Bude spoil the North Devon party in a thriller at Park School

Winter sunshine broke through the clouds in time for the local derby between North Devon Hockey Club Men’s 1s and Bude Men’s 1s at Park School.

After a thrilling 2-1 away victory at Ashmoor last week, North Devon entered the match with confidence and determination.

While the opposition struck early to take the lead, North remained composed, with a full bench of fresh legs ready to make an impact. Josh Thorne calmly tapped in from close range to level the score at 1-1, setting the stage for an exciting and closely contested match.

The home crowd witnessed some impressive attacking play, including a clever triple chip from Pete Smale in the D that narrowly missed the target. Fighting back, Bude re-established the lead, which proved fleeting when Ash Thorne, striking from the top of the D with pinpoint precision, restored parity just before half time.

The second half began with North in control, and Ash Thorne scored his second to put the hosts 3-2 ahead. Half-time adjustments emphasising width and smart positioning were paying off, making the team sharper and more cohesive.

Bude responded with a well-taken goal to level with ten minutes remaining, keeping the contest thrilling until the final moments. North Devon continued to create chances, showing skill, zeal and tactical awareness.

Alas, Bude would snatch a late goal to lead 4-3 and, following a last-ditch penalty corner routine, the visitors took the spoils.

Despite the result, there were many positives to take from the match. North Devon displayed creativity, attacking flair, and resilience, proving the team can challenge any opponent. With some defensive fine-tuning and improved communication in key moments, the squad will be ready for the fixtures to come.

Elsewhere, the Ladies’ 1s kept up their fine form with a dominant, attacking 0-6 display against Tiverton White Eagles Ladies’ 1s, while the Men’s 2s were narrowly beaten 2-1 in a spirited away performance against Exeter Men’s 3s.