There were only two England Hockey League matches this
weekend. Yesterday Reading and Surbiton played their catch-up game caused by
their absences abroad in Round 1 of the Euro Hockey League. This afternoon it
was the turn of Cardiff & Met who had represented Wales in Round 1.1 in
Barcelona. Their opponents were a drive
up the M4 to Osterley where they met Indian Gymkhan in the NOW:Pensions
Conference West.
The first few minutes of the match between the two looked
very unpromising, with both sides making forays into their opponents half
without any serious threat to the goal. But mid-way through the first half
Gymkhana sent out a warning by finding the net only to have the shot
disallowed.
The second half of the match picked up considerably, with
the Welsh side making repeated penetrations into the Gym half. But the home
side’s defence held as solid as a rock, and shooting opportunities proved few
and far between. The continued pressure
carried with it the risk of a breakaway, and it was that which resulted in the
only goal of the match, scored by Indian Gymkhana’s Rafael Jimenez with less
than 10 minutes left on the clock.
The final score of 1-0 provides Cardiff with their first
defeat of the season, and their first in the league since November last year.
It is also a lost opportunity to regain the lead in the table from Bath
Buccaneers, who are one point ahead of them.
Indian Gymkhana used to be the Enfant Terribles of the England Hockey League. This afternoon was a
bit on the noisy side but Cardiff and Met made more than their fair share of
the noise. Gymkhana were skippered by Warren
D’Souza. It’s the first time we’ve seen him play since he left Premier Division
Reading, but not only did he have an excellent game, but he often was on hand
to keep tempers under control.
Photographs from this match will appear soon at our web site
at www.HockeyImages.co.uk.
