A STRONG start from the Cavaliers handed it a four-goal victory over Tigers in Round 1 of the Lower South East Hockey Association competition.
Cavaliers was able to keep the ball in attack early, which put the pressure on Tigers’ defence.
Division 2 women
Cavaliers 4 d Tigers 0
Samara Herpich managed to dribble the ball from half back and into the Cavaliers’ circle where Karen McGregor forced a penalty corner.
McGregor was able to finish off the corner with her side’s first goal of the game.
Tigers responded and moved the ball into attack, but Cavaliers was able to turn it over and McGregor again defeated the Tigers’ defence, scoring her second goal.
Jodie Nolte and Elly Waters were strong in defence and as a result Tigers struggled to penetrate the goals.
Cavaliers did well to swing the momentum into attack and Nat Paxford was next to create the opportunity for yet another penalty corner.
However, Tigers was able to remain strong and denied its opponent the chance to score.
Tigers’ strong defence only fuelled Cavaliers’ fire.
The latter continue to dominate the first half and was able to convert yet another goal, this time through Paxford.
Isabelle Lander created another penalty corner for Cavaliers and again Paxford was able to convert.
At the break, Cavaliers had the game in check with a 4-0 lead.
However, Tigers refused to give up without a fight, making positional changes and stepping up defence.
Caitlyn Nisbet was playing well and denying Cavaliers entry to its attacking circle.
Tigers was able to counter-attack and create several opportunities through Teena McKee and Margaret Fenwick, but were unable to find the back of the net.
Due to Cavaliers’ impressive first half it took the win 4-0.
Division 3 men
Tigers 3 d Cavaliers 1
BOTH Cavaliers and Tigers put it all on the line in Round 1.
Each side worked hard and put the pressure on in the opening minutes, which kept both respective goalkeepers busy.
Tigers was first to score through Scott Hamilton, but Cavaliers’ Ben Weedon struck back to level the score.
Both teams pushed hard to find more goals, but it was Tigers who prevailed twice more to run out deserving winners.
Better players for Cavaliers were Weedon, Noah Rogers, Cameron Hurst and Jamie Shephard while better players for Tigers were Harry Robinson, Joel Schwarz, Hamilton and Sean Hunter.
Under 15 boys
Cavaliers 2 d Tigers 1
CAVALIERS claimed the win in a tight tussle with Tigers in warm conditions on Saturday morning.
Both teams started confidently, but it was Tigers which created more opportunities through good use of the ball in midfield.
However, it failed to capitalise on their opportunities and Cavaliers was able to score and take the lead.
Cavaliers’ midfielder Ben Weedon had a strong game, as did Tigers’ Blake McKee.
The one-on-one match-up between the two quality players was a highlight of the game.
Tigers continued to hold the advantage in general play, but was consistently denied by exceptional goalkeeping from Rueben Hughes.
However, persistence eventually paid off and Tigers levelled the scores through Shaunn Robinson.
Cavaliers had no intention on being outdone and lifted the intensity to score in the dying minutes to record the victory in a nail-biter.
