HOCKEY REVIEW: Elks travel 600 miles for six points

On Saturday the Ulster University side were away to their intervarsity peers University College Cork where they bagged a thumping 7-0 win.

The Elks went into the game having lost a number of players to illness and injury, however they went about their task with a new-found level of urgency and opened the scoring through final year student and captain, Gemma Frazer.

Anna Kozniuk then hit the post for the visitors but it was the captain who doubled the lead moments later with a well-worked penalty corner routine.

Hannah Irwin made it three goals without reply finishing a fine solo effort before half time.

The second half continued in similar fashion, with the Newtownabbey outfit dominating play. Jordan Page and Megan Frazer added to the tally in the third quarter with Dawn Axon and Irwin finishing the rout in the closing stages.

UCC did threaten on occasion, hit the post at one stage, but they couldn’t find the clinical last touch to grab a consolation.

The Elks’ second game of the weekend took place at Jordanstown on Sunday afternoon when Galway-based EY League strugglers Greenfields were the opponents.

Belfast High school pupil Jessica McMaster put the hosts ahead after 11 minutes from the break down at a penalty corner.

The Elks blew a number of chances to extend their lead but signs of frustration were starting to show.

In the second half Ricky Lee’s team pinned their visitors in their own half for the majority of the time, winning a number of set-peices. Megan Frazer added the second goal of the game and Jordan Page’s strike wrapped up a comfortable victory.

The combined six points brings the Elks back into contention for one of the championship play-off places at the end of the season and gives a much-needed shot of confidence going into their next league game against UCD. That game will hit off at 2:30pm on Saturday at Jordanstown.