Good starts for Southern League clubs

Newbury make winning start to Southern League campaign and Team Kennet middle distance runners shine

NEWBURY Athletic Club's senior men made a winning start to the new Southern League Division One campaign by winning their opening fixture at Hemel Hempstead on Saturday.

A near full-strength Newbury side scored a second-best points tally of 135 to beat host club Darocum and Tring by four points with Thurrock on 109, Woking 105 and Ilford 45 in the rear.

It was only in the final event that Newbury secured victory on the day. They went into the 4 x 400m relay with a narrow two point advantage, but the squad of Dan Tuttle, Marc Forrest, Marvin Gayle and David Eames established a steadily increasing lead to win the race and the match in great style.

TEAM KENNET'S middle distance boys provided the highlights of the club's opening Southern League Two West fixture at Oxford's Horspath track on Saturday.

Kennet finished second of only three competing teams on the day, which were separated by only 10 points at the end, but the middle distance runners contributed seven of their nine wins.

Bertie Lewis, Sam Randall, James Moorcroft and Luke Conway all scored track wins and combined to win the 4 x 400 metres relay as Team kennet finished second on the day to Radley with Guildford and Godalming in third place.