HOCKEY: Dark Blues stay on course for title (From Oxford Mail)

HOCKEY: Dark Blues stay on course for title

11:00am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Sport

Oxford University remain firmly in the hunt for the South League Premier Division 1 title after hitting West Hampstead for six without reply at Iffley Road on Saturday.

The Dark Blues remain second in the table, just a point behind Brighton.

Tom Mullins (3), Oliver Sugg, James Arch and Duncan Graves did the damage. Two goals from Dave Cresswell proved in vain as Oxford Hawks went down 3-2 at home to Sevenoaks.

The Kent outfit took the lead after winning their one and only short corner of the game, and then went further ahead via a deflection off Ethan Chapman’s foot.

The second half was all- Hawks, with man-of-the-match Andy Seiman controlling midfield.

Cresswell reduced the deficit from a short corner, before a rare Sevenoaks foray into the Hawks’ 25 saw Dan Money deflect the ball into his own net from a cross. Cresswell pulled back another goal from close range, but Hawks were grateful to keeper Phil Hargraves as Sevenoaks finished strongly.

Regional Division 1 leaders Oxford Hawks 2nd thrashed Oxford 7-0 with goals from Simon Buckingham (2), Dan Paynter (2), Chris Burden, Jamie Clark and Richard Craig.

Witney fell to a shock 3-2 defeat at home to West Hampstead 2nd, but remain a point clear at the top of Division 2. Goals from Ben Wells and Dan Andrews were not enough as the visitors grabbed the winner in bizarre fashion.

A shot rebounded of an upright before going in off the back of prone goalkeeper Si Howell’s head!

Bicester showed no mercy to MBB&O Division 1 basement boys Eastcote 3rd as they eased to a 5-2 victory. After going behind, Bicester quickly replied through Luke Smith, only for the visitors to regain the lead.

Jonny Reid made it 2-2 at the break and second-half strikes from Harry Gaunt (2) and CJ Birtles settled matters. Bicester drew 3-3 with Oxford 3rd on Sunday.

OTHER RESULTS.

Regional Div 2: Oxford 2nd 3 (B White 3), Bracknell 7.

MBBO Div 1: Oxford 3rd 5 (J Le Ball 3, A Bull, O Dale), Wycombe 3rd 1; Oxford Hawks 3rd 3 (A Spittles, P Bennett, S Dawson), Henley 2nd 0.

Div 3: Oxford 5th 4 (B Matthews 2, M Brougham, D Rawstone), Slough 2nd 0.

Div 4: West Hampstead 5th 0, Witney 2nd 3 (T Yallop, M Godwin, S Summers).

Div 6: Oxford Hawks 4th 3 (G Biggs 2, R Finnegan), Milton Keynes 4th 1; Leighton Buzzard 5, Witney 3rd 2.

Div 7: Oxford Hawks 5th 2, Amersham & Chalfont 4th 1.

Div 8: Ramgarhia 2nd 5, Witney 4th 2 (M Roberts, J Taylor).

Div 10 West: Oxford Hawks 6th 11, Abingdon 3rd 0.

Open Div 6: Oxford 6th 2 (P Charrett 2), Abingdon 2nd 2; Oxford 7th 1 (S Volans), OMT 4th 2.

Div 9: Oxford 8th 2 (S Thompson 2), Thame 2nd 3; Oxford Hamsters 5, Phoenix & Ranelagh 3rd 0 (w/o).

Div 10 West: Oxford 9th 2 (T Scrase, H Bovey-Hull), Banbury 4th 3.

Other match: Oxford Hawks Senators 2, Reading Rustlers 1.

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