St Austell 1
Tavistock 3
A GOOD solid performance by Tavistock men's hockey team started the league season with a well deserved win.
Tavistock travelled into Cornwall feeling a little rusty after a rather fragmented lead up. St Austell attacked from the first whistle and looked dangerous on the break but the visitors' defensive line of Lethbridge, Costello and Cowen contained all that was thrown at them. After 15 minutes, in which Tavistock began to dominate, Jeffery scored the first of two superb goals with a stunning reverse stick strike into the top corner.
With the midfield in control, through Edwards and Barrat, the ball was again inside the home side's D and duly hammered into the net by Jeffery.
Within the first minute of the second half the ball was worked quickly into the St Austell goalmouth but scrambled clear. This seemed to put the visitors into an over-confident style and, having left themselves exposed at the back, failed to clear a loose ball, which found the Tavistock net.
Tavistock used this setback to spur themselves on, slotted back into their networking style of play and playing fast, short pass hockey through the midfield saw Tavistock's third goal struck into the roof of the net.
Tavistock look forward to this Saturday's away game against Okehampton.
Tavistock 2nd XI 1
Plymouth University 0
TAVISTOCK Second's hockey team's first game in the league after a series of disappointing defeats in pre-season friendlies.
Newly promoted Tavistock were at almost full strength with the exception of Young who was umpiring.
In the first quarter the Tavistock defence was under constant pressure from the University forwards. Tavistock conceded too many short corners. George led the Tavistock defence, with the assistance of midfielders Newman and Cooley, to ensure that the scores were kept even.
Tavistock found their rhythm and the midfield and forwards of Jones, Townsend, Newman jnr, Mackintosh and Kelly forced the University goal keeper to make a number of saves.
The second half was evenly balanced with both teams threatening to take the vital goal. In the last ten minutes the game seemed to swing in Tavistock's favour with a series of short corners which were well defended by University. The University's defences were finally breached after another short corner which Alford scored from a well taken shot from a difficult angle.
With minutes to go University pushed their players forward and were rewarded by a short corner. This time University got their act together and managed to take a powerful low shot on goal which Moyse saved superbly .
Tavistock man of the match: Moyse.