USHC 2

WITH the first half of the season drawing to a close Tavistock men's first team faced a stern hockey encounter against a physical United Services side.

Tavistock with their new lookformation started brightly playing some fast counter attacking hockey which the opposition struggled to keep up with. This was soon capitalized upon with Honey rounding the out coming goal keeper to square the ball to Richards who passed the ball into the back of an empty net.

US however got themselves back into the game through a penalty corner which rattled the backboard. Tavistock, composed under pressure, transferred the ball around the pitch with ease and confidence; exposing their opposition's weaknesses. The constant attacking threat of Bayliss, Fenwick and Richards proved too much for their opponents.

Fenwick took back the lead for Tavistock through another penalty corner with a powerful strike into the bottom corner. Further goals from Richards and Stanbury gave Tavistock a healthy 4-1 lead going into half time.

The second half continued in the rich vein of form from the first, as Tavistock grew in confidence playing some tantalising attacking hockey. Honey increased Tavistocks lead through some eye catching trickery down on the baseline to fool the keeper and push the ball into an open goal.

Bayliss popped up with a fine deflected finish into the top corner of the goal off a deceptive trademark Honey pass. A further goal to Tavistock came from a fortunate deflection off a US defenders stick which ended up in the back of the goal. To the opposition's credit, they fought until the final whistle and were rewarded late on with a consolation goal.

Tavistock go into the Christmas break in second place in the league one point behind league leaders Teign HC. A tricky second half of the season awaits Tavistock in their quest for promotion.