Both second-round matches are scheduled for 14 November.
In last weekend’s first round, OV Vets won 6-5 away to Torbay HC after a penalty shoot-out, goalkeeper Mike Labey providing the heroics at the death, while JHC Vets beat Penzance 5-2 at Les Quennevais.
Old Victorians Veterans 6 (2), Torbay HC 5 (2): OVs started the brighter, with the two-pronged attack of Nigel de Carteret and Tim Herbert stretching Torbay’s back four.
Mick Millar and Mike Tait were also prominent and the OVs went close several times.
Torbay first-team player Tony Bevan caused problems up front, but OVs’ Matthew Sutton and Dominic Pallot are a hugely dependable pair of centre backs.
Despite having the balance of play OVs went a goal behind when Bevan turned well from mid-D.
A couple of tactical switches took the game to Torbay after the break, and Mark Fullerton’s cross and Herbert’s shot from the top of the D produced an equaliser.
The joy was short-lived, however, and Bevan restored Torbay’s advantage.
Pallot and Richard Le Lièvre were, however, playing better possession hockey and with Peter Harris tackling and harrying effectively, OVs equalised again after a short-corner strike from Le Lièvre was converted – at the second attempt – by de Carteret.
The full time score stayed at 2-2, despite several close shaves – Millar flicking over the bar; Harris saving on the line with Torbay already celebrating; a Torbay defender blocking a shot with his body, though a long corner was awarded rather than a penalty; and a disallowed Torbay ‘goal’.
Penalties followed but the teams remained level at 4-4 after ten flicks, so the sudden death element was introduced: Herbert scored and Labey was desperately unlucky not to save the next effort – 5-5.
Pallot calmly scored to put OVs ahead again and Labey followed with a great save, low to his left, to thwart the Torbay captain – and claim victory.
OV Veterans: Mike Labey, Richard Sugden, Ian Taylor, Ian Cuming, Mattie Sutton, Dominic Pallot, Mark Fullerton, Mike Tait, Mick Millar, Richard Le Lièvre, Peter Harris, Nigel de Carteret, Tim Herbert (capt).
JHC Veterans 5, Penzance 2: Although the Taylor boys, Peter and Nick, combined well in early attacks it was Penzance who took an early lead after the Jersey defence failed to clear.
Peter Taylor turned the Penzance defence inside-out and earned Jersey’s first penalty corner from which Richard Ward scored – the first of a hat-trick on his first outing for the veterans.
After several years out, Mark Bailey returned with surging runs through the centre to launch numerous attacks.
Rob Hurry was also proving a real problem for Penzance and won another penalty corner from which Masterton’s shot was cleared only to Ward who produced an identical strike for his second.
Peter Taylor, on the left, used his tremendous reach to good effect to round the right back and find Hurry in front of goal – 3-1.
Penzance’s rare attacks were admirably quelled and Ward was soon celebrating his third, although he had unwelcome time to reflect on this when he was sin-binned after an off-ball scuffle.
Seven minutes into the second half Stuart Gower, another making his debut, scored from a Nick Taylor pass.
At 5-1 down Penzance rallied briefly, but Jersey’s defence remained solid and ‘keeper Tim Pollard had only a couple of saves to make.
A Jersey goal from a short corner was disallowed and a late goal for the visitors, from a penalty corner, hardly diminished the home team’s joy at the final whistle.
JHC Veterans: Tim Pollard, Richard de Figueiredo, David Ballingall, Jonathan Morley-Kirk, Mark Bailey, Richard Ward, Peter Taylor, Nick Taylor, Paul Masterton, Stuart Gower, Rob Hurry, Mike Le Poidevin, Malcolm Banahan.
Umpires: John Carnegie, Tony Ray.
Both Jersey teams are sponsored by Investec.
