Unwantables can afford to miss their penalties

UNWANTABLES find themselves at the top of the men's hockey cup standings despite missing a succession of penalty flicks throughout day one of the new-look Investec League knockouts. It's the second time that the round-robin format has been used after proving to be a success last year.

The games are reduced to 25 minutes each way and the initial round is played over two sessions.

Unwantables were the only team not to drop any points and with the way that other games went, captain Adrian Peacegood believes his side are sitting pretty.

'Things are set up nicely for us for the next round. Hopefully a win against Yobbos or Rebels will get us a place in the final, with Colombians, Yobbos and Tigers all drawing,' said Peacegood.

The UHC were involved in the first contest of the day which was against last year's losing finalists, Tigers.

It finished 2-0 in their favour as goals by Dan Slimm and Grammar schoolboy David Banks proved to be enough and Jamie Chambers and Adrian Peacegood could both afford to miss penalty flicks.

Chambers was adjudicated to have double touched the ball with his flick and Jason Robilliard saved Peacegood's effort after the penalty was awarded for an infringement in the Tiger's D that resulted in Mark Babbe being sin-binned.

League leaders Colombians then took on Yobbos and although keen successfully to defend their cup, they could only manage a 2-2 draw.

The game contained numerous penalty corners which either side failed to capitalise. The first goal came from a Steve Ward pass to Nic Chambers in the D, who flicked past David Clayton in goal for the Colombians.

That team levelled in the second half thanks to Chris Gill who put a wonderful strike to which Yobbos' keeper Adrian Gidney had no answer.

In turn, Nic Chambers produced a spectacular reverse stick flick from the left side of the D to give his team the advantage again. But this was short lived as Tristan Cairns produced his own reverse stick shot to even the scores out.

Division One new boys Rebel Alliance then faced a Tigers team keen to make amends for their defeat earlier in the day. Mark Jeffreys, playing in an unfamiliar role of centre forward, bagged himself a hat-trick.

The pick of his three goals was his first, a cannonball shot from 10 yards out that clattered into the backboards.

The Rebels problem of not being able to convert good play into goals has been a feature of their season so far. Saturday was no exception.

Their only goal came via a penalty flick scored by Alex Knowleden after Alexis Mansell stopped the ball with his foot on the goal line.

With Barney Lewis adding one more to Jefferies' tally, the burgundies went down 4-1.

The fourth game of the day saw Unwantables beat an under par Colombians 2-1 thanks to a goal each for Jamie Chambers and Rob Newton. Cairns got his second of the day for the Colombians.

The main feature of the game was Unwantables inability to score from penalty flicks again. This time Peacegood and island winger Adam Kitching were the culprits.

Yet this was to prove unimportant as they dominated the Colombians in open play and they walked away worthy winners.

The final game of the day played under the floodlights found Yobbos defeat the Rebel Alliance 3-1.

Goals from Richard Veillard, Nic Chambers and Stephen Queripel made South African Richus Nel's effort worthless as again the Rebels wasted too many chances.

The next round is to be played on Saturday 9 April, when the top two teams at that end of the day will go through to the final.

On the basis of Saturday's results, Unwantables have to be favourites to lift this piece of silverware, although for their sake, let's hope it doesn't go to penalty flicks.

Results:

Tigers 0, UHC 2 (Slimm, Banks); Colombians 2 (Gill) Yobbos 2 (N. Chambers 2); Rebel Alliance 1 (Knowelden), Tigers 4 (Jeffreys 3, Lewis);

UHC 2 (J. Chambers, Newton), Colombians 1 (Cairns); Yobbos 3 (R. Veillard, N. Chambers, Queripel), Rebel Alliance 1 (Nel).

PANTHERS lead the women's group having won both their games on day one of their cup.

The goal of the day fell to Sarah Hughes whose strike against Vixens was a cracker from the top of the D that left goalkeeper Kate Le Gallez with no chance of stopping.

Cubs may rue their draw against Puffins. The latter's defence was well marshalled by Justine Torode and Jo Peacegood who ensured a nil-all draw.

Results:

Cubs 0, Puffins 0; Amazons 0, Panthers 0; Vixens 1, Cubs 2; Puffins 1, Amazons 0; Panthers 1, Vixens 0.