Cardiff University hockey captain Jack Carr was in Spain as part of his degree last year, which means his desire to retain the Varsity bragging rights is stronger than ever.
The captain has led his team to a strong finish in BUCS Western Conference 1A and improvements within the team throughout the season. In addition to Wednesday games, the 1st XI also play matches on a Saturday in the local Davis Wood Hockey League, making them one of very few AU clubs to play two fixtures every week.
ÔÇ£Saturday games are against really strong teams, but playing against older, better teams is great for improvement,ÔÇØ said Carr.
Swansea have never defeated Cardiff in the menÔÇÖs hockey Varsity, which may bring some added pressure due to the expectation to deliver a win, but the laid-back Carr seems confident.
ÔÇ£WeÔÇÖve been doing extra fitness work post-Christmas, including some 7am Monday runs. It wasnÔÇÖt so much about lack of fitness, but rather boosting team moral.
ÔÇ£In some games, our heads would drop too quickly. But results have improved, so I think itÔÇÖs worked well. Next yearÔÇÖs captain is coming back from a year abroad and heÔÇÖs a grim so-and-so, so expect even more fitness next season!ÔÇØ
CarrÔÇÖs team head into this WednesdayÔÇÖs game in solid form, but despite a couple of practice games and some intense training over the last week, thereÔÇÖs still work to be done. With a couple of starting places potentially up for grabs, this weekendÔÇÖs ÔÇÿOld BoysÔÇÖ game, as well as a Freshers v Leavers game, known alternatively as the ÔÇÿDragons v AngelsÔÇÖ game, will provide the perfect warm up for the big day.
Cardiff will start as favourites for the Welsh Varsity, but as well as the old clich├® about form not counting in derby matches, another leveller will be the pitch. Cardiff train and play on a sand-based pitch during the season, whereas Swansea use a water-based pitch similar to the one being used on Wednesday.
ÔÇ£WeÔÇÖre training next Monday on the water-based pitch, so hopefully weÔÇÖll be used to it pretty soon. Regardless, SwanseaÔÇÖs water pitch is quite a dry variation, so it may be just as alien for them. But I think a fast-paced water pitch will suit our game anyway,ÔÇØ said Carr.
When asked about his personal form, the midfielder-cum-forward is content. His first year as captain has been full of ÔÇ£ups and downsÔÇØ, but a Varsity win would make up for the tough Saturday fixtures and, of course, the frustration of missing last yearÔÇÖs Varsity.
Talking of frustration, one player for spectators to look out for is Dom Cooke, who, in CarrÔÇÖs own words, is a ÔÇ£skill wizardÔÇØ.
ÔÇ£He seems to find ways out of the tightest corners. It must be so frustrating for opposition teams,ÔÇØ Carr explained.
ÔÇ£Another key player for us is Rupert Shipperley, who actually represented GB at the Youth Olympics, and Dan Kyriakides has also had a very good season as one of the several freshers in our team.ÔÇØ
Last yearÔÇÖs 9-2 victory was a fantastic result, but Cardiff are expecting this year to be a much closer affair. Swansea have improved year-on-year and successfully stayed up this season after promotion.
Swansea also managed a 2-2 draw on their home patch earlier on in the season, albeit against a weakened Cardiff outfit.┬á A repeat of the return fixture, a 5-2 win, would be a perfect end to CarrÔÇÖs hockey career at Cardiff.
Rhys Clayton
photo by Taliesin Coombes
Add Comment