Hockey: Battling Quins assert their authority

Feb 27 2008 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

CARDIFF Harlequins’ clash at Bath University lived up to the form book with the Welsh side winning 15-4 on their trip across the Severn Bridge.

It didn’t start well for the visitors, losing the initial face off and struggling to find their structure, partly due to the makeshift defence cobbled together due to injury and absence.

Indeed, after Cardiff wasted their first possession, Bath took a deserved lead and were far from outclassed through the entire first period and were disappointed to go into the break trailing 3-2.

Quins’ sloppiness and complacency led to some harsh words from captain Will Barrett, but it remained a disjointed start to the second quarter.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when defender Toby Jones, on his return to the side, suffered a recurrence of the knee injury which has sidelined him since October, and was carried from the field by his team-mates.

However, the incident proved to be the turning point, as Harlequins were sparked into action.

Attackmen Gareth Bolderson and Alan Croft led the charge, and with Barrett back in defence to steady the ship, the visitors began to exert some control on the game and went into half-time with a 7-2 lead.

The students continued to cause problems for Harlequins’ defence and created several excellent chances. However, all too often they were thwarted by wayward shooting and some fine goalkeeping from Quins’ stopper, Matt Grindle.

At the other end, Croft was quietly putting together a Man of the Match performance, weighing in with a season-high five goals and combining excellently with Bolderson to provide most of Cardiff’s scores.