BANN TO PLAY IN CHEEVERS MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

Banbridge Hockey Club Men’s 1st XI will be taking part in the 21st Nigel Cheevers Memorial Tournament organised by Cookstown Hockey Club.  The tournament will run during January in a round robin home and away format with EYHL Clubs Lisnagarvey, Banbridge and Cookstown participating.

Michael Haycock, Cookstown Hockey Club commented:
“This is a change to our usual format for Nigel’s tournament, the committee found it very difficult to secure teams this year as the Kirk Cup was brought forward and clashed with our usual first weekend in September date. It is important to the Club and 1st XI that the tournament continued and this format and schedule comes at a good time prior to the EYHL starting up after the winter break. For us we have been hampered by a lot of injuries this season and struggled to pickup points, matches against two of the best teams in the league will help us prepare for the second half of the season as we try and get ourselves away from the bottom of the league. It will give much needed pitch time to our players who are back training hard after a short break over Christmas. The boys would like to thank the committee for organising the tournament and we look forward to good hockey and hopefully a Cup at the end of it!”

Errol Lutton (Lisnagarvey) Comments:
“Lisnagarvey HC is delighted to confirm their participation in what will be the 21st Cheever’s Tournament, organised by Cookstown HC. With the Irish Hockey League taking a break over this next period, matches against both Cookstown and Banbridge will be ideal preparation before the next round of competitive fixtures re-commence at the end of January. The Irish Hockey League matches so far this season between these teams has resulted in some excellent hockey in both tight and competitive games.
Hopefully both players and supporters can look forward to the same level of hockey being played. Lisnagarvey would like to thank Cookstown HC for the hosting and running of the tournament and the use of their excellent pitch and clubhouse facilities.”

Patrick Grimes (Banbridge) Comments:
“We are delighted to be participating in the Annual Cheevers Invitational Tournament and thank Cookstown HC for the kind invitation. The tournament comes during a key period of preparation for the second half of the EY IHL and we hope that the four quality fixtures will give us a sound basis from which to mount a serious challenge for the league in the second half of the season.”

21st Nigel Cheevers Memorial Tournament
Match Schedule
Tuesday 12 January 2016 – Lisnagarvey v Cookstown – 7:30pm – Comber Road
Thursday 14 January 2016 – Lisnagarvey v Banbridge – 8:00pm – Comber Road
Saturday 16 January 2016 – Banbridge v Lisnagarvey – 2:30pm – Havelock Park
Tuesday 19 January 2016 – Banbridge v Cookstown – 8pm – Havelock Park
Saturday 23 January 2016 – Cookstown v Lisnagarvey – 5pm – Steelweld Park
Saturday 30 January 2016 – Cookstown v Banbridge – 2:30pm – Steelweld Park