Hockey: Holcombe tame Wildcats

The indoor season opened at the Edge Centre, Haslemere, yesterday with an exciting South Qualifying competition. Holcombe, after beating Bromley 2-1 in a penalty shoot-out after a 3-3 draw in the semi-final, eventually went through to the National League qualifying tournament to be played at the end of next month, beating Winchester Wildcats in the final again on penalty strokes 3-2 after another 3-3 tie.

The indoor season opened at the Edge Centre, Haslemere, yesterday with an exciting South Qualifying competition. Holcombe, after beating Bromley 2-1 in a penalty shoot-out after a 3-3 draw in the semi-final, eventually went through to the National League qualifying tournament to be played at the end of next month, beating Winchester Wildcats in the final again on penalty strokes 3-2 after another 3-3 tie.

Foreign players stole the limelight, none more so than the Egyptian Ahmed Ezz playing for the Hampshire side Tiger Balm.

The man who caused so much havoc to Great Britain's right-side defence in the recent Athens Olympics was again at his dazzling best, particularly in scoring a wonder solo goal in their 2-2 draw with Bromley in a pool game in which the umpires appeared to condone Bromley's physical play to combat the Egyptian.

The South African Steve Evans was also prominent for Holcombe, particularly in their 5-1 thrashing of Oxford Hawks.