Men hit for six but ladies grab a point

Newbury and Thatcham Hockey Club men’s first team suffered a humbling 6-3 defeat at the hands of Wallingford.

Goals from Doug Clayton, Piers Cunliffe and Rob Haimes proved in vain as the men suffered their first defeat in three to drop to eighth in the South Central Men’s Division One North table.

There was somewhat better news for the ladies first team, who extended their unbeaten run to three matches with a 1-1 draw with Staines.

Ellie Sweeney scored her first goal of the season for the ladies, who sit ninth in the South Central Women’s Division One North table.

There was a mixed bag of results elsewhere as the men’s second team drew 2-2 with Sonning II, the third team lost 3-2 to Buckingham while the fourth team were emphatic 9-0 winners over Tadley.

Ben Cook and Cameron Dunlop were on target for the second team who have won just once all season, leaving them third from bottom in the South Central Men’s Division 2 North table.

The third team meanwhile were unfortunate not to come away with a point at South Central Men’s Division 4 North leaders Buckingham as Tom Hope bagged a brace against a side that have scored 40 goals in just six league games.

Newbury and Thatcham fourth team are another free scoring side and hit Tadley for nine thanks to five goals from Chris Obin, two from Ben Grindley and one each from Archie Smith and Christian Somerville.

The ladies' second team went down 2-0 against Reading Riots, their first defeat of the South Central Women’s Division 1 Thames season, while the fifth team were thumped 6-0 against Windsor III.

There were no such problems for the women’s third team, who had goals from Jenna Ferant, Witney Burnett and Amy Cowan to thank in their 3-1 win over Marlow VI.

Yasmin Mateus scored her fifth and sixth goals of the season while strikes from Emillie Penton, Joanna Howell and Nicole Allen helped the fourth team beat South Central Women's Division Three Thames bottom side Wycombe V.