HOCKEY: Weather fails to stop North Wilts
7:30am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Sport By Andy Warren
NORTH Wilts Hockey Club were rewarded for beating the cold weather by securing two impressive victories.
With the majority of sport in Wiltshire ravaged by frost and snow North Wilts was one of the only clubs to get their games to go ahead, and the men’s and ladies’ teams both put in superb performances to beat Robinson’s B and Melksham respectively 1-0 at Greenbridge Road.
Darren Cragg scored the only goal as the men’s side secured a priceless victory, which especially pleased lead coach Glyn Morgan after North Wilts fell 7-2 to the same opposition earlier in the season.
“The result we managed was amazing,” he said.
“They beat us quite heavily earlier in the season at their place, so I am not quite sure how we have turned it round like that.
“It was a good team performance all round really, and all of the players worked really hard.
“I also don’t think the opposition played very well at all, but at the end they were moaning about the pitch.
“They were not moaning at the beginning when they thought they were going to beat us easily, so I think it is just a bit of sour grapes.”
Dawn McGregor was on target to secure victories for the ladies, while goalkeeper Hannah Sharratt saved a penalty to secure the win.
“To pick up two wins was superb,” Morgan said.
“The ladies played very well indeed and deserved their victory.”
Morgan told the Advertiser the games were never in doubt, and was proud to have been able to ensure the fixtures went ahead.
“All it took was a little bit of determination really, and that is what we did because we were never going to not play the matches,” he said.
“The pitch looked fine when we got there at about 9am, and when we had a closer look all we could see was a little bit of light frost.
“The opposition rang us at about 9.30am and we told them the pitch was not frozen because they did not want to travel all the way if it was going to be called off.
“I don’t think they believed us really, so we sent them over some photos as proof.
“There was a little frost, but the pitch was nice and there was nowhere near enough to stop the game.
“I think a lot of other games could have been played in honesty, but for some reason there were not any.
“I suppose we did get a little bit lucky though, because no work was needed.
“Our pitch is good because it only ever gets frosty on the top, and never freezes all the way through.”
