High flying start banishes bad memories

It seems like only recently that Haverhill Hockey Club were on the wrong end of a thrashing every week and captain Tina Bunch was bemoaning that they had 'forgotten how to win'. After struggling to survive in the East Women's League Division Two Division NW in the 2009-10 season they were duly relegated from Division Two NE following a regional reshuffle before the 2010-11 campaign. The year before had seen a last-gasp winner ensure their survival - and that only after another team withdrew from the league, nullifying other results - yet the romance was absent at the second attempt as Haverhill were relegated before the season's conclusion. It was certainly a dispiriting time as the endless battle to avoid relegation was finally lost and Haverhill were condemned to the Suffolk Premier League.

How spirits have changed since then. Now Haverhill have gone from being the whipping boys (or girls, even) to being the whippers themselves. Their record so far reads played six, won six, scored 34 and conceded six - so, on average, for every goal they concede, they score 5.6. Haverhill top the table with a three point lead and a game in hand over second placed Bury St Edmunds II. Not a bad start for a team deflated by the loss of relegation, and the season had barely begun when Bunch was brashly proclaiming that she expected her team to finish as champions.

Yet as the season unfolds - we are now almost a third of the way through (six games played of 20) - it seems that those ambitions were not naive, and that Haverhill could be confirmed as champions this season sooner than they were confirmed as relegated last season. They began with a comprehensive 6-2 rout of Bury St Edmunds II (September 17) and have continued in similar form, labouring to a 4-3 win at Ipswich IV (September 24) before enjoying their most comfortable win yet, sticking 11 past a sorry Christchurch II outfit (October 1). After a week off they crushed Felixstowe 4-1 (October 15), 'struggled' to a 4-0 win at Ipswich-based Castaways (October 22) before thumping Lowestoft II 5-0 (October 29). Saturday's (November 5) game is off as fourth-placed Harwich and Dovercourt are unable to field more than six players, meaning Haverhill are awarded a 3-0 win as a home walkover - the only disappointment being that they probably would have won by more than three had the two teams met.

It has been a winning start that has been transformed into the winning season Bunch was hoping for and expecting. The skipper has even been critical of her side's performance after winning 4-0 (at Castways), calling for them to improve further - something that seems a far cry from last season. It seems no team in this division has provided serious competition for Haverhill this season, which brings into question the quality of the league. After all, how can a team losing heavily each week suddenly become the team inflicting rout after rout? Is the drop in quality so great that the EML's basement side can become a completely dominating presence in the Suffolk league? It is a worry, as if this is the case it may see Haverhill back to where they were last season - if they become accustomed to playing such poor opposition, then there is a chance that standards will drop and, when they are (seemingly inevitably) promoted back to the EML, that they will not be prepared for the rise in standards and be unable to deal with the vastly superior teams. I have put this to Bunch on several occasions, but she does not seem too concerned.

That is because she takes the more optimistic view - that her side have become better, and not merely that the competition have got worse. Clearly there is a strength in depth that was lacking last season - after all, it is not merely Bunch's team that are cruising to promotion, but Haverhill II have also launched a perfect start in Suffolk Division One, their 3-0 win over Bury St Edmunds III on Saturday, October 29, (pictured here) the latest of their five successive wins, scoring 16 goals (3.2 per game) and conceding five in the process as they approach the half-way stage of their seven-strong league (seven games remaining). Their results have often been tighter - beating Grasshoppers II 2-0 (September 17), Lowestoft III 1-0 (September 24), Sudbury III 4-2 (October 1) and Ipswich V 6-3 (October 8) - but they still have a perfect start, and clearly a large pool of talent is available if Haverhill can field two teams capable of bossing their respective divisions.

Bunch's team also seems to have been boosted by the returns of absentees who had been away at university, injured or for maternity reasons, and now they are looking and increasingly strong outfit, scoring from all over the pitch rather than struggling to score from anywhere. Vicky Haylock and Mandy Williamson are both regularly getting on the scoresheet, and Bunch herself is frequently finding the net often too. Many players names are cropping up in relation to strong performances and scoring goals, such as assists from Jane Farrow and Jenni Bradnam and good displays from Kim Thomas and Helen Salter.

