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Photos: Philip Mourjdis
Derwent 1sts booked a place in the College Hockey Cup final, where they will face Alcuin 1sts, after recording a 6-3 victory over James 1sts in an intense match this afternoon.
Both teams gave it their all and were clearly going all out for victory, but Derwent possessed the greater quality where it mattered. Their fast-paced and slick passing proved too much for James, especially in the opening exchanges in the second half, which proved pivotal for the final result.
James Ramm was at the centre of Derwent’s best play throughout the match, and it was his good work which forced the first goal.
His shot was destined for the goal but hit a James foot, forcing Umpire Dave Washington to award a penalty goal. Ramm could have doubled Derwent’s lead shortly afterwards but couldn’t turn the ball into the goal from close range.
The early play was all Derwent, and after seven mintues they got a second. Jack Bradshaw took a shot from the edge of the D which collided into a James stick and into the net.
But James finally found their feet to pull one back a minute later. Curiously, it was another penalty goal, as Callum Chaundy’s desperate slide to prevent a certain goal resulted in the ball hitting his body on the line.
The game turned almost instantaneously; Derwent had dominated, but after James pulled one back they began to apply the pressure. They had chances to level, but a mixture of last-ditch defending from Derwent and some bad fortune – on one occasion a goal was ruled out after the ball hit a James foot – momentarily kept the tie level.
But before half time James did make it 2-2. Again the last touch came off a defensive stick, a cross into the D ricocheting off Bradshaw’s stick and into the goal.
The half time score of 2-2 was just about a fair reflection of the game up to that point, but in the second period Derwent turned on the class. They scored four goals without reply before James added a late consolation, including three in the first seven minutes which essentially won them the game.
Derwent made it 3-2 almost straight after the push back. It was Ramm who was again at the centre of things, breaking away and turning into the goal despite the valiant attempts of Chris Butterworth. Derwent had two goals disallowed in quick succession, one for lifting and the other after the ball hit a Derwent foot.
It wasn’t long until they did make it 4-2, though, as Ramm scored again with a clever finish from a narrow angle.
And it was Ramm’s build-up play which led to the fifth, his square pass finding Hattie Whillans free on the far side of the D. She smartly scored into the open goal with her first touch, before any of the James defenders could get across to block.
The game became stretched after that, with James having to push to get back into it, to no avail. Derwent remained a threat on the break as James were open at the back.
It was just such a moment that saw Derwent seal the game with a sixth, four minutes from time. Sam Richardson broke away, dribbling the ball into the D and coolly placing the ball into the goal.
One minute later James did get a consolation after a momentary lapse from the men in blue, but it didn’t matter to the final result.
Derwent completed a deserved 6-3 victory which sees them move into next week’s final, a grudge match against the unbeaten Alcuin 1sts.