Tavistock Women's 1st XI 2

Newton Abbot 2

THE midfield play of Steph Mills, Laura Stapleton and Susannah Boulle in this hockey friendly saw them move the ball around the pitch and the forwards become dominant in the D.

The opposition were finding gaps through the middle but the strong defensive play of Babs Horton, Fiona Dunn and Gill Court kept them out of the D.

Laura Armstrong drove up the pitch and dodged past the defence to slot the ball strongly past the keeper.

Newton Abbot were quick to fight back and despite Mills and Court trying to break down players on the right, the ball was crossed to the top of the D and the opposition scored. Their second came when the ball was struck in the D and left by the defence, thinking it had been hit outside.

After a good team talk, Tavistock were by far the dominant team in the second half. Dunn, Horton, Court and Boulle battled like Trojans and the opposition could not break through into the D. On the odd time they did, goalkeeper Zoe Viggers had it covered and cleared the ball with confidence.

Sally Kilpatrick worked hard on the left and fed good balls to Boulle and Armstrong, but the opposition were quick to intercept them and build their attack again. Dunn had a great time intercepting these back!

The passing for Tavistock was stronger on the right of the pitch. Stapleton, Mills, White and Lisa Butler did some excellent linking passes but the defence were strong.

Despite having only three minutes to go the forwards kept battling and White, after a hectic scramble, claimed the goal that levelled the match.

Player of the match: Zoe Viggers.

This week Tavistock are at home at Bickleigh Barracks at 12.30pm in a Devon Cup match against Exmouth.