"We were poor." That was the succinct description by Dalefield player-coach Willie Schaefer of his team's effort in their 5-1 loss to Victoria University in the Wellington premier division men's hockey match played at Clareville on Saturday.
Schaefer was at a loss to explain just why Dalefield failed to find anything
like the intensity needed to compete against a University side who generally showed clinical finishing and took advantage of their own scoring opportunities.
"We knew what we had to do but we didn't do it, we were just too lazy. We got ourselves into positions to score but we kept mucking things up, there wasn't enough urgency there."
Dalefield forced seven penalty corners during the match but their execution was well below par and they also failed to convert a number of forays into the University circle into goals.
"I suppose you could say the fact we had as many goal-scoring chances as them, if not more, was a plus.
"But if you don't finish them off it doesn't count for anything," Schaefer said. "We simply weren't hungry enough when it counted."
The only Dalefield player to emerge with his reputation intact was probably Trent Lett, who had a busy game on defence.
Dalefield continue their campaign with a match against the strong Harbour City-Tawa squad in Wellington tonight and Schaefer is hopeful that the disappointment of Saturday's performance will turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
"It should fire us up, nobody would want another game like that," he said.
