Sidmouth 0

West Devon 12

JUNIOR hockey in West Devon has taken a step forward this season, with the entry of a boys? team in the Devon U15 league.

The top nine clubs in Devon have entered the competition, with West Devon formed from a joint venture between Kelly College and Tavistock Hockey Club. Okehampton have joined with Chudleigh to form another entry.

Sunday?s match played at Exeter University against Sidmouth produced West Devon?s best result so far. A goal in the opening minutes by Johnny Wickstead started a one-sided match in which a ten-man Sidmouth did well to deny West Devon for a further 30 minutes.

But three more goals before half-time sealed the game for West Devon, who added eight in the second half.

Goalscorers were Johnny Wickstead (6), Olly Cowen-d?Arcy (3), Peter Kelsey, Nathan Gathercole and Chris Paull.

A determined Sidmouth continued to push forward at every opportunity but a solid West Devon defence of Olly Thomas, Martin Cummings and Rory Carr ensured keeper Alex Pickeard had only three opportunities to keep warm on a bitter afternoon.

In their previous three matches West Devon have faced Chudleigh, Isca and Marjons/Plymouth.

After a convincing 9-2 victory over Chudleigh, the West Devon boys played an Isca side that fielded all Devon squad players, including the West of England keeper and a centre forward now in the England junior side.

West Devon did well to restrict their visitors to only six goals, where keeper Will Pickeard was outstanding.

Their match against Marjons/Plymouth was a disappointing 6-2 defeat. After coming from two goals down to 2-2 at half-time West Devon were undone by a spell of three goals in five minutes by Plymouth.

West Devon?s next match is against ECV Hornets 12.30 on Sunday at Exeter University.