North Devon Hockey Club hit back with emphatic 8–3 win at Devonport Services

In what felt like Groundhog Day for North Devon Hockey Men’s 1s, they travelled down to Plymouth for their second visit in as many weeks, hoping this time for a positive performance with a better outcome against Devonport Services 1s.

Backed by words of encouragement from skipper Sam Wormington, North Devon started brightly and set the tone early. The pressure paid off inside the opening ten minutes when Pete Smale opened the scoring with his first shot of the game.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Devonport responded well, earning a series of short corners. North Devon’s defensive unit initially stood strong, with Ben Cox throwing himself in front of danger and putting stick and body on the line. But at the third time of asking, Devonport finally broke through with a well-executed drag flick.

North Devon showed great resilience and quickly regained control. Bradley Bellingham doubled the lead with a close-range tap-in before vice-captain Josh Thorne, restored to his favoured role up front, added a third to give North Devon some breathing space.

Devonport finished the half strongly, though, and another short corner struck Jay Corden on the foot, awarding the hosts a penalty flick. Despite the visitors’ best efforts to delay proceedings, the flick was dispatched high into the net, cutting the deficit to 3–2 at the break.

With momentum threatening to swing Devonport’s way, Wormington’s half-time team talk proved decisive. North Devon emerged with renewed energy and quickly pulled clear, with Guy Cockcroft adding a fourth before Smale grabbed his second to make it 5–2.

A brief lapse at the back allowed Devonport to claim a third, but it only seemed to spur North Devon on.

Clicking into fifth gear, North Devon dominated the remainder of the contest. Archie Shawcross and Ashley Thorne were outstanding, creating chances every time North went forward. Thorne finished off a superb counter-attack before Smale completed his hat-trick with another well-worked team goal.

In the dying moments, there was still time for man of the match Shawcross to cap an excellent performance with a precise finish into the bottom corner, sealing an emphatic 8–3 victory for North Devon.

Elsewhere, the Ladies’ 1s won 2-6 away against Minehead 1s, the Ladies’ 2s won 2-1 at home against Exeter 5s and the Men’s 2s triumphed 3-0 at home against Taunton Vale 5s.