Hockey: Students stir from slumber

Cambridge University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Bacchanalians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY were in a lethargic and casual mood for their annual fixture against the Bacchanalians at Coldham Common yesterday, writes Bill Colwill. So it therefore came as no surprise when the students conceded a goal in the seventh minute and were two down two minutes later.

Bacchanalians' first goal arrived when Jon Stott, the Cambridge sweeper, gave away a penalty stroke for a clumsy tackle on Max Darby after the striker had given him the slip on the half-way line. Simon Russian made no mistake from the spot. Cambridge were in further trouble almost immediately, Simon Peacock providing the final touch after Trevor Fidler had mesmerised the students down the right wing.

Cambridge reorganised their ranks with Milo Carver, the captain, moving to centre forward and gradually they grafted their way back into the game. However, it was not until five minutes into the second half that they were rewarded. Rob Stevens's stick was chopped by Ed Smith and Cambridge were awarded a penalty stroke which Stott converted. The equaliser came two minutes later when Chris Lawrence, with a rasping shot, crashed the ball home from Stevens' cross.

Bill Ashworth had a half- chance in the dying seconds to score and steal the game for Cambridge. It would, however, have been an injustice.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY: C Durrant (Sidney Sussex); *J Stott (Homerton); D Padfield (Caius), *A Walther (Trinity), *R Cake (St John's); *M Carver (Corpus Christi, capt), *C Carter (Girton), *J Foley (St John's); R Stevens (Hughes Hall), A Battye (Trinity), B Ashworth (Emmanuel). Substitutes used: C Lawrence (Peterhouse), A Sainsbury (Pembroke). * Blue

BACCHANALIANS: N Parr (Nottingham); N Grahame (Derby); P Young (Nottingham), T Osier (Derby), C Baker (Nottingham); E Wills (Nottingham, capt), S Russian (Lichfield), P Thomas (Edgbaston); T Fidler (Northampton Saints), S Peacock (Northampton Saints), M Darby (Northampton Saints). Substitutes used: E Smith (Harborne), M Darbyshire (Northampton Saints).

Umpires: B Budd and D Ramsay (ECHUA).