Division 3NW

Rutland 1st XI (3) vs Market Deeping 1st XI (7)

There’s no doubt that 2006 has been a great year for Deeping hockey club, and the 1st XI have played their part, always challenging for promotion last season. However, the first half of the 2006-2007 season has been pretty disappointing by their standards, so it was nice to finish in style with two solid victories in one weekend. The first of these was at Oakham as Deeping completed a comfortable seasonal double over Rutland.
Paul Tancred opened the scoring in the first few seconds of the game but Rutland quickly equalised with a soft bibbly-bobbly cross that evaded several sticks before popping up for Rutland to score.
A superb reverse stick Treve Wagstaffe goal regained the lead for Deeping – Wagstaffe leaves for service in Afghanistan shortly and the club wishes him all the best.
Ali Rowledge then struck the first of his hat trick, and after half time Andy Brassington made it 4-1.
Rutland pinched one back but Tancred and Rowledge (2) maintained Deeping’s dominance before a late consolation for the Oakham men.

Hockey Association Vase - Sunday 10th December

Market Deeping 1st XI (3) vs Leighton Buzzard 1st XI (0)

Sunday saw Deeping come through the first round of the HA Vase for the second season running, in a game that was much closer than the score suggests. The first half in particular was very tight but it was quickly clear that Leighton Buzzard’s well organised team lacked the attacking firepower that Deeping were showing up front.
By contrast Deeping rattled the opposition every time they went forward, while Leighton Buzzard seemed short of ideas in Deeping’s D.
Pete Jeffery was outstanding throughout at left back, winning the ball again and again and breaking out to start renewed attacks. Andy Kind had an exceptionally good defensive game at right midfield too.
Eventually Leighton stood off Paul Tancred just a little too long and he competently drove into the D and finished to give Deeping a lead about ten minutes before half time.
Deeping kept it tight until half time and a stern team talk seemed to have the right effect as they upped the pace from then on. A couple of minutes into the half, Henry Winfield-Chislett cleverly deflected a bobbling raised ball into the net. Leighton Buzzard had several good attacks after that but a combination of poor finishing, occasional sharp goalkeeping from Jason Purllant and cool defending by all the backs kept them out.

To their credit Leighton kept coming at Deeping but they could never relax, as Ali Rowledge on the right wing and Tancred tormented their defence, and eventually a loose ball was flicked at the Leighton goal and a defender was hit on the shoulder leading to a penalty stroke with which Tancred literally burst the net. Deeping don’t yet know who’ll they will play in the next round but it won’t be Weymouth who beat them last year. They went out at the first hurdle this time.

Division 4NW

Market Deeping 2nd XI vs Ely City 2nd XI

There was more good news for Deeping as almost incredibly the 2nd’s game against high-flying Ely 2nd was conceded due to lack of Ely players, giving them a vital three points. They played a useful and lively nine-a-side practice match including some third teamers.