Beavers need only a draw to secure top spot

INVESTEC COLOMBIANS are not giving up hope of winning the first session of the Investec Men's League Division One. On Saturday, last year's champions could only muster a 2-2 draw with Mosgrove Yobbos as Beavers beat Coreix Unwantables.

Beavers now only need to draw with Yobbos in the last round of games in two weeks' time to take the honours.

The winners of the first half of the season face the champions of the second in a play-off at the end of the season.

'It depends on the last result,' said Colombians captain Kees Jager.

'Beavers have only got to draw and it looks likely. But if Yobbos play like they did against us, there's no reason why they can't beat them.

'It's unlikely but there's always a chance. The same thing happened two years ago.

'We didn't win it before Christmas, but then we romped it after. We're like a sleeping beast.

'We haven't hit our form yet. The best is to come.'

Their game's first half remained goalless but with Yobbos having the run of play.

Peter Carey put Yobbos in the lead after the break with a stunning strike from a short corner.

Wayne Moore added another for the whites before TJ Ozanne and Danny Tall managed to level things for the yellows.

'We got off to a slow start,' said Jager.

'They played really well and they always seem up for it against us. There was only one team in it in the first half, which was them.

'They had most of the possession and they had an awful lot of chances.'

In the build up to the game between Unwantables and Beavers, the former were struggling to raise a team with captain John Bell, Andy Alford, Huw Sharp and Nick Mann unavailable.

Moves were made to scratch the game and award Beavers a 3-0 victory.

But with the league potentially coming down to goal difference, Beavers were keen to play and the match eventually went ahead with Andy Whalley's side winning 4-2.

Whalley himself scored two after Andy Biggins had tapped-in Beavers' first.

Gareth Payne was also on the scoresheet while Phil Ogier and Jordi Smith grabbed Unwantables' goals.

'In hindsight it would have been better to take the 3-0, but at the end of the day everyone wants to play hockey,' said Whalley.

'If you dig in and put in the effort, it just goes to show. They've got some very good players in that side.

'We're a bit disappointed that we didn't do better but that's the way it goes. We missed a hatful of chances so it was also disappointing from that point of view.

'It was one of those games. They snuffed us out.

'They worked really hard and fought for it and that was what made it hard for us.'

Even though they only need a draw in their last game, Whalley emphasised that his team are going to go out for the three points.

'The league is in our hands but we'll play to win,' he said.

'Yobbos are a good side. We've got to be at our very best to beat them.'