College will get better says coach

Mosgrove Yobbos 7, Elizabeth College 0

ELIZABETH College's hockey term got off to a stuttering start at the Memorial Field. Mosgrove Yobbos confirmed their early good form in the second half of the season in what turned out to be a routine demolition of the students.

Even with a number of key players absent, Steve Queripel showed his team-mates the way with a hat-trick. Goals poured in towards the final whistle.

But it took more than 30 minutes to break the deadlock and College coach David Wray was sure that his side would provide a sterner challenge for opposition sides as the term went on.

'We need to get the right players in the right positions, and for the first couple of games we need to see who those right players are. Once we get the balance of the team right, we can start working on our patterns of play.'

Wray admitted that his young side had often suffered eight and 9-0 rollovers in the early part of the season - a far cry from days when the college was competitive enough to nearly win the league.

Now, said the college teacher, teams appeared to have much more strength in depth - a point exemplified by the presence of nine present-day or former island players in the Yobbos side.

But Wray said that the league was important to the college, especially in the build up to its key schools matches during the term.

'We always build up to the Victoria match at the end of term and on tour. Then the boys see that they're actually not as bad as perhaps they think they are.'

The college cause was not helped by a shoulder injury to goalkeeper Tom Le Tissier. Andrew Rigden was hauled away from a shopping expedition to take over between the sticks in the second half, and had ample opportunity to shine as the students faded.

It was only 2-0 at the break, Queripel and Nathan Hodder with the goals, following a neat short corner routine.

Queripel completed his hat-trick with a penalty stroke before Yobbos claimed three more in the last few minutes.

Nick Mahy hammered home from the top of the D and Wayne Moore helped himself to two late goals from inches out, the second with a cheeky reverse stick finish.

The college looked smart in red shirts and multi-stripe socks, but the look was not matched by the performance. They rarely threatened a defence well marshalled by Richard Veillard.

Just days into the new term, and with no training behind them, Wray had to be upbeat.

'I've been happy with the way that everybody's working hard and trying to do what's asked, but obviously it's going to take several weeks. In two months' time we'll be playing much better as a team,' he said.