Among the second XI, Cara Ainsworth and Emma Hilson seem to be regularly among the goals, while Kate Ellis and Lisa Smith have performed well between the posts, and the strength of that side, with players struggling to force a way into the first XI, is a testament to the depth of talent now available. Bunch has said that players will get opportunities in the first XI, but at present there is clearly no need to disrupt two winning formulas. Availability continues to be good, despite there being just 12 players at the Lowestoft II game - last season saw a struggle to even field a second XI.

Things are looking good for both teams, though perhaps we will have to wait until next season to see if their successes can be attributed to improvement or deterioration of the competition. I think it is probably a combination of the two - the Suffolk leagues clearly are lower quality, but at the same time Haverhill have improved markedly from last term. Availability alone improves a squad, giving coach and captain more options to prove from. Both sides have acquired a sense of youthfulness, and both are clearly enjoying their winning ways. While the opponents may be worse, it can still be difficult to reverse a losing mentality into a winning one, and that has been achieved emphatically. Both Haverhill sides should assure promotion before the end of their campaigns, and if both can keep their squads intact, should offer a strong challenge when they do take the step up a division.

Out of their misery

On Saturday (March 12), Haverhill's three year stay in the East Women's League came to and end when they were swept aside 4-1 by relegation rivals Christchurch. The script for their unlikely survival was in place, but being in need of successive wins with results going in their favour, relegation already seemed inevitable. The result marked a premature end to a sorry season for Haverhill, one in which their record reads - played 19, lost 17, drawn one, lost one, goals scored 14, goals allowed 58 - and still with three games to play. That sort of form was never going to see them stay in the league.

From the first game of the season their struggle seemed certain, although a 2-1 home reverse to likely champions Norwich City could be seen as a good result. However, thing quickly deteriorated, as narrow defeats became crushing defeats. Although a 5-3 win over Loddon in November provided some hope that their fortunes may pick up, those were quickly dashed with a comprehensive 3-0 home defeat by then relegation rivals University of East Anglia Women (UEA) - it was results like these that condemned Haverhill, as Saturday was their second defeat by Christchurch after a 4-0 win in November, while UEA doubled them with a 2-0 home win the Saturday before. These results conspired to keep Haverhill at the foot of the table, and cut them increasingly further adrift as their rivals pulled clear.

Captain Tina Bunch remained optimistic throughout her side's deterioration - as recently as a fortnight ago she had hoped they could string the necessary results together. But with each defeat that optimism faded - there may have been a great escape last season, with Bunch providing the last minute winner at Lincoln Roses (who find themselves likely to be relegated from Division Two NW this season), but this season there was no fairytale ending. They were always likely to be relegated at almost the earliest opportunity, and that threat could not inspire them to victory.

Where did it all go wrong for Haverhill? I understand they have not been confident at this level since their arrival, despite cruising up in the 2007-08 season with 19 wins and a draw in the Suffolk Premier League, but at the start of the campaign Bunch told me she expected this to be an easier division that Two NW that they only just stayed in last season, and that the divisional reshuffle had been to Haverhill's benefit. At least last season though they put up a fight, and despite being in the lower reaches for much of the campaign managed a respectable points total to survive - this season they are unlikely to reach double figures. Still, Bunch hopes they can get a few performances in too late so as not to be 'to much of a disgrace' in getting relegated - they look set to go down as the worst team across all four second divisions.

A lack of pace has been identified as a key reason for their shortcomings - one of the reasons Haverhill found themselves overrun by a UEA side often at the wrong end of a hiding from the top teams. This is not something that can be easily remedied in a non-university town, as Bunch said often players will turn 18 and then leave the team to pastures new for their hockey, leaving Haverhill with the veterans. However, the captain is looking to freshen up the team and said there may be a couple of pacey players returning for the next campaign.

As well as pace, a goal threat has been lacking. Bunch and Elaine Ward have been chipping in with a few, while new player Vicky Haylock has also done well, but their dismal scoring record speaks volumes. Short corners were often seen as a speciality for Haverhill and an ideal opportunity for goals, but they were soon failing to capitalise on those too. Debbie Petrucci has done well between the sticks, but there is no use in being solid at the back if you are blunt up front, and it did not take long for the defence to become flakey either. There seemed to be no difference either between their home or away form, as the losses continued on the road and at the leisure centre.

