Hockey Report 04 (1970-71)

The hockey team this season suffered from the departure en masse of the players constituting last year's successful eleven. Thus the side initially lacked the experience and depth necessary for a well balanced team. Only the individual skills of Walton in defence, Knight and Wade in midfield and Gowers in attack saved the team from complete disgrace.

The problem is to build up individual skills, within a co-ordinated team structure, and this is difficult with the lack of adequate practice facilities. Therefore practice and experiment had to be gained in matches themselves.

However the season was not without its highlights. After a string of defeats a re-organised team (with the emphasis on midfield control), trounced Uxbridge Tech., perhaps our strongest fixture, 5-0. From then onwards a new spirit of determination spread through the team and the side played as a team unit. This was reflected in the final four matches when the side scored 17 goals and conceded only 3.

The season therefore saw great progress, which should be carried into next year as the team will be largely unchanged. Hopefully this will result in a strong, winning team.

K. R. KNIGHT LVI