In Division II the College 2nd XI had a good, albeit unexpected victory against the experienced JHC Lions, while Hautlieu HC remain four points ahead of nearest rivals OV Vets, who did not play at the weekend.Evolution OV Convicts 10, Victoria College 1st XI 2: Convicts started brightly with good passing but it was College who took a surprise lead when Tom Luce converted from an angle after Convicts had given the ball away carelessly at the back.Convicts came back strongly and after a number of missed chances they turned the game through goals from Jon Cartmell, Paul Marshallsay and Bobby Minty to take a 3-1 lead into the break.As the game lost its shape in the second half, Convicts extended their lead with further goals from Cartmell (three), Marshallsay, Minty and Mark Dicker before Tom Wherry fired into the roof of the net to give the College side another consolation following some ‘interesting’ ‘keeping from Convicts’ Garret O’Brien.
Robin Le Quesne then added a late goal for Convicts.
JHC Gobis 9, JHC Thornbacks 2: Gobis’ Ali Hall started the game as the league’s top scorer and further enhanced his credentials with five goals.Thornbacks had a terrible start, when James Wetherall played a quick free hit on the 25, releasing Ed Lewis to round Tim Pollard and slot the ball into an unguarded net.
Wetherall was himself on the score sheet soon after when a cross struck a defender’s foot, falling kindly for an easy tap-in.
Hall opened his account with a fierce reverse stick shot that left the ‘keeper with little opportunity and Hall made it 4-0 at the break with a simple tap In the second half Thornbacks came out with renewed determination and Alex Pett forced a short corner which was worked wide to Adrian Heelis who thundered a shot inside the far post – Arran Eagar claimed the goal, however, with a deflection.Thornbacks scored again within a minute, after a cross into the D by Peter Taylor flew up off a defender’s stick for David Fior to volley it into the net.With Thornbacks’ confidence buoyed, Gobis began to make more mistakes, but hung on, then Matt Harris started to exert more control on the pattern of Gobis’ play.
This resulted in two short corners being converted, by Ed Daubeney and then Simon Watling, then Hall completed a second-half hat-trick with the pick of his goals, a reverse stick flick high into the net.
