South West one

Penzance A 5

TAVISTOCK A headed down into the depths of Conwall in a confident mood. Sitting at the top of the hockey division, they were playing the team who were entrenched at the bottom with only three points.

The plan never worked out and Tavistock had the hardest battle of the season so far.

Tavistock started brightly, moving the ball around well, but lost possession and conceded a penalty corner. This was powerfully dragged and flicked into the top of the net — something the visitors had not faced in the division before.

The game swung from end to end and Tavistock got themselves straight back into it, via a strong strike from Orman.

With nothing in the game and Tavistock struggling to contain the strength of the Penzance midfield, the visitors managed to squeeze another goal from a short corner and Barnes capitalised.

Penzance were straight back and powerfully drag flicked another short corner.

Tavistock knew they had a game in their hands and worked tirelessly to control the game and managed to get themselves another couple via a deft shot via Reynolds and and a well placed shot from Barnes.

Penzance again clawed themselves into contention with some skill that Tavistock just could not contend with.

Tavistock entered the second half with great determination, but immediately were on the back foot when Penzance equalised with a third drag flick that Grahame could not stop.

By this time Tavistock were struggling to cope with the power and skill of the Cornish side and lost out to a superb take from one of the young players.

Tavistock were still in with a shout of a result when Orman hit the post from a reverse stick shot but it was not to be - the long journey back to Devon with no points, was not what was expected.

The Penzance side played well that day and certainly did not represent a team that was sitting at the foot of the table!

It was a lesson for Tavistock A to be learnt and taken forward, to the start of the second part of the season on January 14.