Tavistock Ladies 1st XI.2 Paignton..........................4 TAVISTOCK Ladies Hockey 1st team played in the final of the Devon plate competition at Exeter University on Sunday. The game opened with both teams making some strong attacks and good lead runs. The midfield of Tavistock worked hard to prevent the opposition from entering the ?D? and it was the speedy legs of Susannah Boulle and Fiona Dunn that allowed the ball to be intercepted and passed out to the wings. Laura Stapleton worked hard to break down some strong attacks from a couple of their key players and Tavistock were marking up extremely well around the 25yd area. When the ball was spread over the pitch Laura Armstrong had some good runs and was supported by Sue Gawman and Judy Miller. Jo Gaspar was able to feed the ball to Armstrong who was able to switch the ball over to Robynne Honey running tirelessly up and down the pitch. Numerous short corners were awarded against Tavistock but it was the speed from Dunn and the strong play from the defender especially goalkeeper, Bex Creasy, who made some excellent saves all through the match, that prevented Paignton from capitalising on the short corners. The ball was fed up the pitch and Armstrong, Miller, Honey and Gawman were goal hungry. A short corner was awarded to Tavistock and a good shot from Stapleton was deflected by the keeper, but Armstrong was on the pitch and scored the first goal of the match. Paignton came back and a strong strike allowed them to equalise the score at 1-1. Tavistock were working hard but too many stick tackles resulted in far too many short corners being awarded to Paignton. Luckily Tavistock were strong in defence and Sandra Collar guarded the free post and angle of the goal very well. Paignton scored again and the score at half-time was 2-1. Tavistock were definitely giving Paignton a hard time and in the second half Tavistock were the dominant attacking team. Gawman took a strike at goal and the ball was deflected onto the stick of Armstrong who scored her second goal of the match. Tavistock lifted their game despite going two more goals down against Paignton. Tavistock were pleased with how they had performed and, at the presentation, Tavistock were awarded with a shield for being runners up in the Devon Plate Final. The team now will not play again until September, but anyone wanting to join the Ladies? teams can contact Fiona Dunn via the website on http://www.tavistock-hockey.co.uk">www.tavistock-hockey.co.uk The club annual meeting is held tonight (Thursday) at 7.30pm at The Trout and Tipple Pub in Tavistock.
