Torbay defeat for North Devon Hockey

North Devon Hockey Club travelled to the English Riviera to take on Torbay in a mid-table clash to resume their league programme for 2024.

With both teams separated in the league on goal difference alone, it was always going to be a close affair, and so it became, with a back and forth encounter in the first half.

North Devon had several penalty corners but were unable to convert, skipper Ash Thorne coming closest with his deflection stopped on the line by the Torbay goalkeeper’s helmet. Torbay’s attacks were thwarted by an energetic and gutsy defensive performance by man of the match Ben Cox. 

All square at the interval, the second half start as the first ended, with both sides locked in battle, but Torbay eventually broke the deadlock with a neatly-worked team goal. 

Further chances for North Devon were hard to come by, and further penalty corners still wouldn’t find the back of the Torbay goal. Pushing hard for the equaliser, North Devon were always going to vulnerable at the back, and so it transpired as Torbay poached two late goals, giving them a deserved but rather flattering 3-0 victory.