By - Webbé
Remember remember the 5th of November when Newcastle gave Norbury a scare. Click "Read More" for the full article.
Remember remember the 5th of November when Newcastle gave Norbury a scare. Click "Read More" for the full article.
Eight Newcastle players made an early start to their Bonfire Knight activities, making the trip from the North East to a ground in Hazel Grove that held a number of mixed memories for the most northerly club in England. Previous encounters with Norbury teams at their Chester Road ground had resulted in a 34-0 victory, a broken collar bone and numerous cases of uncomfortably close contact within the compact changing rooms and single shower. This was, however, the first time the Newcastle Knights would come up against the Norbury first team.
The remaining four players, including débutante and former England goalie Matt Ashton, made a slightly shorter journey from their overnight stay at their Manchester B&B's, also known as their parents' (or own) houses.
The game started with a twist - a late CBO meant Newcastle started the game in possession following a "delay of game" call by the head referee. This meant that before the first whistle of the game, the Knights were already 100% at the face-off X, a statistic which hardly changed throughout the game thanks to domination at the centre by Reilly "Anti-Tilt" Hannapel. The early possession paid off, as the Knights went 1-0 following some individual hustle and dodging by Hannapel.
The lead did not last long, however, as the defensive trio of Webbé, Elwood and Stewart were caught sleeping on a Norbury fast break. The two teams traded goals, finishing the quarter 3-2 to the men in Green and Black.
I can't actually remember much detail of what happened there after. Norbury came out in the second period with a new defensive game plan devised by Coach Dave Hallows - lock off on Hannapel (and later Bryant) to stifle the Newcastle attack. Some dodgy passing, wasted possession and a goalie running around in midfield after 20 years in the cage meant that the Knights went into half time on the wrong side of a 6-3 score line.
A slightly lacklustre display by the Novocastrias in the first half lead to a customary Mark "Doc" Webb half time talk. The inevitable Knights clichés spurted out by his better looking younger brother spurred the lads in Silver and Black to win the 3rd quarter. Dave Bryant once again stepped up his game in front of his parents, shaking off the Norbury defenders sent to mark him out of the match. Combined with some solid defending, early slides and a brickwall performance by Michael "Zanner" Alexander, the Knights finished the quarter only a goal behind.
For those who aren't aware, Norbury had requested a switch of venues and an early face-off to allow for their annual club Guy Fawkes night bonfire. This lead to a few references to relieving oneself on said bonfire emerging in the team talk prior to the fourth and final quarter. While the lacrosse Gods will have undoubtedly frowned upon the burning of an effigy of a lacrosse player, it seemed they were on Norbury's side that day. A close final quarter, with a score of 2-1, meant Norbury walked away with the win.
Final score: 8-6.
Quarter scores: 3-2, 3-1, 0-2, 2-1.
The Newcastle boys left Hazel Grove disappointed. The Geordie boys felt they were missing that spark and swagger they had seen in the destruction of Liverpool a few weeks earlier. The conclusion reached in the changing room after the game was that the addition of a few missing players, slightly better personal performances, and a little more sparkle could have sealed a convincing victory for the men in silver and black. Although annoyed by the loss, this result has further fuelled the fire in the Knights' bellies to not only stay up in NEMLA Premier 2, but to push those around them for a spot in the top half of the table.
A blow came later this week when Andy Higginbottom, the NuTLC Secretary and one of Newcastle's most dedicated players was diagnosed with a Bennett's Fracture in his right thumb. Higg sustained the injury 5minutes into the game, but managed to play the remaining 75minutes because he's a lad. That's another story to add to the growing list of Knights memories taken from the Norbury ground.
Although a week after Bonfire Night, the upcoming game against Poynton is sure to be filled with fireworks as brothers Jonhstone face-off against each other in what could be an epic battle.
