Harris make light work of Men's 3s

It was a chastening return to outdoor hockey for the Men’s 3s with this home defeat by Harris 1s.

Ryan McGinn made his first start in four years at centre back. He had hardly had time to get his bearings when Harris were 1-0 up inside 3 minutes. A great finish from just inside the D left keeper Xander with no chance.

Ptolemy Goad almost levelled in 12 minutes from a long corner. He controlled well, turned and released a fine shot which was just wide of the far post. However, Harris would double their lead shortly afterwards.

The home team kept at it in the second quarter though. Kenny Watson did well on the right and squared to Matthew Ogg with only the keeper to beat but he couldn’t get it under control and a Harris defender arrived to snuff out the danger. Towards the end of the quarter, Xander and Ryan combined well to keep the score at 0-2 with some excellent defending.

There was plenty to build on for the home side going into the third quarter. However, a quickfire double by Harris was enough to put the game beyond the ‘Hill and it was 0-4. A couple of green cards for Harris gave the home side some hope and Kenny forced a great save from the Harris keeper with a powerful shot from a short corner. Scott Fraser then played a dangerous ball into the D which came off a Harris stick onto the post but the rebound bounced to safety.

There was some reward for the home side’s efforts right at the end of the quarter when SHAUN CRAIG scored from a short corner to make it 1-4.

Another goal from Harris deep into the final quarter restored their 4 goal lead and that’s how it finished. Ryan was still getting his breath back after having the wind knocked out of him by Harris’s biggest player, hopefully he wasn’t too sore the following day.

In summary, it was unfortunate that the team came up against the vastly experienced Harris 1s on their first game back after the winter break. However there was enough in there to serve as encouragement for the remaining games starting with Perthshire away next Saturday.