SA star Gareth Carr crowns hot season for England Hockey League champs (PICS!)
11 May 2010
SA drag-flick king Gareth Carr was the star of the show in the 2010 England Hockey League (EHL) Championship final. (JC)
East Grinstead Hockey Club's Men's 1st XI accomplished the unthinkable and successfully defended their National Championship title by beating Beeston HC in a thrilling Final at Cannock HC on Monday 3rd May.
That makes it 4 titles in one season for the Men's 1st XI including a European title to add to the 3 domestic titles that the team have successfully defended.
Despite being 4-1 down with 10 minutes to play, East Grinstead wouldn't give in and pushed the rightfully confident Beeston team extremely hard, forcing three penalty corners which KZN Coastal and South Africa's strongly built international star Gareth Carr (see 'Getting to Know' section left of screen!) converted to level the score at the end of normal time. No goals in extra time meant penalty flicks, which East Grinstead won 5-3.
East Grinstead and Beeston, if you looked at the stats over the last six games, were equally matched, so the sizeable crowd were anticipating a close affair before the start of this game, where fourth met second. Their two meetings this season ended in parity so a draw was always on the cards.
Beeston were off to a scintillating start when Sam Ward finished in the sixth minute. East Grinstead equalised in the 19th minute through Danny Hall’s searing strike. Beeston went ahead again through Jamie Parker, and then extended their lead when Matt Taylor struck shortly before half time. It was 3-1 as the teams left for their half time team talk. Matt Taylor was the next to score for Beeston in the 43rd minute providing a 4-1 cushion.
With eleven minutes remaining on the clock, East Grinstead trailed by those three goals, but that was before Gareth Carr stepped up to take a penalty corner, which he calmly despatched into the top right-hand corner. East Grinstead earned another on 64 minutes; Gareth Carr did the same, as it flew into the net.
With the tension mounting, East Grinstead probed the Beeston defence searching for further openings, and with four minutes remaining earned a penalty corner, which, with the crowd sensing the outcome, Gareth Carr smashed home another penalty corner into the same top right-hand corner. The scores remained level when the final hooter sounded, sending the game into golden goal extra-time.
The extra time period produced no goals, and sent the England Hockey League Championship decider into penalty strokes. Stephen Wood was first to step up for Beeston, and had his stroke was smartly saved by Richard Potton. The two sides then traded goals, and it was left to Gareth Carr, the final stroke taker, for East Grinstead to win the game. He held his nerve and netted the winner, which had East Grinstead fans in delirium.
Adapted courtesy East Grinstead and England Hockey, photos John O'Brien.
SA drag-flick king Gareth Carr was the star of the show in the 2010 England Hockey League (EHL) Championship final. (JC)
East Grinstead Hockey Club's Men's 1st XI accomplished the unthinkable and successfully defended their National Championship title by beating Beeston HC in a thrilling Final at Cannock HC on Monday 3rd May.
That makes it 4 titles in one season for the Men's 1st XI including a European title to add to the 3 domestic titles that the team have successfully defended.
Despite being 4-1 down with 10 minutes to play, East Grinstead wouldn't give in and pushed the rightfully confident Beeston team extremely hard, forcing three penalty corners which KZN Coastal and South Africa's strongly built international star Gareth Carr (see 'Getting to Know' section left of screen!) converted to level the score at the end of normal time. No goals in extra time meant penalty flicks, which East Grinstead won 5-3.
'… it was left to Gareth Carr, the final stroke taker, for East Grinstead to win the game. He held his nerve and netted the winner … sending the East Grinstead Hockey Club fans into delirium.'
East Grinstead and Beeston, if you looked at the stats over the last six games, were equally matched, so the sizeable crowd were anticipating a close affair before the start of this game, where fourth met second. Their two meetings this season ended in parity so a draw was always on the cards.
Beeston were off to a scintillating start when Sam Ward finished in the sixth minute. East Grinstead equalised in the 19th minute through Danny Hall’s searing strike. Beeston went ahead again through Jamie Parker, and then extended their lead when Matt Taylor struck shortly before half time. It was 3-1 as the teams left for their half time team talk. Matt Taylor was the next to score for Beeston in the 43rd minute providing a 4-1 cushion.
With eleven minutes remaining on the clock, East Grinstead trailed by those three goals, but that was before Gareth Carr stepped up to take a penalty corner, which he calmly despatched into the top right-hand corner. East Grinstead earned another on 64 minutes; Gareth Carr did the same, as it flew into the net.
With the tension mounting, East Grinstead probed the Beeston defence searching for further openings, and with four minutes remaining earned a penalty corner, which, with the crowd sensing the outcome, Gareth Carr smashed home another penalty corner into the same top right-hand corner. The scores remained level when the final hooter sounded, sending the game into golden goal extra-time.
The extra time period produced no goals, and sent the England Hockey League Championship decider into penalty strokes. Stephen Wood was first to step up for Beeston, and had his stroke was smartly saved by Richard Potton. The two sides then traded goals, and it was left to Gareth Carr, the final stroke taker, for East Grinstead to win the game. He held his nerve and netted the winner, which had East Grinstead fans in delirium.
Adapted courtesy East Grinstead and England Hockey, photos John O'Brien.
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