The Changing Face of Hockey Clubs

Sat 21st Jan 2012.

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An interesting article on how English hockey is changing with the times. Written by Alex Teasdale of England Hockey

Men's Vase Match Report

The Men’s Vase final pitted two teams that had scored an average of five goals per game in qualifying. The statistics didn’t quite prove so accurate in terms of the score-line, but they did indicate how close a game this was destined to be. Gainsborough Rose established the lead in the 19th minute when Michael White struck smartly from a penalty corner. The game remained tight with both sides having chances, Sunbury seeking parity but not wanting to leave spaces at the back to concede a two goal deficit.  After the half, Sunbury continued to press and that paid off as Dave Hancke equalised in the 42nd minute. Sunbury, sensing victory pressed on further, at the same time Gainsborough was roused into action and the game drifted from end to end. It was Casper Lucas-Smith that broke the deadlock and put Sunbury into the lead for the first time with 17 minutes remaining. Gainsborough remained calm and eight minutes later equalised through Nick White, brother of Michael.  Neither side was able to score the winner in normal time and extra time beckoned. The golden goal was elusive in the additional fifteen minutes with oft referred to fear of conceding overtaking the desire to throw caution to the wind for a winner. And so it was that penalty strokes were to decide the Men’s Vase. It was the cruellest of blows to Gainsborough Rose when the winning stroke, which was partially saved, trickled over the line to confirm Sunbury as Men’s Vase Champions.