South Wales Hockey League
Division 2
Llandysul 3 Swansea 4th 1
Two goals from Llandysul hot shot Michelle Davies helped steer the league leaders to a well deserved win over title rivals Swansea at Ysgol Bro Teifi.
Team captain Davies scored a goal in each half to cap a fine player of the match performance but this was very much an all-round team showing based on hard work.
This was a very competitive match from the off with both teams playing hockey of an excellent standard and defending well when required but Llandysul had the better chances in attack and they were first to strike.
Following some great work by Emma Jac Davies and Megan Jones in midfield they combined to slip the ball out to Crisial Gwenllian on the right wing and she dribbled her way past the defence and into the circle before shooting and scoring an excellent individual goal.
After that came a period of pressure from Swansea and they pushed the Llandysul defence on a number of occasions and the pressure finally told when the visitors equalised to make it 1-1 at half time.
The second half started in much the same way but with Llandysul having the better opportunities, however the Swansea defence was a very tight unit and their goalkeeper pulled off a string of fine saves. However a second goal finally arrived when following slick play by Emma Jac Davies (pic above) in midfield she found Michelle Davies in the circle and Davies went executed a reverse stick shot to slot the ball into the net for a fine goal.
Swansea continued to attack and their forwards were making the Llandysul defence and midfield work hard with Ffion Davies impressing and working well to support the defence.
The Llandysul attack had to be creative to find a way around the very resilient Swansea defence and they managed to do this when from another fine pass from Emma Jac Davies,left wing Erin Morgan picked out Tracey Davies in the circle and she and Michelle Davies combined before the latter created enough space to fire home and score the all important third goal for Llandysul.
With around ten minutes to go, Llandysul were forced to work hard collectively to keep the Swansea attacks at bay and the game finished at 3-1 to the home side.
Many thanks to Tysul Vets for sponsoring the match and to the Porth Hotel for the food after the match. Llandysul will travel to Abergavenny this Saturday.
Division 3
Castell Newydd Emlyn 8 Llantrisant and Llantwit HC 0
Newcastle Emlyn made a successful return to league action following a fortnight absence with a convincing win over Llantrisant and Llantwit.
Experienced front runner Enfys Davies (main pic) put the hosts in a commanding position with three goals in the opening half but even she was outdone by team mate and fellow forward Beca Gatehouse (above) who bagged four goals and there was a goal also for Ffion Davies.
The game started with the hosts on the front foot but the visitors threatened early and the likes of Catrin Davies in defence were forced to make some timely interceptions to keep a clean sheet and in midfield Melanie Williams and Sioned Jones battled hard for any loose balls. However a burst of quickfire scoring in the opening half broke the resistance of the visiting side and their challenge faded considerably after the break.
Sioned Davies
Young right winger Sioned Davies who was playing alongside her mother Enfys impressed many as did goal scorer Ffion Davies on the opposite flank who received plenty of support from Sami Connolly. (pics by Julie John)
