HOCKEY: Hat-trick for Ward as Bann Twos keep up perfect start

Bann went 1-0 down to a short corner but were soon back on level terms through William Malcomson, who found space in the right side of the circle, firing a shot across the goal, which was deflected into the net by a Cookstown stick.

Bann struck again soon after, with Ward finding the back of the net after a scramble in the circle. There were two more goals to come in the first half, with Cookstown equalizing, followed by a goal from Matthew Allister leaving the score 3-2 at half time.

In the second half, Banbridge seemed to find an extra gear, scoring three more with no reply from the opposition. Dane Ward once again found the onion bag making it 4-2. The best goal of the game came through a lovely team goal starting on the right, with intricate play between Sam Farson and Joel Reid, leaving an easy open net finish for William Malcomson.

The final goal of the game sealed Ward’s hat-trick, after a quickly taken free hit found him in space in the circle, with Ward rifling home on the reverse.

This third straight win maintains the Havelock side’s 100% record in the league.