HOCKEY: Double victory for Gwent Ladies (From South Wales Argus)

HOCKEY: Double victory for Gwent Ladies

12:00pm Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in Sport

LEAGUE hockey returned with a bang at the weekend as Newport Gwent Ladies got their first and second team campaigns off to a winning start.

The ladies’ first team had an early start in north Cardiff, away to Whitchurch Saints III.

The 10.30am game saw Gwent rise and shine and dominate possession in the first half.

But against a packed defence they struggled to create any real chances.

Against the run of play, Whitchurch scored from a short corner just before half time to lead 1-0.

But from the whistle to start the second half it was one-way traffic as Gwent started switching the ball about and creating lots of chances.

Becki Watkins scored the first from a short corner strike, Stevie-Marie Jones netted twice and Kathryn Dunn scored from a deflection straight from the training pitch to seal a 4-1 win.

The ladies’ seconds were also dominant in their game against Brecon, conceding just one short corner all day and spending most of the game in their opponents’ half.

Their 2-0 win came thanks to goals from Saskia Barth and Katy Wall.

Gwent’s men’s first team crashed to a 6-0 defeat at Cardiff & UWIC C.

Having replaced five regular starters from last season’s team, Gwent started brightly, creating the better chances in the first half.

They were unfortunate to turn around 1-0 down.

But in the second half, the hard-running students on the Cardiff side won a series of short corners and a penalty flick left goalkeeper Chris Silvester with no chance.

The men’s seconds storm-ed to the top of South Wales Division 2 with an 8-0 demolition of Penarth A, including a clean sheet for goal-keeper Adam Turner on his second team debut.

A hat-trick from new captain Jamie Evans led the way.

Richard Hill and Martin Price netted a brace each and Penarth contributed an own goal.

Gwent B lost 2-0 away to Llan & Caerphilly B.