LOCAL based business Zenith McGarty has become the proud sponsors of a new initiative

at Abergavenny Hockey Club, which involves the grassroots development of hockey in the

area.

Director of Zenith McGarty Jonathan Powell said, "It gives me great pleasure to be able to

sponsor Abergavenny Hockey Club, right here in my hometown."

Whilst ZM is also kit sponsors of Ebbw Vale RFC, Jonathan is keen to support other sports

that may not have a larger profile when compared to rugby or football, and when the

opportunity came to back the development of the sport, it was a done deal.

"Before ZM and with another company I was also director of, we backed the Welsh Under

18's Hockey Squad, so this is familiar territory for me," said Jonathan, who added, "I am keen to continue sponsorship after this season with Abergavenny Hockey as an ongoing show of

support."

This weekend saw the first match for the development team. In all the decades of ladies

hockey in Abergavenny (some 35 years) never before has the club felt able to field a

second XI, but with a number of the junior players now developing strongly, the timing

seemed perfect.

The venture is proving a perfect opportunity for new players arriving at the

club, to play regular competitive hockey. The whole ethos of the development team is

indeed "development" which might be interpreted as perhaps aimed only at the younger

generation, but this is not so, it is also a perfect opportunity for older players keen to give it

a go in a relaxed yet competitive environment.

The match itself certainly lived up to the billing and hopes of the club. The team totally

dominated the opposition Whitchurch, one of Wales' biggest and most successful clubs.

The combination of energy from the youth together with the experience of the "old heads"

was a match made in Heaven. With the team fitting quickly into the chosen formation and positions, the structure and shape squeezed Whitchurch back and forced pressure, mistakes and frustration.

It was a scrappy goal that won the match for Aber but it was well deserved and the team and supporters were jubilant.

It was left to sponsor Jonathan Powell to sum up the afternoon, "It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in the autumn sunshine with Abergavenny having the upper hand throughout and if it weren't for some stout goalkeeping work by Whitchurch, it could easily have been a rout. I'm glad as shirt sponsor that the team nailed a victory to the flagpole as a warning to others that we mean business. "

Abergavenny Hockey Club are always looking for new players: men, ladies and juniors.