OXFORD Hawks showed plenty of promise but came away winless from two pre-season friendlies.

The ladies were defeated 4-2 by Gloucester after drawing 0-0 against Trojans in the back-to-back matches.

Emily Smith came close to a debut goal in the stalemate, while Olivia Clark was solid at the other end.

They showed encouraging signs against Gloucester, but were no match for their opponents’ fresher legs.

After going 2-0 down early on, Spurr finished off a lovely move to halve the deficit.

Gloucester made it 3-1, before Gemma Taylor opened her Hawks account from a penalty corner.

A goalline clearance denied Catherine Reaney an equaliser, with Gloucester scoring a late fourth.

The ladies 2nd team beat Henley 2-1, Rosie Abbott and Harriet Stovin scoring, while Ted Bennett and Jack Biggs notched as the men drew 2-2 at Reading.

Meanwhile, Hawks men’s Over 50s lost to Stockton on penalties after drawing 3-3 in the tier two semi-finals of the 2019 Masters Cup.

David Cooke netted twice, with Colin Burrell also scoring.

Competitive matches are set to resume on the final weekend of September as England Hockey plans to move to the fifth and final step of its roadmap to return.

Hawks are due to host Brighton & Hove in Men’s Hockey League Division 1 South on September 27, while the ladies are set to travel to Bristol Firebrands a day earlier.