevenage.
Next Sunday sees the start of the Women’s Over 55’s Championship, when Bedford head to Suffolk for the first round of the Tier 1 play-offs, with a match against Harleston Magpies.
Bedford were crowned National Tier 2 Champions in 2022, but had to settle for silver last year when Harleston took the gold in a close fought final, so Bedford are definitely seeking revenge.
Finally, as reported by the Junior Lead, Sandeep Sira, the Chester Road pitches were alive to the sound of children on Sunday.
Bedford Hockey Club hosts 400 young players in home tournament
This Sunday, Bedford Hockey Club showcased the vibrancy of youth hockey as they hosted their annual home tournament, welcoming over 400 children for a day of exciting matches and spirited competition.
The tournament featured strong performances across multiple age groups, with Bedford fielding two teams in the Under 8s category. Both teams put up a determined fight, but were narrowly edged out by Olney Under 8s, who clinched the top spot.
In the Under 10 and Under 12 competitions, the semi-finals delivered a Bedford vs Cambridge showdown in both age groups.
Cambridge Under 10s went on to secure victory in their final, while the Under 12s final was a nail-biting affair, with Bedford emerging victorious after penalty shuffles, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Adding to the sense of community, the day also saw Bedford’s Under 16s stepping up to help with umpiring duties, showcasing their dedication and support for the younger players.
The event not only celebrated the talents of young hockey players but also underscored the spirit of sportsmanship and teamwork that Bedford Hockey Club represents.
Congratulations to all participants for a memorable tournament, and special commendations to the Bedford Under 12s for their well-earned victory.
Words by Jean Fitch