The skipper told me 'it will be interesting to see how we play now', and that the lack of pressure may lead to a more relaxed game, which in itself may yield results. At the very least, Bunch was looking forward to having the opportunity to blood a few youngsters in the hope of the being ready for next year's challenge. The team does need to change and adapt, and hopefully this will settle a few new players before the next campaign.

As for the 'challenge' of next season, it does not seem to be substantial - Bunch said they could at least 'look forward to winning the vast majority of our games and scoring over 100 goals'. For a team that has averaged less than a goal a game, to average five a game must necessitate quite drop in quality. Bunch said: "There is a massive gap between the two leagues that usually results in a yo-yo situation." The trouble is, Haverhill clearly need to improve at this level in order to be competitive should they be promoted again - such a drop in quality can only lead to complacency and an even shorter-stay in the higher echelons of the league after promotion. Bunch said they will try to arrange friendly fixtures with Division Two teams throughout the next campaign, but easily these can be arranged mid season is debatable, as is how many players will turn out if they are in the off-season. Haverhill will need to play some better opposition if they are to stay sharp and hopefully put up a bit more of a fight in the event of their promotion for the 2012-13 campaign.

For now, Haverhill will be left to reflect on this failed campaign with disappointment. They had numerous opportunities to reverse their results and the trickle of poor results became an avalanche, but were unable to attest the slide. Now they have become Haverhill's second sports team to exit their division within a month, they too have the opportunity to regroup and prepare to come back strong in the East Women's Leagues, hopefully at the earliest opportunity, and not just be the cannon-fodder for the rest of the league that they have been this season.

My full interview with Bunch and a match report will be in tomorrow's (Thursday, March 17) Haverhill Echo.

Bunch of tough tests still ahead

It seemed to be with relative ease that Haverhill picked up their first points of the season in the East Women's League Division Two NE. Though it was still early in the season, the number of games remaining got less each weak, and with it no doubt morale and belief. Captain Tina Bunch had spoken about how they were in an easier division than last year - when they narrowly avoided relegation with a last gasp winner at Lincoln Roses - but results seemed to tell a different story.

Having struggled to find the net all season, with just three goals in the entire campaign, Bunch was unsurprisingly happy to see her side cruise to victory with a 5-3 home win over Loddon. She had remarked that they had played all of the top sides in the division to date in a difficult opening fixture, and they had played well in some and were unlucky that results went against them - but points are awarded for winning games, not playing well or showing spirit.

Saturday's win will reinforce the belief that they can compete at this level, and will give them confidence leading into a series of crucial games. On Saturday they face University of East Anglia Women (UEA), who are now a place below them at the foot on the table as they still have zero points, and following on from that they travel to Christchurch, who are a place and a point above them. Bunch was right that they have had a tough opening and perhaps not likely to get any points, but if that is the case then these are the games they must take points from.

They are obviously already off to a winning start, but that momentum must be maintained. Bunch has said the division is likely to be split in half in terms of quality, and the test is for Haverhill to stay at the top of the bottom pack. No doubt they will all be keen to avoid a repeat of last year's struggles and ensure hockey at this level for at least another campaign, but consistently struggling at the bottom of any league is never a pleasant experience.

UEA will be a 'different challenge' according to Bunch, and no doubt that despite their unenviable position as the basement club they should not be underestimated. University teams will always fluctuate with players coming and going depending on availability, and it remains to be seen if they will field a strong or weak squad - as it is in Haverhill though it is liekly to be the latter. Bunch said: “We’ll have more players available and are definitely buoyant going into the game – the coach wanted seven points from our next three games and we’ve already got three."

Haverhill will face the opposite problem against Chirstchurch, who are likely to have a strong squad available. It should also be noted that these games will be just as crucial for both of Haverhill's opponants as they look for a way to pull clear of the bottom too. The skipper added: "The pressure is on for these games and it will be good to get a run of wins together and we’re looking forward to the game now. The tension has eased a little and the win restored confidence that we were right to be optimistic."

