GIRLS' GAMES
Rachel Owen-Barnett and Danielle Powley were selected for the York and District Under 18 team, and both they and the team as a whole were in full spate against Tadcaster H.C. with Katy Ramskill scoring a fine hattrick. Lulled by this easy win they played a very liid-back first-half against Ackworth to find themselves a goal down at the break. They played a vasdy different second-half pulling back a goal but despite numerous shots ju st could not score the winner. In these first games Katy Pittman and Emma Combe were proving their tenacity in defence, not only tackling well, but also giving gooc passes upfield. Memorable is the word which springs to mind for the match against Mount St. Mary's, although maybe not for the right reasons! After a coach journey with a half-hour queue on the Ml8 then a driver who insisted he knew which way to go on the Ml (but did not) we were running an hour late. So with players having changed on the coach (no comment) and a run down the path at Mount St. Mary's serving as a warm-up, we began. It was a hardhitting end-to-end game with a resulting 2-2 draw, though here I have to admit it was a shame I had to disallow two of our goals — whose side was I on? But as usual he team was in remarkably good spirit about the whole afternoon. Sadly though it was enough to finish off Rachel until November with glandular fever. So we had o think again.
HOCKEY 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI This year we played the Old Girls' match at the start of the season which proved far more successful and it was good to see them raising fifteen players for the occasion. Rachel Owen-Barnett, as 1st XI captain, characteristically made all the newcomers to the team feel quickly at ease and the resulting 2-0 win augured well for the season. Our main problem this year was in having too many forwards; consequently some players found themselves having to adapt to new positions. We also had a new goalkeeper. Colette Humphreys had not-played in goal before, in fact had not played hockey before! She was persuaded what a good game it was and before her jaw dropped too much she had a helmet on and that was that! She improved with every game and her agility and eye for the ball meant she made many good saves throughout the season. We first played York Sixth Form College and for reasons best known to ourselves played three 'thirds'. The girls thought the idea of two half-times and therefore two 'breathers' an excellent one, though the rather more subtle reason was for two team talks. Either way, the result was an encouraging draw which was pleasing considering the Sixth Form College's strength of club players. 76
