Petroc division of the West Club women's hockey

Okehampton ladies hockey 6

Exeter Culm Vale Hornets ladies 2

OKEHAMPTON Ladies fielding a strong side played host to Exeter Culm Vale Hornets, who were a confident team with a mixture of youth and experience.

The first half saw end-to-end hockey with both teams moving the ball at pace. Oke broke the deadlock when Jo Moppett took advantage of a defensive error and put a perfectly placed cross in front of the Hornet goal for Lesley Bingham to slot into the goal.

Hornets responded with a strong counter attack, piling the pressure on the Oke defence resulting in an equalising goal.

Columbines' captain Jo Moppett led her team by example and put them in the lead again with a well taken goal. However, Hornets came straight back moving the ball rapidly up the pitch, cleverly working together to beat the Oke defence and wrong footing the goalie to level the score.

Oke's Kim Davey used her skill and speed to carry the ball deep into Hornet's territory before crossing the ball for Lesley Bingham to put Oke in front.

Just before half time Viv Weatherington, loitering by the Hornet's goalpost, made a classic touch on the ball to find the back of the net.

Hornets began the second half with determination forcing Oke's goalie Sophie Whiteley, to make some crucial saves.

Oke conceded several penalty corners but quick running from defenders Jo Drake and Carol Taylor prevented Hornets from converting these into goals.

Oke then increased their lead through Jo Moppett who scored superb individual goal, stealing the ball from a Hornets player deep in the Hornets' half and skilfully beating the defence with her nifty stick work before hammering the ball into the goal. Moppett got her hat-trick to give the final score of 6-2.

Okehampton's joint player of the match went to Lesley Bingham and Kim Davey