Harlequins Mens Hockey Match Report

Harlequins (A) 5 - C of I (A) 1

Mens Munster Division 1

Saturday 26th October 2002

Scorers: D. Eakins 2, J. Aherne, P. McLaughlin, D. Lombard

Quins scored a tremendous 5-1 victory over local rivals CofI last Saturday. The game marked the debut of Colm Brady & the return after injury of Jason Black. Wesley Bateman also returned to the panel for the first time this season.

The match began with both teams in a very positive frame of mind & each looking for weaknesses they could exploit. It took Quins a while to settle & a few misplaced passes increased the pressure. In the opening period Quins had a couple of corners, one which went just wide of the post from a David Eakins drag flick & a second that Jason failed to turn in at the post. After 25 minutes Quins lost possession on the right side of the pitch & a swift pass behind the defenders was deflected beyond the advancing Chris Daunt.

Tensions rose in the period before half time & 3 yellow cards were shown. 2 to Quins & 1 to CofI. The understanding & play in the Quins team improved markedly in the second period of the first half. Quins increased the pressure on the CofI defence & deservedly equalised in the 31st minute from a David Eakins short corner. A minute before half time Quins took the lead. Richard Gash controlled a very difficult pass from Jason & he was fouled. He took a very quick free to Eaks & a fast passing movement from the half way line ended with Eaks pushing the ball to the goal from close range.

Quins really upped the tempo in the second half. The pace of the passing & the movement of the players off the ball was tremendous. Quins increased the lead to 3-1 with a excellent strike from the top of the circle by John Aherne, following a fine passing movement down the left hand side. A 4th goal followed a swift passing movement that was cheekily turned home at the far post by Philip McLaughlin (between his legs). The final goal came when Quins successfully defended a CofI corner & in a quick counter attack the ball was struck home with a powerful drive from the top of the circle by Ducksie Lombard. Locky had a magnificent reverse stick take (one handed) from a very powerfully struck pass before he set up Ducks for the strike on goal.

Harlequins: Chris Daunt, Morten Pedersen, Philip Chambers, Sean Nicholson, Jason Black, Paul Lombard, John Aherne, Colm Brady, David Eakins, David Lombard, Edward Gash, Richard Gash, Philip McLaughlin, Brian Hayes Curtin, Wesley Bateman, David Egner.