Army men end 11-year wait to lift Inter Services Outdoor Hockey trophy
The British Army men's hockey team have ended their 11-year wait to lift the Inter Services Outdoor Hockey trophy following a 4-2 victory over the Royal Navy in Portsmouth.
Not since 2014 have the Army lifted the trophy in the outdoor championships, and it started with Scott Rawlings firing the reds into the lead for their first goal of the game.
The Navy was quickly awarded a penalty soon after, and after an Army protest, the penalty was taken by Ben Russell to strike the ball past Army keeper Nick Bull to level the score.
The Army returned strongly in the second half, and it was George Bissett who quickly reacted to teammate Dan Rhodes' assist inside the circle to tap his side back into the lead.
As the Navy's defence was caught off-guard for a split second, Jordan Hardaker slammed home a third for the Army.
Then a fourth Army goal by Rawlings, and his second of the match, seemed to confirm the Army as champions for the first time in 11 years.
The Senior Service did manage a consolation goal in the end courtesy of Nathan Hill, but their hopes of winning the title was already gone by that point.
Army men's captain, Major Richard Elston, said: "We've got closer and closer each year and we're delighted to get over the line today.
"And this year, we're going to Gibraltar for an overseas training camp, that wouldn't have been possible without the Army Sports Lottery funding.
"And we're delighted that after all these years, it's finally stacked up and we can lift the trophy."
The Army women also faced the Navy in their title decider, and it quickly became clear whose home turf they were playing on when Summer Davis scored the opening goal of the game for the home team.
But the Army responded quickly with two goals scored by Josie Nash and Rae Andrews, moving their side to 2-1 in front.
As the Navy began to struggle to hold their defensive line, Andrews steered the ball into the corner of the goal for her second of the match.
Heidi Jelly then sealed the deal for the Army scoring two further goals for the visitors, confirming the Army as champions.
The Army have now bagged both the indoor and outdoor titles this season.
Army women's captain, Staff Sergeant Emily Lewis, said: "Our aim was to get both titles back.
"We are absolutely thrilled after a couple of years to have both titles back at home now.
"They [the Navy] were brilliant. They gave us a good game and, thankfully, in the third quarter, we managed to get a few goals in, which helped us."
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