Ladies First Team: Torbay 2-3 Tavistock - Player of the match Els Mills-Hicks

After a great win last week against top of the league the Tavi ladies were on a high and looking for their next win. This week the ladies met Torbay away, the game started with a far steadier pace than previously and it didn't take long for pressure to be pushed on the Tavistock defence but this was nothing that the back line of Boulle, Kelly, Mills-Hicks and Colsten couldn't handle. Tavistock reacted well to the pressure and started to create chances in the oppositions D, unfortunately Lamb just fell short with the first goal scoring opportunity. With some hard leg work from Nevin in the middle who found a gap forward to Armstrong who slipped the ball to MK student Lindsey who slotted Tavistock's first goal nicely past the goalkeeper. The first half ended at 1-0 to the ladies, the girls were looking to turn it up a notch and really show Torbay what they were made of. Within 5 minutes of the second half starting it saw Tavistock putting immediate pressure on in the oppositions half, it didn't long for the girls to find the net and take it to 2-0 with a strong strike from Armstrong which took a touch off a Torbay defender and into the net. The ladies had found that fire they were after and really started to play the hockey they wanted, the midfield trio of Scott, Payne & Nevin saw some great determination going forward which provided forward Lamb with a great through ball who took it beautifully past the keeper to the right of the D and smashed it into the goal. Torbay reacted well and piled the pressure back on the ladies with 15 minutes remaining of the game, it was a close shave in the Tavistock D but a fine sliding save from Viggars kept the home side away from goal. The home side made a quick break and caught the Tavistock ladies dosing and closed the score line to 3-1, with their first goal in the game saw the home side start fighting back against Tavistock and looking for their next opportunity. It didn't take long and unfortunately got a second in the Tavistock net. The ladies worked hard until the final whistle and kept the home side clear of their defensive D and came away with a 3-2 win. Tavistock meet Bude at home next Saturday with their last league game before the Christmas break. 

Men's First Team: PMHC 2-4 Tavistock

Tavistock knew they would face their toughest game of the season against Marjons and things were not helped by the late withdrawal of Sam Stanbury from the match day squad due to illness, he joined other back line players Dale Wood and Paul Marchant on the sidelines.  Marchant would have made 6 former PMHC players in the Tavistock line up had he played alongside Fenwick, Honey, Richards, Willetts and Megicks who had all previously played for their match day opponents. The game started at a fast pace and before the crowd had settled into their seats the Reds found themselves 2-0 up.  Sam Willetts converted from close range following a penalty corner and soon after Megicks was the quickest to react to a loose ball in the D and finished with a well taken reverse stick effort to put the visitors two goals to the good.  Mid way through the half Marjons did score a deserved goal, both sides although strong in defence were looking dangerous in front of goal.  With less than 10 minutes to go before half time Sam Willetts doubled his goal tally for the game, he intercepted a loose pass and his pace took him clear and one on one with keeper before cleverly moving the ball to his reverse to wrong foot the keeper and sweep the ball in and restore the two goal advantage for the visitors. The new backline of Carr, Berry and skipper Honey were looking composed at the back and enjoyed large amounts of possession at the back however Marjons pulled a goal back with a well worked penalty corner routine. Marjons looked to the experience of O'Sullivan, Carter and Oxley to try and breakdown a resolute Tavistock defence, both sides knew the next goal would be crucial and with just over 10 minutes remaining the goal went to the visitors. With Marjons on the attack a turnover of possession allowed Tavistock the chance to break and when Fenwick found Forshaw with a 50yard pass there was only going to be one outcome, despite a defender and the keeper still to beat Forshaw managed to smash the ball home from a tight angle - Forshaw maintained his record of scoring in very game he has played for Tavistock since joining from ISCA over the Summer.  The win sees Tavistock maintain their 5 point lead at the top of the league from Duchy and a 9 point lead over third place Bodmin. As well as playing away to Torbay next weekend, the Reds also travel to Bristol on Sunday to play in round 2 of the England Hockey Vase competition.