They both promoted to the Promotion League last season. And they led red in their diaries for weeks next Sunday. Because their comeback is at the second level of Dutch field hockey, it is clearly special for them. But the fact that that comeback is honored with a home game makes the party complete for the ladies of HBS and the Men or Ring Pass.
They fall head over heels for the Ringpas men. Their first match, against Tilburg, falls in the middle of the club’s anniversary celebrations. Ring Pass is celebrating its 85 -year 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 good,” laughs Martijn Saraber. ‘It goes without saying that we are very looking forward to Sunday. We have lived there since the start of the preparation. ‘
A preparation that followed after a summer in which she did not lose too many players, but lost a lot of experience. Jochem Caspers, Jaïr van Woudenberg, Robert Kooij and Pascal van Lingen together were good for fifty years of experience with men. ‘So we had to wait and see how we came from the summer. Fortunately, with Robin Duran (from Cartouche) and our Australians (Callum Mackay and Charlie Roberts), we have played guests who have already played at a high level. Moreover, some talented young boys have been added to the selection. All in all it is a big change, but I don’t think we’ve got worse. ‘
Photo: Ring Pass
‘More claim to the club’
Reflecting and an example is also almost over at HBS in Bloemendaal. There, the summer was quite quiet on the front of the transfer. The only three newcomers came from the club’s own youth team. HBS starts on Sunday against Victoria, also for their own audience. Captain Sara Bartels notices that the start of the season comes to life. “We are more entitled to the club and last Sunday it was already full during the line at our last exhibition game,” says the captain, who has already experienced a lot in the four years that she has been to HBS. ‘In my first year we were banned from the promotion division. Then we played two seasons at the top of the transition class and eventually won 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 friend and some friends will come too. By the way, it’s not a big party immediately, the first TD is not for a few weeks. Perhaps it is good that there are not all types of extra activities; There should not be too much pressure.
Photo: HBS
No jury fracht
Ring Pass is already ruined a bit of that performance pressure for itself. In Delft they want nothing more than to take points. And as soon as possible. Saraber: ‘We told each other that we want to play safely as quickly as possible. It may be ambitious, but I think it is certainly realistic with all our qualities. Last season we always played strongly against the top teams. That is why I expect that the level in the promotion class would fit us well. We will probably have a little less ball than last year, but that is not our disadvantage, I think. ‘
HBS also does not suffer from Toneelschok. ‘The Promotion League is not new for most girls in my team; We also played it a few years ago, “says Bartels. “We are not shocked by the level. In the end it is also pretty close together, you saw that recently at the promotion class tournament. ‘
This Sunday is extra special for Saraber. His ninth season at Ring Pass will be his first as a captain. “It’s an honor, but I don’t feel any extra tension. We are a large group of friends and those guys are so easy to motivate. We can’t wait for it to finally be Sunday. ‘
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