Harlequins Mens Hockey Match Report

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Monday 28 March 2005

Mens European Cup Winners Trophy Promotion Playoff

Harlequins (A)   2  -  2   Royal Antwerp Dragons

After finishing second in group B, to winners Kelburne HC from Scotland, Quins were drawn to play against the winners on group A, the Royal Antwerp Dragons from Belgium. Before the tournament began we knew that ourselves, the Dragons and Kelburne would be the top teams so this match was not unexpected.

Quins lined out for the first time in their Black and White shirts and as soon as the whistle went the crowd knew this game was going to be a cracker.

The Dragons controlled the ball for long periods of time in their own half, as they searched for an opening in the Quins ranks. Whenever the Dragons got too close the forwards and midfield worked well to push them back again and again, while the defenders tightly marked the forwards, leaving John Hobbs free to sweep up the excess. This tactic worked very well for Quins and the Dragons rarely penetrated the circle [or 25] and were reduced to playing crash balls, many of which sailed over the back line or sideline. Richard Gash had the first chance of the game for Quins, when a ball came in to the circle about knee high from the right hand side. Gash, running onto the ball form the left hand side, using his eye for the ball, caught the ball perfectly on the volley, but sadly the ball flew over the crossbar. Disappointingly, after failing to clear one of their attacks in our circle, one of their players [Stumpe – the winner of player of the tournament] robbed the ball and struck an unstoppable shot past Wes Bateman, into the bottom corner form the top of the circle.

Half-time Cork Harlequins 0 Dragons 1

Even though one nil down at half time Quins were not out of this match at all, after showing how weak the Dragons defense was and a few occasions, but failing to find that elusive foot in the circle.

When the second half began, in was though a different Quins team came out. From the whistle, Quins dominated possession and tore apart the Dragons defense so many times on the counter attack. The relentless pressure paid off early in the second half, when David Eakins [who entered this game with 7goals] scored the equalizer with a reverse stick shot from the top of the circle, which the keeper got a hand to but deflected in into his own net. Eakins in inspired form, playing his best hockey in a long time, was tearing holes in the Dragons defense, beating them with excellent running of the ball and his pace. From one of these runs Eakins received the ball on the right hand side and worked his way past a few defenders along the byline into the circle. Once in the circle, Eakins got his head up and played an inch perfect pass across the face of the goal [between the goal and the penalty spot] where the onrushing David Egner slid in, to deflect the ball, on the reverse, into the side of the goal past the helpless keeper.

This goal was deserved and from this Quins continued to push forward when possible. Minutes later Eakins was unlucky not to find the backboard or Egner at the back post, when he shot at goal after dribbling with ball from left side of the circle to just outside of the penalty spot and shooting at the back post.

In the last five minutes Dragons had a period of continued pressure, and they looked for the equalizer. They were awarded a corner, which Wes Bateman brilliantly saved, but unfortunately seconds later Dragons won another one. This time Dragons got what many feel they didn’t deserve, finding the goal following a penalty corner. This spurred Quins into life again, and with one final push they got ball up the right wing, Paul Lombard received the ball in the circle on the right and played ball towards the keepers bottom right. The keeper got a foot to the ball and deflected in out towards the penalty spot where Richard Gash was on hand to volley ball home into the back of the empty net. 3 -2 Quins, surely…..but no! The referee initially awarded a goal, but with Quins celebrating what would have been as great victory, the umpire made a split second decision that the ball had not crossed the line before the final hooter went so the goal did not stand.

As you can imagine, a big of controversy followed from the Quins players and management, but in the end the referee stood firm and the game ended in a draw. Not for the first time, Quins would have to go to penalty strokes to resolve a big match.

As tension mounted, the stroke takers made their way to the centre of the pitch, away from bustle of the bench’s. Dragons were to strike first, with Wes in nets. One nil. Paul Lombard stepped up. One all, with ball sailing into the keeper top right. Two one Dragons. Sean Nicholson…..two all, with ball going into the roof, after keeper nearly got a full hand to it. Next stroke…..excellent save by Wes Bateman diving to his bottom right. After sending the keeper the wrong way with disguise, John Hobbs proceeded to scuff his stroke narrowly wide of the goalpost. Dragons turn. Three two. Once again with the keeper diving the wrong way, Dave Egner sent his stroke wide of the goal. After Wes had given us a tremendous chance, we’d gone and put the pressure back onto him. Dragon’s fifth taker stepped up and scored. Final score 4 -2 to the Dragons. Unfortunately David Eakins, Quins best stroke taker did not get to take one.

Final Score Cork Harlequins 2 Dragons 2 [Dragons win 4 – 2 on penalty strokes]

Squad: Wes Bateman, Sean Nicholson, John Hobbs, Conor Harte, Jason Black, Mark Black, David Lombard, Paul Lombard, David Eakins, Richard Gash, David Egner, Philip McLaughlin, Brian Hayes-Curtin, Lee d’Alton, Philip Chambers, John Aherne, Richard Leonard, David Harte