Runcorn fire home 11 in rout

Runcorn I 11 Bowdon IV 2 TOWARDS the end of last month, Runcorn Hockey Club men’s first XI routed Bowdon’s youthful fourth-team 11-2 at The Heath School.

There was no doubting the ability in the Bowdon team as they confidently passed the ball about but they did not really hurt the home outfit’s rearguard. That was until they took the lead via a long corner.

Runcorn pushed for an equaliser, and when forwards Ruan Pretoruis and Christian White combined, it left the latter with an easy finish. The home side then took the lead with a mirror image of their first goal with White finding the net.

But Bowdon came right back at Runcorn and equalised. This goal woke the home side up and they took control netting two quickfire goals via Pretoruis to give them an interval advantage of 4-2.

As the second half started the wind picked up and Runcorn found themselves in the face of it, but this did not stop them from scoring again, winger Mike French on hand to bundle the ball in. It was then fellow winger Joe Cooper’s turn to get in on the act as he claimed the next two goals with perfect close-range finishes.

Runcorn just kept on going and Pretoruis claimed a brace of smart finishes to take his personal tally to four.

As Runcorn relaxed this gave Bowdon the chance to push men forward and despite facing a proverbial mountain they never gave up. However, the home defence of Andy Partridge, Ben McKay and Mike Wakefield stood firm.

The next goal was the best of the match. Joe Cooper swapped sides and collected the ball on the left. As he cut inside, the pitch opened up and he attacked the Bowdon penalty circle and found himself at the right side. He looked up and dispatched an angled shot into the top corner.

As midfielders Allan Watt and Scott Crimes looked to take advantage of the space it was left to Pretoruis to complete the scoring as he claimed another goal off the inside of an post.

Player-of-the-match went to holding midfielder Gary Looker.