BRISTOL, UK – It hasn’t been a great start to the season for the newly promoted Bristol Pitbulls. After eight games they sit in last position with only one win so far this season.
Whilst it is far too early to panic, the Pitbulls have conceded fifty goals already this season and last weekend shipped in twelve against Invicta Dynamos at home. Admittedly the Dynamos have a potent offense however the Pitbulls had restricted them to a 6-1 win in Kent the week previous, so a heavy loss on home ice was not expected.
With influential Skipper Mike Hargreaves missing from both games due to suspension, the captaincy was handed to forward Steven Osman. The twenty three year old sparkled last season in ENL 2 with eighteen goals in nineteen appearances but admits that ENL 1 has given the team an altogether more difficult challenge.
“To win any game in this league is an absolute battle” admitted Osman, who has scored three goals already this term.
“Last season in ENL 2 it was not as intense every game and there were teams who were perhaps not as competitive. In ENL 1 the standard is much higher and you have to focus with the right mentality in every fixture or you will be beaten”
“Our win over Milton Keynes was hard fought and also a great confidence boost, they have also struggled of late and when you see the likes of ex EPL players like Ross Bowers and Jamie Line on their team list, it just shows how strong the league is”
Pitbulls win against Milton Keynes (Photo flyfifer.co.uk)
A former Swindon Junior Academy member and GB Junior international roller hockey player, Osman opted to join the Hargreaves Bristol revolution last season in the Pitbulls inaugural year after some time with recreational side; Swindon Panthers. Like a number of his team mates, he is new to this standard of hockey but that’s not to say the side lacks experience.
“Its brilliant to have players like Mike Smith, Alan Armour and the Hargreaves brothers in the team” said Osman. “Younger guys like myself can learn a lot from those players and they do help as much as possible to improve other player’s games,
“It is obvious to say we are a little disappointed with the results so far with the exception of the win over MK but we are looking at the positives and are working harder to become a stronger and more competitive team,
“Even against Invicta last weekend we can look at the positives. We scored six goals and four more were questionably disallowed, so to score that many past a team that has won countless number of championships in this league is a decent achievement”
Despite on ice problems, the Pitbulls are building strong foundations off the ice. A new mascot arrived last week courtesy of major sponsors O’Neills and Reflex, plus Osman has two personal sponsors himself with J&R Drycleaners and Picturelizard.com backing him. Such support from local business is rare at this level of hockey in the UK but Bristol have worked wonders to cement their place in the local community.
Osman popular on and off the ice%2C posing with a sponsor
The Pitbulls have a tough trip to South London this coming weekend to take on a Streatham Redskins flying high at the other end of the league table. Osman insists that they are not the first side to have started a season slowly, only to turn a corner and improve. Suspensions and injuries have hit the Pitbulls hard, plus their Swedish imports have not yet put the numbers up that Head Coach Richie Hargreaves would have hoped for. Time is on the Pitbulls’ side however with the games coming thick and fast, there is plenty of opportunities for the team to get things right.
“We are working hard in training to change our fortunes” admitted Osman. “We aren’t going to get anything given to us, so we need to work for it. We have a few guys to return to the line-up so that can only improve things.
“It is early in the season and we are not getting down about the situation but we are thinking of improvements to change the outcomes of our games. The fans have been great and the lads are really grateful for their support. If you look at last year, Bracknell had a poor start to the season and came back as play-off champions, so it is up to us to make an impact”
Bristol certainly don’t need to emulate Bracknell’s achievements of last year, but a season of consolidation would be welcome news at Frogmore Street.
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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