PENARTH Hockey Club’s 1st and 2nd XIs began their respective GoCrea8 Hockey League campaigns with differing fortunes at the weekend, but the senior side already occupies a familiar position at the top of their division.

West Wilts 0 - Penarth 6

Newly-promoted Penarth faced the longest away trip of their Conference North campaign to face an unknown quantity in the shape of West Wilts in Warminster.

The home side have established themselves in the division, just missing out on promotion after finishing third overall in the previous campaign, and settled quickest to dominate the early exchanges, but lacked any cutting edge in the final third and failed to turn their possession into chances.

In stark contrast, Penarth - who had been starved of the ball for the opening 10 minutes - hit on the counter and, with their very first attack, opened the scoring. Having turned the ball over, the Bears worked the ball to the clinical Chris Baker who, after beating several players, found the bottom corner with an assured reverse stick finish.

Once in front, Penarth started to take hold of the game, turning the ball over higher and higher up the pitch and, with chances beginning to flow, it was not long before a second goal followed. This time, the Vale side wrested possession deep in the West Wilts half, and a quick ball out to Ben Croxall eventually found its way to Baker, who swept home a first time slap-shot into the bottom corner.

With half-time approaching, Penarth began to turn the screw and put West Wilts under relentless pressure. The home side were now struggling to get out of their own half and it was only a matter of time before another Penarth chance went in. This time, club coach Tyrone Moore used all of his experience to find space in the D, before coolly converting a cleverly disguised pass from Croxall to put the Bears three goals to the good at half-time.

After the break, Penarth’s tough pre-season schedule began to pay dividends as their hosts struggled to live with the tempo being set by the Bears. Now in complete control of proceedings, Penarth created chance after chance, and another three goals would follow before the final whistle.

Joe Thomas was first to add his name to the scorers list, getting a first goal for his new club, before Croxall added a goal from the penalty spot to his two assists following after a cynical foul in the D. However, the pick of the bunch went to Jack Jopson, who swept home at the back post after a sublime build-up saw Croxall find Andrew Willemite, whose ‘no look’ deflected pass was perfectly placed for Jopson to end the scoring at 6 - 0.

On another day, Penarth might have hit double figures, but were more than pleased with the performance, which produced some excellent hockey and a spot at the top of the Conference North table, albeit with tougher tasks ahead.

Goalscorers: Chris Baker (2), Ben Croxall, Tyrone Moore, Joe Thomas, Jack Jopson

Penarth A 1 - Cardiff and Met F 3

Penarth's 2nd XI faced a tough De Cymru 1 opener against Cardiff and Met F, who finished third in the division last year, just missing out on promotion.

Despite the side from the capital fielding an experienced team that would prove equally difficult to break down at the back and dangerous up front, it was Penarth who drew first blood, with Sam Docherty throwing a perfectly weighted aerial to find Sam Chick behind the Cardiff defence, and the new skipper made no mistake as he collected the pass and squeezed the ball in at the near post.

Buoyed by the early strike, the Bears enjoyed the better of the game for most of the first half and could have added a second, but were guilty of turning over possession too easily, especially in the final third of the pitch, and were made to pay for their profligacy.

Just as the home side were looking good for a half-time lead, Cardiff struck twice late in the period to take the wind out of their sails. The first goal was something of a freak, as a well-placed aerial into the Penarth D was volleyed past the hapless Mark Harris, but the second was more preventable, as Penarth proved unable to clear their lines following a penalty corner, allowing Cardiff to squeeze the ball over the line.

Unfortunately for the home side, the two late goals gave Cardiff a lot of confidence going into the second half, and their experience showed as they dominated possession. Goalkeeper was called on to produce several acrobatic saves to keep the score at 2 - 1 and, with only one goal between the sides, the game was still there for the Bears to win. However, they were again guilty of missing some very good chances to equalise, and it was Cardiff who grabbed the decisive goal, catching out the Penarth defence with a cross to the back post, where an unmarked striker again gave Harris no chance.

The Bears travel to face Whitchurch C this weekend and will be looking to start putting points on the board in their ambition to push for promotion this season.

Goalscorers: Sam Chick

Penarth C 2 - Gwent B 2

Bolstered by several 3rd XI players without a fixture of their own, Penarth C faced a talented and experienced Gwent B side in their first home game at Stanwell School and did extremely well to earn a creditable 2 - 2 draw in a match with a dramatic conclusion.

From their very first attack, Gwent forced a penalty corner and took a very early lead when a weak strike somehow crept in on the near post, but the ‘C-Siders’ gradually got into their stride, even if their struggle to gain midfield parity left them grateful for solid performances from ‘keeper James Erasmus and man-of-the-match Morgan Salisbury as Gwent continued to press.

The visitors’ pressure was eventually rewarded, however, and the men of Gwent doubled their advantage shortly before half-time but, to their credit, Penarth began the second period determined to force themselves back in to the game. Despite a succession of penalty corners, the Gwent defence held firm and even threatened to extend their lead on the breakaway, but Erasmus and veteran Ian Brookfield ensured Penarth did not fall further behind.

With the match rapidly moving towards its conclusion, Penarth finally broke through when, following good work – and a little sleight of hand - by Derek Wooding on the right, skipper Nick Pratt finished smartly over the prone Gwent ‘keeper from close range.

With their tails up after halving the deficit, Penarth continued to press for what seemed an unlikely equaliser, and managed to force a penalty corner just as the umpires blew for full-time. With the rules of hockey allowing the corner to be completed before the game can end, the ‘C-Siders’ knew that it was their last chance to take a share of the spoils and, following a well-worked routine involving Mark Robinson, Pratt drove the ball across the face of the goal for Wooding to finish smartly on the far post.

Goalscorers: Nick Pratt, Derek Wooding

Three Penarth Hockey Club sides are in action this weekend, with the 3rds joining in with their first taste of league competition. The 1st host second-placed Swindon at Stanwell School (1.45pm start) in an early top-of-the-table clash between two sides who scored 11 goals without reply on the opening weekend of the season.

Meanwhile, the 2nds travel to Whitchurch looking to open their account and the 3rd XI kickstart their league campaign away at Swansea University. Due to the withdrawal of Lampeter from the league, the 4th XI no longer have a fixture, but many of their number will tune up for the belated start to their campaign as the Veterans side take on old rivals Whichurch in a rare ‘in-season’ encounter at Stanwell School on Sunday.

Penarth Hockey Club always welcomes new, old and returning players, umpires, supporters, friends and helpers regardless of age and ability. Training takes place on Wednesdays at Stanwell School, with the juniors on the pitch between 6.15pm and 7.15pm and the seniors between 7pm and 8.15pm.

Anyone interested in joining the club at senior or youth level can contact club secretary Dave Stevens (d_stevens81@hotmail.co.uk) for further information.