HOCKEY: RUGBY & East Warwickshire fell to their first defeat of the season away at Edgbaston after losing out 3-1 in the Midland League Division One.
Edgbaston worked hard to minimise the number of short corners they gave away and despite conceding six, Rugby were unable to capitalise.
The home side did however manage to find the back of the net from a somewhat scuffed effort as they held a slender one-goal lead at the break.
Early in the second half Rugby tried to pull one goal back when Edgbaston gave the ball away and Szymon was able to score unmarked for his 15th goal in five games.
Rugby looked to be on the way back and kept up the pressure on the opposition goal but in response, Edgbaston gained a couple of short corners themselves, firing one towards the right post, only to be denied by a diving goalkeeper.
The second, slapped at the goal, on to the defender’s foot and then tapped in to make it 2-1 to Edgbaston. In response, Rugby found yet another foot in the D to get a final short corner.
Syzmon was able to side step the defensive runner but the goalkeeper managed to get a foot to the ball and set up a strong Edge counter attack which saw them put the game out of reach of Rugby.
There was better news for Rugby’s second team who took an early 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes but tempers flared in a heated second half.
Stourport managed to score a lucky deflection to cut the deficit to just one goal and a combination of defensive pressure and bad finishing saw Rugby run our winners.
The third team were inspired by the introduction of Pete Crisford who turned up at half-time to help Rugby earn their first win of the season against Harborne 3-2.
Gaz Unett, Rob Best, and James McGee all got on the scoresheet while Tom Webb performed a man-of-the-match performance.
The fourth team also tasted success after beating Lichfield 5-2 while the fifth team beat Warwick University 2-0 and the sixth-string team also beat Warwick 2-1.
In the ladies section the second team picked up a point against league leaders and Berkswell who drew 1-1 at Bilton.
Rugby produced a storming performance and moved across the pitch as a unit right from the whistle as Berkswell struggled to find a breakthrough.
The opening goal of the game came from a short corner when Evie was in the right place and she fired a low shot past the keeper inside the left-hand post but Berkswell hit back to earn a share of the spoils.
The ladies’ third team went one better by beating Warwick University despite failing to convert six penalties.
