Tavistock 3 United Services 4 TAVISTOCK Men?s Hockey league match against United Services on Saturday was a hard-fought feisty affair. With the sides lying sixth and seventh in Division South 2, separated by a single point, this was to be expected. United Services took the lead with a well-taken penalty corner after five minutes. Despite this, Tavistock were the dominant side in the first half, and excellent goals from Dom Lovett and Tom Honey put the home side ahead. Services were fortunate to keep all their men on the pitch when the dangerous Matt Way was twice tripped when through on goals. The increasingly physical game turned against Tavistock five minutes before half-time when sweeper Ken Lethbridge was hit on the head with a Services stick and could no longer continue. Not only did this cost Tavistock their captain and first choice penalty corner striker, but forced a series of reorganisations which unsettled the home side. Services pulled back a goal with a superb deflected strike, then took a 3-2 lead when Tavistock failed to clear the ball early enough. When Services added a fourth ten minutes from time, and Tavistock were reduced to ten men when Alistair Brown was sent off for retaliation, the home side were left facing defeat. The introduction of supersub Nick Andrews almost saved Tavistock as he pulled the score back to 3-4 with five minutes to go. A frantic and tetchy chasing period saw Services hold onto their lead and overtake Tavistock in the league. This Saturday, Tavistock v Bridgwater, away. Tavistock A v Marjon D, Kelly College, 3pm.
