Hockey: Students breach the Navy's defences

Cambridge University 3 Royal Navy

2

Cambridge University outgunned the Royal Navy at the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes yesterday, producing a performance which will give them encouragement for the Varsity Match here on 11 March.

With both sides several players below their full strength, it was the Navy who were first into their stride - hardly surprising following their 4-1 victory against Oxford on the same pitch the previous day.

The Navy are coached by Army PTI Warrant Officer Ian Jennings, the highly successful Guildford player-coach who, it seems, is unable to fit into his own ranks. But they did not have it all their own way with Cambridge, particularly John Mayer down the right, looking dangerous on the break.

The Navy opened the scoring in the 0th minute, when a generous penalty stroke decision, following a tackle on Jim Moseley by Chris Lipscomb, allowed Moseley to slot home.

With Mike Meredith, the three-times Oxford Blue, dominating midfield, Cambridge moved forward and forced three penalty corners. But they were unable to turn this possession into a goal until the 7th minute when a quickly taken free hit by Meredith set Mayer on his way through the Navy defence to fire past Alan Thomson for the equaliser.

Cambridge forced another couple of corners and it was only a fine save by Thomson from a Meredith shot that kept the Navy on level terms at the half- time interval.

After the break, the students raised the speed of the game which, with the exception of the sweeper Graeme Mather, seemed to catch the Navy by surprise. It was during this period that Gareth Playfair put them ahead at a well-worked penalty corner - the Irish theology student giving Thompson no chance.

Fittingly, it was Meredith who increased their lead in the 6nd minute from yet another penalty corner. With a two-goal cushion, the students seemed to switch off in the final stages and a well-taken goal two minutes from time from Paul Friendship, a Royal Marine Officer, gave the Navy hope.

There might have been an equaliser had Moseley been able to recapture his National League goal-scoring form for Guildford. This time he was caught off balance and the students left the field satisfied but still with work to do before they meet Oxford.

Cambridge University: P Piotrowicz; D Harding; D Churton, C Lipscomb, T Parr; M Loose, M Meredith (capt), I Bateman; J Mayer, D Heathcote, G Playfair. Substitute used: J Gross.

Royal Navy: A Thomson; G Mather (capt); E Peacock, H Ackland, J Paterson; L Watson, M McLintock, P Boswell; A Hendra, J Moseley, P Friendship. Substitutes used: D Holland, R Clarke.

Umpires: A Notman and B Matson (both CSHUA).