They both promoted to the Promotion League last season. And they have had next Sunday red-lined in their diaries for weeks. Because their comeback in on the second level of Dutch field hockey is obviously special to them. But that that comeback is graced with a home game makes the party complete for the ladies of HBS and the men of Ring Pass.
They fall head over heels for the Ring Pass men. Their first match, against Tilburg, falls in the middle of the club’s anniversary celebrations. Ring Pass celebrates its 85th anniversary this weekend with a Flower Power tournament – for veterans and groomers – and the best Super Sunday of the season. Indeed, the ladies of the Delft club also play at home. ‘And the weather seems to be getting good as well,’ laughs Martijn Saraber. ‘It goes without saying that we are hugely looking forward to Sunday. We have been living towards that since the beginning of the preparation.’
A preparation that followed after a summer in which they did not lose too many players, but did lose a lot of experience. Jochem Caspers, Jaïr van Woudenberg, Robert Kooij and Pascal van Lingen together accounted for fifty years of Men’s 1 experience. ‘So it was a bit of a wait and see how we came out of the summer. Fortunately, with Robin Duran (from Cartouche) and our Australians (Callum Mackay and Charlie Roberts) we have guests who have already played at a high level. In addition, some talented young guys have been added to the selection. All in all it’s a big change, but I don’t think we’ve gotten any worse.’
Photo: Ring Pass
‘More claim to the club’
The reflecting and previewing is also almost over at HBS in Bloemendaal. There, the summer was fairly quiet on the transfer front. The only three newcomers came from the club’s own youth team. HBS starts Sunday against Victoria, also in front of their own public. Captain Sara Bartels notices that the start of the season is coming alive. ‘We have more claim to the club, and last Sunday it was already full along the line at our last practice match,’ says the captain, who has already experienced a lot in the four years she has been with HBS. ‘In my first year we were relegated from the Promotion Division. Then we played two seasons at the top of the Transition Class, eventually winning the championship. It is of course great for us that we have returned.’
Bartels can count on a number of loyal fans on Sunday. My parents will be there anyway, they almost always come to watch. And my boyfriend and some friends will also come. By the way, it’s not a big party right away, the first TD isn’t for a couple of weeks. Maybe it is good that there are not all kinds of extra activities right away; there should not be too much pressure.
Photo: HBS
No stage fright
Ring Pass is already screwing up that performance pressure for itself a bit. In Delft they want nothing more than to take points. And as soon as possible. Saraber: ‘We have said to each other that we want to play safe as soon as possible. It may be ambitious, but I think with all our qualities it is certainly realistic. Last season we always played strongly against the top teams. Therefore, I expect that the level in the Promotion Class would suit us well. We will probably have a little less ball than last year, but that is not to our disadvantage, I think.’
HBS is not suffering from stage fright either. ‘The Promotion League is not new for most of the girls on my team; we played it a few years ago as well,’ Bartels states. ‘We’re not shocked by the level. It’s also pretty close together in the end, you saw that the other day at the Promotion Class tournament.’
For Saraber, next Sunday is extra special. His ninth season at Ring Pass will be his first as captain. ‘It’s an honor, but I don’t feel any extra tension because of it. We’re a big group of friends and those guys are so easy to motivate. We can’t wait until it’s finally Sunday.’
by Hockey.nl
