University hockey players warm up for new season with tough school test
The 2015/16 academic year may still be a week away but the University of Bath’s hockey players are already back in training ahead of the new BUCS season.
Freshers and returning students have arrived on campus early to be put through their paces by Jody Paul, the University’s Head Hockey Coach.
As part of their first training week, the men’s and women’s teams took on teams from Repton School in Derbyshire – one of the leading hockey schools in the country and coached by former Great Britain international Martin Jones.
The University’s men won their match 3-0, while the women were beaten 4-3.
Paul said: “That was a worthwhile exercise. No other school in the country would be able to provide the level of competition we experienced.
“Two of the Repton girls have already expressed an interest in applying to the University of Bath next academic year and hopefully we will have more games against them in the future.”
Team Bath Buccaneers’ men started their season last weekend, with the 1st XI – defending champions in the national Men’s Conference West – being held to a 2-2 home draw by Chichester Priory Park.
Natural Sciences student Matt Ming twice gave Buccs the lead from penalty corners but the visitors replied through Ben Palmer and Richard Blakesley.
Buccs welcome Cardiff & Met to the Sports Training Village on Sunday (1pm), while the women’s 1st XI start their West Clubs Premier Division season against Isca 2nds at Exeter University on Saturday.
