Dereham entertained three sides of touring Australians at the club last weekend.Brad Sussel of Wanderers Australia brings young people on a European tour during January every year.

Dereham entertained three sides of touring Australians at the club last weekend.

Brad Sussel of Wanderers Australia brings young people on a European tour during January every year. This year the tour party of 48 players consisted of a boys' U18 team and both U16 and U18 girls' teams. They arrived on Saturday evening and stayed with their young Dereham hosts.

Sunday at the Greenfields Road club saw three games played, with the Australians just shading the boys' match 5-4.

The U18s won their game which again was full of entertaining play, while the U16 sides drew.

These games were followed by a magnificent feast provided by volunteers in the club. Sunday evening saw an invasion of Strikes bowling centre where they took over the entire floor for two hours. The young Australians left Dereham very early on Monday morning to visit Old Trafford before departing for Holland via Hull.

The whole club can be satisfied with another very successful weekend hosting young people from across the world. They should also remember that these events do not just happen and that a successful event is the result of much planning, hard work and good organisation.

The Dereham players visit Australia for their own tour in July.

Lowestoft Railways 1, Dereham Colts 6

DEREHAM looked bright and sharp right from the first whistle.

A good free hit down the line from Hannah Turner at right back found right mid Charlotte Dann who drew the Railways' defence wide towards her. This left right winger Jess Shand free to cut in towards goal, where Dann played the ball through for Shand to run onto and slot past the keeper.

Lowestoft gave away another free hit which left mid Polly Lockhart switched back across the pitch to Jess Ollington, who had taken up the right wing position. Ollington drew the Railways' defence again and timed the ball back across the D perfectly for Shand to finish similarly to the previous goal.

Railways were quick upfront, strong in midfield and played some nice flowing hockey. Just before half-time the Colts reclaimed the momentum and converted a great short corner routine with Dann striking the ball back to the injector Turner for a perfect tap-in.

Second half Dereham scored from their first attack after the push back, which was possibly the move of the match.

Helen Kiddle-Morris won the ball in the left back position and picked out Lockhart for the pass forward. Lockhart found Ellie Boyce on the left wing, who cut inside her player and laid it off for Ollington to take forward. Ollington picked out Rachel Lavers in centre mid, who spotted the run of Shand straight through the middle of the Railways' defence. Shand took the ball wide to the right to avoid the sliding Lowestoft keeper and her strike went over the keeper's legs and into the back the goal.

Practically every Colts player had a shot on goal.

Boyce and Lavers came close but Charlotte Reeve was most unlucky, especially with yet another fantastic performance up front.

Dereham's fifth came from a practically identical routine to the last short corner they converted, with Dann's shot angled back towards the injector and Turner sweeping it in.

Railways caught the Dereham defence out, breaking down the right, firing the ball across the circle and their striker picking her spot perfectly in the far corner of the goal.

The Colts' defence saw off a few Lowestoft short corners, before Shand topped off her player of the match performance with her fourth goal.

An amazing solo run from the middle of the pitch by Reeve saw her beat at least four Railways players before selflessly laying the ball off for Shand to convert.

Colts' next challenge is away at Pelicans.

Squad: Ellie Boyce, Emily Crisp, Charlotte Dann, Beanie Hazel, Helen Kiddle-Morris, Rachel Lavers, Polly Lockhart, Heather Morgan (captain), Jess Ollington, Charlotte Reeve, Jess Shand, Zoe Taylor (gk), Hannah Turner.