A depleted Dalefield men's hockey team went down 7-2 to Indians in Wellington on Saturday.
Dalefield had tried to get the game deferred, as four regular starters were playing in an under-18 tournament at Clareville, but the attempt proved unsuccessful so they took to the field with an under-strength side.
The game was a battle of the cellar dwellers in the Wellington premier division and in the end Indians took the spoils in an emphatic manner. The home side established a 3-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes but Dalefield struck back when Dion Field netted after 25 minutes. The deficit was further reduced when Daniel van Woerkom scored on the half hour, while other chances also went begging before the break.
The second half saw Indians net four unanswered goals, while Dalefield's lack of depth in the squad was increasingly shown up. Their cause was further hampered by a lack of discipline which saw them playing out part of the second half with only 10 men, along with poor decision-making when opportunities to score did present themselves.
The result will come as a blow to Dalefield, who had been registering some encouraging results and performances in their previous three games.
Acting manager Mike van Woerkom was philosophical about the result.
"Fitness and discipline told in the second half," he said.
"The two goals in the first half brought us right back into the game but we couldn't sustain the effort. The defence became rather porous as tiredness crept in."
Van Woerkom singled out Field and Daniel van Woerkom for mention. "Dion didn't stop running all day and Daniel was up against Black Stick Blair Hilton in midfield, so had his work cut out all game."
