Champions still reigning
The Catz goal under pressure again.
Hockey Premier Division
Worcester..................5
St Catz........................3
Below-par league leaders Worcester claimed another victory last Sunday morning as they overcame a plucky St Catz side by five goals to three. The pink and blacks struggled to produce their usual blend of solid defence and lightning quick attacks, but nonetheless managed to sneak the points and keep their hopes of yet another piece of silverware for the already crammed cabinet alive. As college sporting dynasties go, Worcester’s dominance of the men’s hockey league certainly stands out.
Consistent excellence has seen them crowned champions for the last five years. Although Catz cannot come close to matching such a record of recent success, on this occasion they were fired up from the start and eager to cause an unlikely upset. In fact it was the underdogs who struck first as Archie Hardyman’s quickly taken free-hit found forward Nick Walker who slotted calmly past the bemused Worcester keeper Chris Stearn.
Worcester were shocked into action and gradually began to assert control over their opponents in the midfield. Good stick work by Oly Middleton and Mark Lumb forced a short corner that saw Jan Hobbs turn the ball easily in from close range after Middleton scuffed his own effort on goal. This might have been the prelude to another Worcester goal-fest, but instead Catz defended doggedly and then broke forward and restored their lead.
Hardyman turned from provider to scorer, outpacing the flatfooted Worcester defence to gain space in the D, although Stearn might have done more to stop his eventual shot. Had Catz been able to preserve their lead until half time, the game might have taken a very different course. However, some quick thinking from Ben Rowlands ensured parity for the favourites as the interval arrived, the prolific striker turning in another miscued effort from Middleton.
Both teams were missing key players from the start, but a crucial absantee in Catz’s goal forced the team to hand a debut to the inexperienced keeper Alex Zdravkovic, who accordingly endured a torrid second half. Within seconds of the re-start, his hesitation enabled Worcester to take the lead, defender Ruaridh Cameron Smail profiting from a confused mêlée on the goal line.
Catz battled gamely and created a number of half-chances, but never seemed to believe they could get back into the game. A strong hit from Worcester captain and defensive rock John Gibbons found its way through the legs of Zdravkovic to make it four, and then another poorly struck Middleton effort trickled over the line to put the result beyond doubt.
There was still time for one more goal before the final whistle, with a slick break down the left and a superb Walker finish giving spirited Catz some deserved consolation. St Catz had produced the better goals, but ultimately the scoreline is all that matters and at the final whistle Gibbons seemed unconcerned by the less than vintage display. “We’ll up our game for the big boys,” he proclaimed. Judging by his team’s past record you wouldn’t bet against it.
10th Nov 2005