Hockey: Rochdale Hockey Club Juniors

Rochdale Hockey Club Juniors

Sunday saw the third round of matches in the Greater Manchester Under 15 Hockey Tournament.

Going in to this round Rochdale sat top of the table with Bowdon a close second, so everything was to play for.

Rochdale’s first game of the day was against Stockport Firsts, a team also looking to push to the top of the table. The 15-minute game had chances at both ends, but it was Rochdale who won the points with an outstanding individual goal from Jake Spanswick.

Didsbury were next to face Rochdale and has Didsbury have struggled this year, Rochdale used it as a game to give a debut to Ben Alker in defence and he didn’t let anybody down making several great tackles and breaking up the Didsbury attacks.

Didsbury had certainly been training hard and with the new faces they had drafted in, it took time for Rochdale to break them down. Goals coming from Peter Ransome and Tom Kershaw.

After beating Stockport Firsts in the opening game, Rochdale were ready to take on Stockport Seconds and by now Rochdale were playing with a great confidence and another win, albeit by a single goal from Ibrahim Omar, set them up nicely for the top of the table clash with Bowdon in the next game.

Bowdon so far have been the only team to take points from Rochdale and as expected it was a tight game. Rochdale had several early chances and were unlucky not to take the lead. With only a few minutes left, a lapse in concentration saw Bowdon twice get in around the back of the Rochdale defence for two easy tap ins.

The Bowdon result meant it was crucial to get a win in the last game of the afternoon against Timperley, who had drawn with Bowdon in their opening game. Whether it was as a result of the Bowdon match or fatigue, Rochdale stopped playing as a team. The quick passing game disappeared and Timperley took advantage, running out 2-0 winners.

The provisional set of results mean Rochdale are now in second place, two points behind Bowdon. A team they must start to beat if they hope to pick up the trophy at the end of the year.

The Rochdale player of the tournament went to Peter Ransome who was outstanding in all five games.