PGSOB 5

TAVISTOCK A came out fighting and within three minutes Tim Oram smashed a reverse stick strike against the backboard.

However, Plympton Grammar School Old Boys responded immediately, exposing holes in Tavistock’s defence. Having equalized they took the lead minutes later when a player was left unmarked.

 End-to-end hockey ensued. Hanson for Tavistock collected a cross, struck at goal, then flicked the rebound over the keeper’s pads to equalise.

A 20-minute midfield battle ensued - PGSOB pressuring the centre with Tavistock preferring to go wide. A quick break gave the ball to Oram, who capitalised in spectacular fashion diving and scoring with another back-stick strike.

At half time it was 3-3 and anyone’s game.

 Walker quickly picked up a loose ball in the D for Tavistock, calmly waiting for the keeper to commit before pushing the ball against the backboard. Ten minutes later he did it again, Oram and Jones making fast, accurate passes and Walker feinting the keeper before flicking the ball in.

 Confusion in the Tavistock D left keeper Osbourne unsighted and PGSOB clawed back a goal.  Moments later Oram won a midfield ball, pushing a superbly weighted pass into the far corner of the pitch; Jones ran it down and crossed confidently to Dunlop, who smashed the ball home.

Walker struck the post with three minutes to go, and a minute later PGSOB attacked one last time. Two players were left unmarked and one took his chance.

It was not enough however, and Tavistock took away the three points along with a resolution to tighten up their defence.