Hockey: Powell sinks Navy

Royal Air Force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Royal Navy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

THE RAF fired the opening salvoes in the Inter-Services Championship at Plymouth yesterday, beating the Royal Navy 2-0 thanks to two second- half goals from Canterbury's Neil Powell.

After a first half in which both sides played attractive, midfield hockey but seldom looked likely to score, the game came alight 14 minutes into the second half when Powell forced his way through the Navy ranks before having his stick chopped by Dave Ward, the Navy captain. Powell gave Nicky Warriner in the Navy goal no chance with the resulting penalty stroke.

Nine minutes later Powell picked up a shrewd pass from Ivan Wood to slot home his second goal. Powell, carrying a thigh injury, was then substituted in the hope that he will be fit for today's encounter against the Army.

There was still time for the Navy to force a string of penalty corners, but their drill left much to be desired and the Scottish international goalkeeper, Alasdair Seaton, in the airmen's goal was not troubled.

The result might have been different if the Navy's Jim Moseley had not wasted the simplest of chances a minute before the interval after John Smith had robbed Zair Hussain to send Moseley goalwards with a perfect pass.

Earlier in the day the Navy veterans had beaten the RAF 1-0 and their Under-21s had won 3-1.

Royal Navy: N Warriner; J Dean, N Rogers, D Ward (capt), I Riddle, G Dale-Smith, L Watson, S Mitchell, J Moseley, J Smith, D Clarke. Substitutes used: H Ackland, D Evans.

Royal Air Force: A Seaton; C Kimber, S Welham, Zair Hussain, D Oatley, I Wood, F McLean (capt), D Sellars, Malik Haleem, G Cartmell, N Powell. Substitutes used: M Evans, I Barrett.

Umpires: J Patel and I Bryan (both CSHUA).