Small squad tells in the end
Bath v Hillcroft “A”
8th February 2025
SEMLA Division 2
Final Score Bath 4:14 Hillcroft “A”
Bath are struggling to get the numbers for games at the moment, injuries to at least 5 players is starting to take its toll on an already stretched squad.
Hillcroft on the other hand travelled well, with a reasonable bench and wanting to impose themselves on the game; if the first quarter stats are an indication, that’s exactly what they did.
At the face, Mike Carey and Kai Wang struggled to come up with the ball, which meant, as the game unfolded, the defence were a lot busier than they would have liked.
But as the game progressed, the home side began to get some traction, the long poles of Sam White, Laurence Dawson-Smith and OB Tanasen coming up with some good turnovers, plus Will Tilson between the pipes was in no mood to allow the visitors to run away with the game, pulling off some impressive saves.
On the clear, it soon became evident that Hillcroft, once set up, were hard working and difficult to break down, Bath struggled throughout the game in transition, not helped with a short bench.
At Midfield Tyrone Berkely nearly dislocated his shoulder in the first quarter and Kai Wang managed to bend his stick shaft in half in the first Bath attack. It all felt like fate was against the boys in Red. And it wasn’t a surprise that Hillcroft were four goals up with no reply.
Bath, however, are a determined bunch and went out into the second quarter with some resolve, a good solo effort from Tom Dexter helped settle nerves (no one likes a shut out) and a good drive and feed to crease from Mike Carey to Nik Roberts doubled the score and Bath started to look like they might make a game if it. Then fate intervened and a wayward Hillcroft shot deflected off Berkeley into the Bath goal, taking the little bit of momentum off the home side, and Hillcroft regained the initiative and won the quarter by a goal.
The second half was more competitive, both keepers called into action, Simon Griffiths particularly unfortunate on a couple of occasions and young Jon Luca Piva, looking for his first ever goal, hit the upright. A third quarter daisy cutter from Kai Wang and a quick stick crease goal for Nik Roberts’s second in the Fourth quarter was all the home side had to show for a lot of effort.
Although losing again, Bath were yet again competitive despite a depleted squad, a couple more regular player would make a huge difference.
Bath need to attract some new player or the future of the club looks bleak, the trend for work is towards Bristol, and Bath is an expensive place to relocate to.
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Quarter Scores
1st quarter Bath 0:4 Hillcroft “A”
2nd quarter Bath 2:3 Hillcroft “A”
Dexter, Roberts
3rd quarter Bath 1:4 Hillcroft “A”
Wang
4th quarter Bath 1:3 Hillcroft “A”
Roberts
Final Score Bath 4:14 Hillcroft “A”
Scorers (Assists)
Tom Dexter 1 (1)
Nik Roberts 2
Kai Wang 1
Mike Carey (1)
Referees
Luke Pery – Bath University
Lloyd Butler – Bath LC
CBO
Neil Anthony – Bath LC