Scorers
Norbury Own Goal - 1
Reilly Hannapel - 2
Dave Bryant - 3
Man - Zanner
Bag - Mylo
Goon - Mylo
Team
Michael "Zanner" Alexander
Robin Webb
Phil Elwood
Ian Stewart
Mark Webb
Andy Higginbottom
Dave Bryant - 3
Reilly Hannapel - 2
James Woodrow
Myles Johnstone
John Wheeldon
Matt Ashton
Scorers to date
Bryant 9
Webb 7
Maitland 6
Wheeldon 4
Wendt 4
Hannapel 4
Williams 3
Johnstone 2
Alex 1
Suddaby 1
Opposition Own Goal 1
The remaining four players, including débutante and former England goalie Matt Ashton, made a slightly shorter journey from their overnight stay at their Manchester B&B's, also known as their parents' (or own) houses.
The game started with a twist - a late CBO meant Newcastle started the game in possession following a "delay of game" call by the head referee. This meant that before the first whistle of the game, the Knights were already 100% at the face-off X, a statistic which hardly changed throughout the game thanks to domination at the centre by Reilly "Anti-Tilt" Hannapel. The early possession paid off, as the Knights went 1-0 following some individual hustle and dodging by Hannapel.
The lead did not last long, however, as the defensive trio of Webbé, Elwood and Stewart were caught sleeping on a Norbury fast break. The two teams traded goals, finishing the quarter 3-2 to the men in Green and Black.
I can't actually remember much detail of what happened there after. Norbury came out in the second period with a new defensive game plan devised by Coach Dave Hallows - lock off on Hannapel (and later Bryant) to stifle the Newcastle attack. Some dodgy passing, wasted possession and a goalie running around in midfield after 20 years in the cage meant that the Knights went into half time on the wrong side of a 6-3 score line.
A slightly lacklustre display by the Novocastrias in the first half lead to a customary Mark "Doc" Webb half time talk. The inevitable Knights clichés spurted out by his better looking younger brother spurred the lads in Silver and Black to win the 3rd quarter. Dave Bryant once again stepped up his game in front of his parents, shaking off the Norbury defenders sent to mark him out of the match. Combined with some solid defending, early slides and a brickwall performance by Michael "Zanner" Alexander, the Knights finished the quarter only a goal behind.
For those who aren't aware, Norbury had requested a switch of venues and an early face-off to allow for their annual club Guy Fawkes night bonfire. This lead to a few references to relieving oneself on said bonfire emerging in the team talk prior to the fourth and final quarter. While the lacrosse Gods will have undoubtedly frowned upon the burning of an effigy of a lacrosse player, it seemed they were on Norbury's side that day. A close final quarter, with a score of 2-1, meant Norbury walked away with the win.
Final score: 8-6.
Quarter scores: 3-2, 3-1, 0-2, 2-1.
The Newcastle boys left Hazel Grove disappointed. The Geordie boys felt they were missing that spark and swagger they had seen in the destruction of Liverpool a few weeks earlier. The conclusion reached in the changing room after the game was that the addition of a few missing players, slightly better personal performances, and a little more sparkle could have sealed a convincing victory for the men in silver and black. Although annoyed by the loss, this result has further fuelled the fire in the Knights' bellies to not only stay up in NEMLA Premier 2, but to push those around them for a spot in the top half of the table.
A blow came later this week when Andy Higginbottom, the NuTLC Secretary and one of Newcastle's most dedicated players was diagnosed with a Bennett's Fracture in his right thumb. Higg sustained the injury 5minutes into the game, but managed to play the remaining 75minutes because he's a lad. That's another story to add to the growing list of Knights memories taken from the Norbury ground.
Although a week after Bonfire Night, the upcoming game against Poynton is sure to be filled with fireworks as brothers Jonhstone face-off against each other in what could be an epic battle.
Scorers
Norbury Own Goal - 1
Reilly Hannapel - 2
Dave Bryant - 3
Man - Zanner
Bag - Mylo
Goon - Mylo
Team
Michael "Zanner" Alexander
Robin Webb
Phil Elwood
Ian Stewart
Mark Webb
Andy Higginbottom
Dave Bryant - 3
Reilly Hannapel - 2
James Woodrow
Myles Johnstone
John Wheeldon
Matt Ashton
Scorers to date
Bryant 9
Webb 7
Maitland 6
Wheeldon 4
Wendt 4
Hannapel 4
Williams 3
Johnstone 2
Alex 1
Suddaby 1
Opposition Own Goal 1
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