Solent Hockey achieved two victories at the weekend in Bristol and Cardiff along with raising money for the charity Teenage Cancer Trust.
The Hampshire-based Solent University side held on for a nailbiting 4-3 victory against the University of West England (UWE) on Friday evening before travelling over the Severn Bridge to complete a resilient 4-2 comeback win against the University of Cardiff (UOC) on Sunday morning
The Solent Hockey Tour de Britain which involved two matches in two different countries against two sides in higher BUCs divisions managed to raise nearly £400 for Teenage Cancer Trust.
A state-of-the-art hockey facility awaited the touring side at UWE on Friday evening with the team having had a relaxed day exploring Bristol’s cultural offerings including a team trip to Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s historic SS Great Britain.
Spending the day together at a relaxed tempo seemed to put the Solent side in a good groove with the team zipping the ball between each other at a great pace which was helped by the water-based astro surface.
The visitors were rewarded by their dominant start winning many short corners, four of which were converted by Solent striker Josh Coetzee.
Despite late goals from ex-Solent man Josh Cooper, Coetzee’s four drag-flick goals were enough to secure a much needed victory for the team in red.
Following celebrations at a curry house later that night, the Solent team rose on Saturday morning and made the short trip into Wales where they arrived in the capital and spent the afternoon as a team yet again, watching Connacht beat Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship at Cardiff Arms park.
On Sunday morning, the English side faced their toughest challenge yet, and it wasn’t their hangovers…
A game against the UOC, a side two divisions above them awaited with an unbeaten tour record on the line. Spirits in the warm-up were low and the consequent lack of intensity resulted in the hosts registering a 2-0 lead at the half time break.
The Southampton side came out of the break a with a new found desire and quickly drew level through two Josh Taylor strikes.
With five minutes to go, Solent looked certain to end their tour unbeaten but two late goals from Tom Sherrell and Archie Starkey clinched an unlikely victory which was seen as a miracle by the fatigued tourists.
