Devon Trophy

Torbay 3

TAVISTOCK suffered a shock defeat in the semi-final of the Devon Trophy losing 3-2 away at Torbay.

Having beaten Torbay  twice in the league, you could have been forgiven for thinking this would be another routine victory. Torbay fielded a stronger team in this cup game in comparison to the two league games and enjoyed the majority of the early pressure and took the lead from a penalty corner.

The hosts soon doubled the lead with a well taken goal from open play. Tavistock suffered another blow when player of the season Sam Stanbury went off injured, when running out at a penalty corner Satnbury was hit in the knee by the ball and played no further part in the game.

In the second half, Torbay were pushing for a third goal which left them open to the counter attack from Tavistock. The Reds were nearly rewarded when Bob Carr went through on goal, though the keeper was able to make a smart save.

Moments later Fenwick found himself one on one with the keeper following a defence splitting pass from Carr, the Tavistock front man coolly rounded the keeper before passing the ball into the open goal. The hosts hit back immediately to restore their three goal advantage.

In what became quite a frantic game in the last ten minutes, Tavistock pulled another goal back when Fenwick converted from a penalty corner. With time running out Tavistock were unable to scored a third and sadly did not progress to the final.  The defeat does not taint what has been a tremendous season, as the league champions won all 22 of their league games as well as reaching the semi-final of the Devon Trophy and the last 16 of the HA Vase - an England Hockey national competition.