South Wales Hockey League
Division 1
Cardiff University 3rds 1 Llandysul 1
Division one newcomers Llandysul moved to the top of the league after they secured a hard fought point away in the Welsh capital.
The Ceredigion ladies who were promoted this season had prepared for a challenging fixture against a University side that had won all their games to date and they were confident of holding their own against a determined student outfit.
With a few regular players not available for Llandysul it was a great opportunity for some of the club’s younger players to represent the team, and Ellie Evans, Jano Evans and Erin Davies played their first matches for the first team and all three showed up really well to further emphasise the value of the club junior section in developing skills from a young age.
Both teams started well with early opportunities and there was a huge battle in midfield with experienced campaigner Emma Jac Davies and Ffion Davies playing really well for the visitors whilst up front their pacey attack was also creating problems. Both Tracey Davies and Michelle Davies broke through on a few occasions but the University defence and goalkeeper responded well and made a series of good saves. But a goal eventually came for Llandysul after Michelle and Tracey combined well for the former to tuck away the opening goal of the match.
The University team came back strongly putting considerable pressure on the Llandysul defence of Gwyneth Ayers, Gwenan Evans, Mared Jones and player of the match Lleucu Ifans in goal. The Llandysul custodian made a series of excellent saves and the whole Llandysul team worked hard to keep the students out. However the pressure finally told and the students levelled matters from a short corner, with the shot deflecting off a defender’s stick into the goal to make it all square at the interval.
The second half continued with both teams playing some excellent hockey but it was the University team who pressurised the west Wales ladies for long periods but the Llandysul defence stood firm. The visitors also had their own chances and came very close to winning the game following a series of short corners but the University goalkeeper made a couple of superb stops to deny the Llandysul front runners and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
This Saturday Llandysul will be playing at home against Kington with an 11 am start at Ysgol Bro Teifi.
