MENS HOCKEY Cardiff & UWIC into promotion play-offs
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- Created on Tuesday, 26 March 2013 07:35
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 March 2013 13:42
- Published on Monday, 25 March 2013 07:35
Jimmy Devney's ground-breaking Cardiff & UWIC held on to their place at the Men's Hockey League Conference West summit following a final day goalless draw at University of Exeter.
The ambitious Welsh club now stand on the edge of history and becoming the first side from the Principality to reach the England Hockey League top flight if they can win through next month's Promotion Tournament at Reading HC.
Exeter – skippered by central defender Chris Barker – needed to beat their last-day visitors from Wales to overtake them at the top of the table.
Cardiff – with player of the match Henry Eriksson outstanding in central defence – managed to thwart their hosts, cheered on by hundreds of student supporters to mark the University of Exeter's annual hockey varsity.
Ironically Swedish international Eriksson is a University of Exeter old boy.
Post-match he admitted to mixed emotions however there was no denying his Premier Division experience with Exeter will hold him in good stead for the challenge ahead with Cardiff.
The hosts' self-styled green army of student supporters will now have two Exeter derbies to look forward to next term as Isca – who ground-share with the University – have recently won promotion to the Conference as Davis Wood Hockey League champions.
Two short seasons ago Cardiff & UWIC topped the regional men's league.
Now the sky blues - skippered by midfielder Devney - are poised to join the country's hockey top 10.
SWSN star Henry Eriksson
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