Tavistock Pumas 3 Hell?s Angels 2 TAVISTOCK Mixed Hockey team?s return match against Hell?s Angels opened with both teams heavy on the attack but it was the Pumas who took advantage of early balls and calls. Tom Honey and Dom Lovett worked well together upfront and coupled with Jo Gaspar and Robynne Honey these four players were putting the opposition under some serious pressure in the ?D?. It was not long before Tom Honey got on the end of a good ball from John Barratt and took an excellent shot at the keeper, sending the ball with force and direction. This early goal lifted the team?s spirits and Tavistock continued to work well. For much of the first half the defensive skills of James Pitts, Kevin Lethbridge and Fiona Dunn were not put to the test and this allowed Lethbridge and Dunn to push up the pitch and support the midfield in blocking out any early attacks. Laura Stapleton and Chris Wilson played well through the midfield and these two players fed some excellent balls into the ?D?. A short corner was given to the Pumas and despite scoring from this the goal was disallowed. An early break from the opposition allowed them to equalise the score line at half-time. After a good team talk and with the Pumas knowing they could and should win this match the team went out determined to increase the pace of the game and their skill levels. Lisa Butler made some good interceptions of the ball and despite not being successful every single time she slowed the pace of the game down which allowed for more of the Pumas to get back and help defend in the ?D?. With strong defending from Lethbridge and Dunn, the ball was cleared out to Lovett who drove the ball up the pitch and was re-diverted in the ?D? due to a strong defender. Lovett slipped the ball across to Stapleton who took a hefty, dominant strike past the keeper. This motivated the team and Robynne Honey was having a good game with some shots on goal and only narrowly missing. With about four minutes remaining Barratt slotted the third goal for Pumas past the defenders and the goalkeeper. However, the quick push back from the opposition caught the Pumas off guard and Hell?s Angels scored their second goal. Minutes later the full time whistle went much to the relief of the Pumas. Tavistock Pumas: James Pitts, Kevin Lethbridge, Fiona Dunn, John Barratt, Laura Stapleton, Lisa Butler, Chris Wilson, Tom Honey, Dom Lovett, Robynne Honey, Jo Gaspar. Player of The Match: Chris Wilson.
