TRAINING
Training has restarted this week following the Christmas break. As usual it is Monday nights for the men at Beaconsfield High School and Tuesday night for the ladies at Newlands.

CPSA QUIZ NIGHT - JAN 24TH

Quiz Night is back, please help to support this ever popular event. Details are as follows.

SOUTH LADIES INDOOR TOURNAMENT - HASLEMERE, SURREY, 3RD & 4TH JANUARY

A&C took part in the South Indoor tournament last weekend for the first time, some 15 months after starting to play the game. Thirteen teams took part, divided into two groups, with the winners of each group playing the runner's-up from the other group in two semi-finals. A&C ended up in the larger pool of seven teams, and so had three games each day. The well organised tournament over the two days was eventually won by South Div 1 (outdoor) side Havant who overcame National League (outdoor) Reading on penalties in the final to become South Champions for 2004. As a result they qualify for the National League qualification tournament at the end of this month.

A&C finished their programme of six, twenty minute matches by playing the eventual champions, and in an evenly matched game gave Havant their closest contest apart from the final. Playing a half-court defence for the first time to disrupt a skilful opposition, A&C caused Havant no end of problems and a fine open play goal from Catherine Watson and a penalty corner from Katie Boughen took the game to 2-2 going into the final minutes. However Havant, who had a large and experienced squad, came through stronger and despite a fine late run from Erin Ruxton to earn a penalty corner in the dying seconds, Havant eventually came out 3-2 winners with a goal just over a minute from time.

And that result summed up the overall outcome for A&C - one of nearly but not quite. Apart from the first game A&C lead in every game at least once, and scored plenty of goals (12 in 5 games). But a not surprising lack of experience at this level meant the team were unable to capitalise on this, and ended up with two draws and four defeats over the two days.

The first game was characterised by a lot of nerves in the squad. Every club involved was from the South or National (outdoor) leagues, and as no-one had been previously involved in this tournament it was very much a journey into the unknown. Add a crowd, a large pitch compared with the local league, a number of absentees, and a lot of sickness amongst those available - and the nerves were understandable. The game ended in a comprehensive 4-0 defeat to the team that was to come second in the group - but a poor performance was turned into a heavy defeat by an incorrect penalty stroke decision at 1-0.

But a lot was learnt playing against one of the better sides, and for the second game a much better pattern of play for the standard of opposition and size of pitch lead to a 2-2 draw against Maidenhead. Unfortunately sickness was starting to have an impact by the third game and some poor defence allowed Teddington a 4-2 lead going into the last 30 seconds. Amazingly A&C turned this into a 4-4 draw, thanks to two Caroline Coates penalty-corner conversions in the remaining seconds, leaving everyone upbeat for the next day.

The Sunday saw games against sides who all had a chance of reaching the semi-finals, and started with a fine match against Eastcote. Despite leading 2-1 at half time with an excellent performance, Eastcote produced some fine indoor hockey in the second half to eventually win 3-2. In the next game against West Witney the two youngsters (Erin and Helen) got their first taste of indoor hockey at this level (and for Helen her first taste of indoor hockey EVER!!), and again despite taking the lead A&C slipped to another 3-2 defeat.

From the coach's perspective the event was a fantastic learning experience for the squad. Everyone worked hard, listened and learned and were a pleasure to coach. There is no way to coach in a practice environment what people learnt over the two days, playing against a higher skill level, on a big pitch, with a crowd etc etc. Everyone put in a tremendous amount of effort and no doubt everyone slept extremely well Sunday night after the amount of running they put in. And when you consider that of the 14 people who have been involved in the squad, two were skiing, two are pregnant, one was studying and one left to go skiing after Saturday, we were far from a full squad, and for that number of games on a big pitch it makes a big difference (which is why the two youngsters were needed to help out on the Sunday - otherwise we were down to six outfield players). When you add in that three of those available were sick, including both keepers, it all adds up to fine performance and we can look forward to pushing for a semi-final place next year with a little more luck and some more availability.

Squad:
Katie Boughen (capt), Vicki Williams, Tanya Fyffe, Rachel Parker, Caroline Coates, Annie Brothwell, Sarah Cartledge, Emma Hewitt, Catherine Watson, Erin Ruxton, Helen Ferguson

The Annual General Meeting of Chalfont St. Peter Cricket Club will take place at the clubhouse, on Friday, 6th February, 2004, at 8.00pm. Please make every effort to attend. The agenda will be as follows:

* Apologies for Absence:
* Minutes of 2003 Annual General Meeting
* Secretary's Report
* Treasurer's Report
* Club Captains' Reports
* Election of Club Officers for 2004
- Chairman
- Secretary
- Fixture Secretary
- Treasurer
* Election of Club Captains for 2004
- Saturday 1st XI captain
- Saturday 2nd XI captain
- Sunday 1st XI captain
- Sunday 2nd XI captain
* Election of Committee Members for 2004
- Colts
- Social
- General
* Any Other Business

Best wishes, Matthew Stevenson, Secretary.

INDOOR FINALS NIGHT

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre 30th Jan 2004

First match at 16.30
Women's Final at 20.30
Men's Final at 21.30

A great night's hockey with a unique atmosphere for our sport. Ask anyone who went for the first time last year from the club and they will confirm what a good night it was.

I am happy to arrange tickets again, and based on interest expressed to date am currently reserving 22 tickets. Price is £12.50 each, assuming we get 22 people. First come, first served - cash or cheque (payable to John Spicer). The booking needs to be confirmed on Jan 9th, so please let me know asap - it sells out quickly every year, as those who were disappointed last year know. My email address is John.Spicer@gbr.xerox.com.