Back to back wins could propel Haverhill to mid table, but the opposite would leave them rock bottom with a number of tough games to come. That is why they must win their next two fixtures, and hopefully carry that form on to take some points from games they may not be expecting to. Then perhaps their optimism will be truly proven.

Early struggles as seasons start

As the rugby team continued to sturggle to adapt to life in Eastern Counties Division One, the hockey team also got their season started last Saturday. They also found themselves in a different division, but not through successes of the previous season - indeed they were fortunate to be in the same league after their shortcomings in the last campaign. A divisional reshuffle saw them moved to Division 2NE in a move that pleased optimistic captain Tina Bunch.

Speaking before Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Norwich City, Bunch was optimistic about her side's chances in the current camapign. She believed that this season would be one to build and forget about last season's failure when a string of successive defeats coupled with a late surge from relegation rivals Bourne II after Spalding folded saw Haverhill avoid defeat on the final day of the season with an away win - their first of the season - at Lincoln Roses, courtesy of a last gasp goal from Bunch. However, with a new season, new division and new teams to play, Bunch was confident that a mid table finish, rather than a relegation battle, was a realistic target for the ladies.

And yet, after their first game had finished on Saturday, they had started the season with a defeat - hopefully not starting as they mean to go on. But is it such a bad result? Bunch had said they had upped their game in pre season by playing in games against higher division sides, even though these were heavy defeats. Norwich City are newcomers to the division themselves after falling through the trapdoor the season before, and so will be among the promotion favourites - not the teams Haverhill must aim to take points from.

Home form will be crucial for the ladies this season, as will the beginning of the campaign with so many home fixtures - indeed Bunch said she aims to have 'lots of points on the board by Christmas', which will be a more realistic time to assess if they will be fighting at the foot or the middle of the table. They next host Yarmouth on Saturday with Bunch aiming to 'start afresh', and the ladies need to start picking up points if they are to have an enjoyable season.

One local team that is certainly struggling to adapt to life in a different division is the rugby club. Following their promotion to Eastern Counties Division One with a second placed finish last season, they have kicked off the new campaign with two comprehensive defeats. First they lost 74-0 on their opening day trip to Southwold - cue expectancy and optimism ahead of their first home game - before they then lost that as well, this time 60-3 to Cantabrigians.

In fairness to coach Andy Price, he has kept the club grounded with realistic ambitions and expectations. He has told me he aims to 'consolidate our position' in the division, not challenge for promotion - a feat looking increasingly improbable. The club have been hit with different problems that cannot be accounted for, such as player abcenses due to weddings, retirements from the game or unavailability which, at an amatuer sporting level, is understandable.

Another problem has been getting the team to train together in order to form a settled side that can confidently go into matches assured of each other talents and shortcomings. The club next travel to West Norfolk on Saturday and will need to start picking up points soon or risk becoming the whipping boys of the division. Price said the jump in quality between the divisions is significant, whcih is clear, but Harwich and Dovercourt - who narrolwy beat Haverhill to last season's title - have not had as many problems, with one win and a narrow defeat, and so Haverhill must improve fast.

Fortunately one sports club without too much room for improvement is Haverhill Rovers, who find themselves on a very good run of form. They advanced in the FA Vase after a comfortable victory over Debenham LC despite having Sam Holmes harshly sent off. Manager Peter Betts even said he was 'disappinted' with Debenham's performance as they failed to break down a resolute Rovers who were clinical from their set pieces - their three goals came from a Marc Abbott free kick, a Jack Higgs corner and a cooly taken Stuart Wardley penalty. Their next Vase game is against Leiston on October 2, who will no doubt provide a sterner test of their credentials, but as Betts said, when 'nothing is expected' of the team, they have 'nothing to lose'.

Before that they face a trip to Histon Reserves tonight, and after the first XI lost 2-0 at Rushden and Diamonds yesterday, Betts' men should be facing the weaker XI that he hopes for. Last season Rovers won 1-0 at the Glass World Stadium before a thumping 4-0 win at Hamlet Croft. Another trickey tie at the weekend sees them host league leaders Kirkley and Pakefield, though with Rovers in the form they are in now there is now reason why they should not be aiming for victory.

