Bray thirds get better of Botanic

BRAY HOCKEY CLUB had a number of victories this weekend.

The Ladies thirds played in and won the Div. 11/12 Cup final. The whole match was very tense with Botanic scoring early. But Bray dominated the possession and look like scoring a number of times - they also had the discipline and gained a number of penalty corners, but to no avail. Halftime it was still 1-0 to Botanic. The second half proceeded much as the first, though Botanic discipline slipped further with frees, penalties and cards aplenty, and eventually it was to be their undoing. In the last five minutes a penalty fell right for Claire Prendergast who equalized for Bray.

Extra time didn't separate the sides and it went down to every keeper's nightmare - penalty flicks. Bray went ahead early and the result seemed inevitable when top player Kathy O'Toole took her shot - the most per- fect flick of the day right into the top left - but Botanic's keeper just got a hand to it and deflected it over the bar. Everything then fell to Bray's keeper, Aisling Carthy. The shot was good, but Aisling held her nerve and stopped it with her kickers. Bray won 4-3.

The Men's firsts team also emerged as League Champions in Division 5 without playing - as Railway Union defeated the other contender Corinthians. The Men's seconds drew 3-3.