Tavistock Men's 1st XI 8
St Austell 0
THE combined strengths of structured teamwork, high tempo passing and confident solo runs proved too much for the talented but young St Austell hockey team.
Honey, Edwards and Heard repeatedly linked down the right hand side to create many of the short corners opportunities, while Way and Barrett dominated the midfield, teasing the opposition with penetrating solo runs.
Honey opened the score with a clean strike into the sideboards from a Leithbridge block pass. Leithbridge delivered the second goal from a short corner, courtesy of an inch-perfect drag pass from Way.
Edwards followed this from another short corner goal, driven home with terrifying power. Andrews finished off the first half with a characteristic poacher's goal from a hard right hand cross.
The second half saw St Austell push forward with determined attacks but tight marking and determined tackling from Rodda and Bellard absorbed the brunt of them.
The second half scoring was opened with Edwards driving home another short corner, this time into the left corner leaving the keeper floundering in no man's land.
A cunning solo run by Way took the ball into the circle and under the keeper where Heard poached the final touch.
Way made sure the next did not need any assistance by drilling it inside the left post.
Taunted by the Way wonder, Heard solo-ran the ball into the circle, drew the keeper right and deftly slotted it left to finish the game.
Man of the match: Tom Honey.
This week away to Penzance.
Tavistock 1
Exeter Hornets 3
THE first round of hockey's national knockout cup saw Tavistock lined up with Hornets from the premier league 3, three leagues above them.
The first half saw Hornets surprised as Tavistock hounded every ball, denying them the ability to get structure into their game.
An initial goal by Hornets was quickly countered by Tavistock with a goalmouth scramble being flicked home by Ollie Cowan. A second good scoring chance from a Damien Heard flick being cleared off the line, before half-time.
The second half started in the same high tempo hockey from both sides, with repeated attacks by Tavistock being denied by good defending.
The game swung toward Hornets in the last 20 minutes of the second half. Building solid fast attacks from close possession work within their own half, Hornets took a deflection into the roof of the Tavistock goal, the third being nicely played link work between three of their forwards to leave Tavistock keeper Neil Bradley with no chance.
Man of the match: Kevin Leithbridge.