Men's 1st Team Vs Droitwich

Saturday:  Kings Heath Pickwick    5        Yardley    0

Sunday:     Droitwich Spa                 4        Yardley    0

It proved to be a disappointing weekend for Yardley in the Warwick Printing MRHA Hockey League West Midlands 1.

Yardley played two re-arranged games to make up for the matches hit by snow and ice before the festive season. In Saturday’s game the team battled hard to keep the score down to a reasonable level after a mighty defeat in the first half of the season. Yardley attacked right from the whistle and from the home team’s push back an interception and a lively approach on route to goal almost lead to a dream start, but a timely intervention led to a Kings Heath Pickwick instant counter-attack and a goal, all within the first minute. Yardley continued to stay positive mainly through their hardworking midfield trio. However, the home team gradually gained a degree of dominance and scored three more by half time.  Many heroic saves by the Yardley keeper, Neal Makepeace, kept the score down.  Yardley managed some good chances during the second half but a fifth goal sealed a comfortable victory for the home side.

On Sunday Yardley faced their nearest rivals at the bottom of the league with a depleted side. Droitwich scored early on and put their visitors under constant pressure. Yardley kept their defensive shape well but were limited to a few break-away chances. In spite of having limited their hosts to a single goal at the break, Yardley could not do much to improve things during  the second half. Half way through Droitwich doubled their lead before two late goals clinched the result. The second was scored right at the end of the game. Yardley skipper, Zach Jarvis, had won yet another tackle in defence and had surged forward beating several defenders before passing to a supporting player. Yardley claim his pass hit a defender’s foot but as Yardley waited for the whistle, Droitwich raced upfield and scored their fourth with the last action of the game.

Having caught up with their back-log without any success, Yardley begin the second half of the league with a home game against Old Wulfrunians.