Another pleasing sign with Rovers is how well all of the new players are doing - Dalton O'Brien in particualr is continuing on from his fine start, albeit in not quite as spectacular a fashion. The striker looks able in the lone role and always forces the opposition goalkeeper to work. Jack Higgs is fast becoming a first XI regular and pacy winger, while Greg Strong compliments him well at left back and has made the divisional step up with ease. Joe Boreham looks good in his substitute appearances and perhaps deserving a first XI role. Even Craig Cutts is looking good as a back up striker and capable of filling the shoes of the departed Shaun Banham.

Betts himself is pleasantly surprised with how quickly and efficiently all the new faces are fitting into the team. He said: "It’s pleasing because I thought it would take time for them to gel at the start but looking back to be in the top ten in the first month having only lost one league game, I couldn’t have asked for more. I think the squad could do with a little more depth as we’re fine defensively and will score goals too."

He also singled out Marc Abbott for praise - the attacking midfielder did not seem effective in the latter stages of last season but has already started this season strongly, chipping in with valuable goals and assists from the middle of the park. He is due to become a father soon, and hopefully this will not lead to a dip in form. I said after Rovers dumped Northampton Spencer out of the Vase with a 4-0 win that this level of performance must become the norm rather than the exception if they are to realise their ambitious hopes for a club of this size - so far this has continued, and hopefully it will for the season. Now we just need the hockey and rugby teams to discover a bit of form of their own.

Nobody should be bowled over by team's promotion

It's been a good weekend for Haverhill's cricket and football teams. Save for their disasterous defeat against Hadleigh in their sixth game of the season - getting bowled out for 117 as the visitors eased to 123-1 mid May - they have been a strong and consistant side all season. Last Saturday's victory at Elsmstead Grasshoppers was their 11th successive win, and confirmed the side's promotion with two games remaining.

No doubt captain Adam Dellar will be still aiming to finish the division as champions though, and with just two games remaining it looks set to go down to the last day. Ipswich have been pushing hard, but Haverhill have showed their superiority by beating their title rivals convincingly both home and away this season. The team have proved they are the best in their division and lead the table comfortably, a testament to the season they have had.

Dellar has often spoken about the importance of a settled side, something Haverhill have largely enjoyed this season. They have not emplyed superstar names like some of their rivals - Chris Silverwood has boosted the team's chances but has not played a part in every game and they have certainly not struggled in his absence. The team has been relaxed, and able to play the game that suits them, winning 14 of their 15 games played (with five cancellations) and enjoying a perfect record when bowling first.

The team was comfortably defeated when they played the Lashings World XI, but against opposition of this quality it was nothing to be ashamed of. Their focus has been on winning the league - something they were unfortunate to let slip last season - and they have certainly achieved that.

The second XI also enjoyed their weekend as they closed in on the promotion places. Bury St Edmunds III saw their lead diminish as league leaders Brightlingsea II. The visitors, who now look almost certain to win the title, managed 161-9 as the hosts managed only 103 in reply. Haverhill II now have three games to close the slender gap between themselves in third and Bury above them to climb the ladder to division five.

Rovers' fortunes were mixed as they took a point from Norwich United. While a point was a good result against a team that had won three of their opening four games, only losing a home fixture to pre-season favourites Leiston, it can never be truly accepted as an achievement when the team let slip a lead to draw, as a point gained becomes two lost. Usually Rovers suffer because they are not clinical enough in scoring, to see them drop points due to their defence is different.

Tomorrow they host Ely City, who themselves have enjoyed four wins from their opening five games, losing only at Wisbech. Betts said to me before these two fixtures that his primary aim was to make Rovers 'difficult to beat' and 'hard to play against', and that the aim would be three points from the two games. A result against fifth placed Ely at New Croft is certainly achieveable and would get some much need points for Rovers to get their season back on track and compete at the upper end of the table as they push for a top ten finish.

As the football season continues and the cricket season draws to a close, it's worth remembering that the rugby and hockey seasons get underway next month. Haverhill Rugby Club will have to get used to life in Eastern Counties Division One quickly as Gavin Hope captains the side on their trip to Southwald for their opening game on September 11. Tina Bunch will lead the hockey club in their opening game against Norwich City. The side avoided relegation in their final game last season, and league changes sees them now competing in the EML Division Two North East, and will no doubt be hoping for a more successful campaign this time around.