Devon Trophy

Dartmouth 5,

Dartmouth started this second-round match with three key players unavailable.

Mandy Servan's father had just undergone a tricky lung operation and thankfully is on the mend – all at Dartmouth Hockey Club wish him a speedy recovery.

Jamie Rendle, along with Sam Webb, was having a well deserved holiday.

This gave coach Matt Putt some food for thought. Putt decided to put Lisa Hunt up front with Lucy Pillar, putting Darcey Wall on the left wing and Jo Rendle on the right wing.

Putt went for the trusted 4-4-2 tactic, which worked a treat and served a wonderful display of hockey.

Dartmouth started off at a furious pace and were unlucky not to be on the score sheet in the first couple of minutes.

Lucy Pillar went close, along with Sarah Barrett, before Lisa Hunt found the goal with 23 minutes gone.

A brilliant sideline ball from Barrett, hit with venom, went through the Newton defence and there waiting at the far post was Lisa Hunt to score one of the easiest goal she'll score for a while.

Dartmouth piled on the pressure but the score remained 1-0 going in at the break, despite Siobhan Ed­wards' running into the opposition's D and Sarah Barrett's solo efforts.

The second half started with a change, Jo Rendle making way for Dianna Bradley in Di's first game of the season.

Dartmouth showed their intent early, Chelsey Rendle again keeping the Dartmouth defence tight along with Chloe Edwards and Hannah Pillar.

Darcey Wall was playing an absolute blinder on the left wing as Dartmouth put pressure on Newton.

With a quarter of the second half gone, Han­nah Pillar stole the ball from a Newton player, dribbled past a couple of the opposition, went into the visitors' D and passed the ball to sister Lucy, who, in one movement, trapped the ball and smashed it home.

Dartmouth were cruising now, playing some mouth-watering hockey, turned the screw. Sarah Barrett and Siobhan Edwards controlled the mid, Lucy Pillar and Lisa Hunt linked up well up front and Darcey Wall and Di Bradley asserted themselves on the wings.

With 27 minutes gone Sarah Barrett picked the ball up from deep, took on the defence and swept the ball to Darcey Wall.

Darcey swept the ball in the opposition's goal for goal number three for Dartmouth. Five minutes later, Lisa Hunt took a free hit on the opposition's 16 and smashed the ball past the Newton defence and 'keeper to take the score to 4-0.

Dartmouth weren't quite finished with Newton and Lucy Pillar got the last word.

Good linking saw Barrett once again pick the ball up from deep and pass to Lucy Pillar.

Pillar played a one-two with Lisa Hunt before burying the ball into the Newton goal to take Dartmouth into the next round of the Devon Trophy and edge ever closer to some silverware.

Dartmouth are in action again this week in a rearranged game against Dawlish, with a 12.30pm push back at Kingsbridge Commu­nity College.

Dartmouth, laying second in Petroc One, can do themselves a favour if they beat Dawlish and edge closer to the leaders, Torbay.

Many thanks go to Uncle Ian, a stalwart of Dartmouth Hockey for turning up and supporting the Ladies.

Lisa Hunt was named player of the match afterwards and the ladies had some good, wholesome food from Juliette and Steve at the Old Inn in Halwell.