Hockey: Molloy masters Cheam

Cheam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

President's XI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

THE CREAM of Surrey hockey came to Peaches Close, Cheam, yesterday for the annual Dick Hollands Memorial match between the club and the President's XI, writes Bill Colwill. Captained by Ian Pinks, who made the last of his 12 appearances for England in 1977, the President's XI proved too strong for the club and overcame a valiant rearguard action in which the former Stourport defender, John McPhun, and goalkeeper, Greg Davies, were always prominent.

The two sides produced a match of bright, attacking hockey - on real grass - to entertain the spectators. Jon Molloy opened the scoring for the visitors in the seventh minute: Davies, saving well from Simon Cox and again from brother Matt's lobbed follow-up, could only watch helplessly as Molloy pounced.

Cheam were soon on terms through Angus Jones but with Simon Cox dominating the midfield and Molloy, with intricate skills for such a big man, creating problems for the Cheam defence, it seemed only a matter of time before the visitors gained control. Neil Pendle, following up after Davies had blocked Paul Mulligan, produced a rasping, scoring shot after 22 minutes and Simon Cox, from a penalty corner, made it 3-1 at the interval.

As the tempo slowed, the President's XI asserted their authority with two goals from Guy Marchant and a second from Pendle.

Cheam: G Davies; J McPhun; A Nightingale, R Harmer, N Martin (capt), S Fernandes, A Jones, K Jones; T Glasford, G Jones, G Douglas. Substitute used: I Moore.

PRESIDENT'S XI: M Miles (Surbiton); T Oddy (Haslemere), D Justesen (Surbiton); W Davies (Wimbledon), S Cox (Slough), I Pinks (Sevenoaks, capt); M Cox (Old Kingstonians), G Marchant (Richmond), J Molloy (Surbiton), N Pendle (Chichester), P Mulligan (Old Walcountians). Substitute used: D Byfield (Old Walcountians).

Umpires: I Moss and G Stent (SCHUA).