Nothing but positives from defeat PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 15 November 2011 11:02

A new era in Coventry rec hockey began on Saturday as the Honey Badgers faced the Coventry Bruins in a local derby marking the first competitive game for both teams. The Bruins were clearly the more skilled side, and used their advantage to rack up goal after goal, for a final total of 27. However, the heroics of both Colin Bennett and Paul Brown in the Badgers net, and some dogged defense from the defensive four of Ed Jubber, John Nurden, Ed Kimberley and Matt Rollins meant that the Bruins had to work very hard indeed to make their pressure count.

Honey Badgers line up on the blue line. Photo courtesy of Dave AdeyIndeed, the whole Badgers squad worked and skated with the ferocity and fearlessness of their animal namesake, with Steuart Durham, Simon Manning and captain Craig Newton looking to lead rushes forward from the back whenever they could, and the third line of Alex Bailey, Rich George and Rich Butlin showing that pure hard work could at times stem the charges forward of a cavalier Bruins squad.

However, it was the second line that scored the historic first ever Honey Badger goal. In the second period, Mark Wells seized on a clearance from fellow winger Paul Wheeler and broke in alone on the net, his shot from the right circle finding its way through the netminder for a goal that was celebrated with great joy by every single Badger.

In the third, with the lines shuffled a little by coach Dave Adey, it was the turn of Luke Smith to get on the scoresheet. A shot from Nurden found its way to Chris Armstrong, who centered for Smith to jam home the puck from his position on the doorstep at the start of the third. Despite their big lead the Bruins were stung back into action, and scored 12 goals in the third to give the scoreline its lopsided look. Coach Dave Adey said afterwards "Chairman Mao said a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Despite the score the Badgers took that step tonight-they worked hard and never gave up against a far more skilled team. If they keep playing with the pride and team spirit they showed tonight then this team will go far"

Last Updated on Monday, 16 January 2012 10:49