Hockey: Champions Windermere crush nearest rivals Preston (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Hockey: Champions Windermere crush nearest rivals Preston

4:34pm Monday 21st March 2011 in Sport

KUKRI NW Division 5 North Windermere 8 Preston 3s 1 Windermere crushed their closest league rivals with a competent, if not spectacular victory. They fielded a near full-strength squad and, after containing the visitors' early challenge, were never really pressured.

Andy Hartnett and Rob Griffiths absorbed the Preston attack as both sides settled to the task and patient possession hockey brought its reward when Keenan Quill broke from the left and scored with a fine reverse stick shot. Dennis Jackson found brother Harry in space and he coolly slotted in a second, before Will Dolman got a third, and Matt Hartnett made it 4-0 at half-time.

Mere pushed up from the restart only for Preston to break out and pull a goal back from a penalty corner. But this fired Mere up and Hartnett scored with a reverse stick shot from the top of the D. Quill made it 6-1, and Dolman took the tally to seven before a slick passing move put man-of-the-match Hartnett one-on-one with the Preston keeper, whom he rounded to complete the move and his hat-trick with a tap-in.

Scott Santamera had a super game in midfield while Dom Quill survived two head injuries to help anchor the defence.

* Despite missing five boys on county U16s duty at Chester, Windermere 2s won a keenly contested Sunday Association match with Kirkby Lonsdale 2-1. Both Mere goals were scored by Richard Jackson.