Ladies 1s Promoted to EHL Premier Division

Ladies 1 Squad that successfully gained promotion to EHL Premier DivisionBack (r-l): Paul Turk (Assistant Coach), Jacky Davey (Physio), Emma France (Manager), Alex Smith, Alice Margerison, Becky Odlin, Claire Kerr, Marianne Downer, Emma Kavanagh, Gareth France (Conditioning coach), Liana Smith, Rhys Joyce (Coach) Front (l-r): Sara Gowers, Lou Gordon, Laura Puddle, Clare Appleton, Josie Inverdale, Jenna Woolven, Vicky Bryant, Becky Dru, Emily Malden, Alison Pope Lying Down: Lucy Stevenson

Reading Ladies achieved promotion to the EHL Premier Division for the first time in their 28 year history after successfully negotiating the promotion playoffs held at the University of the West of England this weekend.  Reading will now join Bowdon in having both their top Mens and Ladies sides playing in the top division of English hockey next season.

Day 1

Reading started the weekend by facing University of Birmingham.  The two sides had met a few weeks before in a pulsating cup semi-final with Reading edging that 9 goal thriller 4-5.  No such goal frenzy this time as both sides played out a 0-0 first half.  Birmingham were up for revenge, however, and well prepared having videoed Reading in action.  They upped the ante after the break and scored in the 51st minute which they probably deserved.  Reading were still in the contest and felt aggrieved firstly, to give away a penalty corner whilst distracted by the screams of Birmingham’s Sarah Page who badly injured her ankle and will be out for several weeks, and then to concede a penalty stroke whilst defending the penalty corner despite the protestations of Marianne Downer.  Susie Gilbert netted giving Birmingham a 2 goal lead with only 9 minutes to go.  Reading pressed forward but were undone by a swift counter attack finished by Sophie Bray.  As in the previous encounter Reading had conceded three quick goals but this time had no chance to recover.  Reading didn’t play at their best and Birmingham showed some real quality and deserved their victory and their Premier place as they remained undefeated throughout the rest of the tournament.  With the University of Durham and Ipswich drawing in the other match Reading were at the bottom of the pile on Saturday night.

Day 2

Reading knew that with a second promotion spot available they could afford to lose a game and still go through so they went through their recovery and analysis sessions and came out on the Sunday fired up to face the current Premier team Ipswich.  Reading appeared back to their fluent best in this encounter and put in a dominance and incisive team performance that coach Rhys Joyce rated as one of the best her had seen in his two years coaching.  Vicky Bryant got the Blues of to a flier as she converted in the 4th minute, and Claire Kerr added a second with a great reverse strike in the 24th minute.  This was a bruising and physical encounter and Marianne Downer and Laura Puddle were withdrawn in the second half after receiving knocks.  With a deep squad Reading continued to play with structure and commitment and sealed the game when Claire Kerr and Vicky Bryant both scored again in quick succession on the hour mark to give Reading a 4-0 win.  University of Birmingham defeated the University of Durham 3-1 to confirm their promotion and ensure that Reading went into the final day in a good position with their destiny in their own hands.  A win would ensure promotion, a draw might still be good enough thanks to the boost this result gave to our goal difference.

Day 3

Another night of recovery, sleep and some sterling physio work from Jacky Davey ensured that everyone was fit and raring to go for the decisive final encounter.  A very noisy away crowd absolutely roared the team onto the pitch and gave us all much needed vocal encouragement throughout the game.  Reading didn’t play as well as in Sunday’s game but were settled by the best possible starts as Vicky Bryant scored her 3rd of the tournament in the 11th minute, followed by a Becky Odlin corner conversion in the 12th minute.  The rest of the game was a frenetic and scrappy encounter with Reading rolling up their sleeves and repelling everything the students threw at them.  It wasn’t always pretty but it was effective.  In one period Reading’s defence successfully kept out 7 penalty corners in succession to protect their lead.  It wasn’t until the 59th minute that tired legs meant Durham’s Loren Sherer finally scored leaving Reading with 10 minutes to protect their lead.  Reading didn’t panic and knew that their opponents needed to score twice and they held on with Alison Pope saving off the line from Sherer.  As Durham attempted to stretch the game their exposed themselves to the counter attack and Emily Malden made sure by adding Reading’s third in the 69th minute.

Promotion!!!

One minute later ind it was smiles and tears for the girls as finally after a long but successful season they had achieved a place in the Women’s elite for the club.  It was a great moment of personal success for the entire squad that will long be remembered by all involved.  More than that it is also a fantastic achievement for everyone at the club who has helped get us here.

Big Thanks

There are too many people to mention but  thanks must go to:

Our coaching and management team who have prepared, developed and supported us throughout the last two years and in particular in the last 2 weeks so see us over the line.  Thanks to Jacky and the Mole for coming in to support the core team for the tournament and providing the benefit of your advice and skills.  Thanks to Taff for all the thigh burning, lung bursting fitness sessions he’s put us through over the last 50 weeks – they were worth it in the end.  Thanks to Emma France who is the calmest, most organised manager you could ever want.  Special thanks to Rhys ‘Mr Hockey’ Joyce who stepped in two years ago to coach us when we had no-one else and has successfully translated the Men’s blueprint for success into the Ladies performance squad.  Despite his own playing commitments for Reading and Wales he has guided us into the top level and has massively brought on the whole section.  Given the hectic international calendar and the prospect of Saturday EHL hockey Rhys is standing down as our coach to concentrate on his own playing so it is extra special that he can finish his stint with the group as the coach who took us into the Prem and a Cup Final.

Thanks to Jo and Sue Newman and everyone involved not just in the current management of the section and the club, but everyone who has been involved in creating this vibrant and friendly club over many many years, building first a fantastic Mens section, then our fantastic facilities and now a Ladies section that will also play in the Premier division and a National Cup Final.  This success has not been earned easily but has been built on the commitment and effort of many through the years.  Those of us who reaped the benefits on the pitch on Monday are extremely grateful.

finally where would we be without the Blue Army??  Our nosiy home crowd is a delight to play in front of, their knowledge and good natured heckling and amusing side dish to the exertions on the pitch.  When we have needed them however they have been there shouting, encouraging and never letting us give up.  Even better many also travel on the road with us, not just immediate friends and family, but club members and fans who wish us well and have traveled many miles to see us play and give us their support.  The crowd we had in Bristol was brilliant.  Not only did it spur us on but it made us so proud to be able to play and win in front of all of you who have made sacrifices with us along the way.  WE LOVE YOU ALL!!

We’re not finished yet!

Now unfortunately we still have two more weeks of our season to go so we have to do it all again!  Come and join the Glory Bus and come and watch us in the Cup Final  and then come and join the party afterwards