Trojans ladies finished a disappointing third in Investec Women's Western Conference, despite leading the field for much of the season.
A 3-1 defeat against relegated Team Bath Buccaneers in their final match of the season torpedoed any prospects they had of finishing top and going to the play-offs. Instead, Stourport took the title, beating Team Bath 5-1 and Olton & West Warwicks 4-2, with Reading (5-0 winners over Cannock) finishing second. Ironically, Trojans made a near perfect start in their 'must win' game with Team Bath with Lizzie Gittens converting a fourth minute penalty corner. But that's as good as it got for Trojans, who were pegged back to 1-1 by half-time through Vikki Warwick. Second half strikes by Courtney Hansford and Sam Roberts inflicted further pain on Trojans, who finished the season in disappointing, winning only one of their last five games.
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Winchester Ladies' prospects of lifting the Hampshire Women's League championship are dangling by a thread.
Victory in their final match against Haslemere would have clinched it - and a place in South League Division 3B last term - but they lost 2-0 to the Surrey club, their first defeat of the season. Now Haslemere are hot favourites for the crown and will be champions if they beat sixth-placed Romsey at Southampton University's Wide Lane ground on Thursday evening, 8pm. Winchester were on the offensive from the off at Kings' but found themselves trailing to a Rebecca Mitchell penalty corner at half-time. The second half produced end-to-end hockey, with two Haslemere players yellow carded, reducing the visitors to nine. But with the game on a knife-edge Haslemere converted another short corner through Alice Toynton and will packing the celebratory champagne in the car boot for the trip to Wide Lane. Winchester's prime target for their first season back in South League Premier Division 1 was survival, duly achieved with a recent Micah Smithard inspired 4-2 win at relegation troubled Henley.
But, in the final week of the season, Ben Hibberd's squad were given two sharp reminders of the quality they need if they are to progress and become National League Western Conference aspirants. In midweek a crushing 6-0 defeat by Oxford Hawks saw their hosts confirmed as SPL1 champions and with it a ticket to play alongside Fareham and Havant in the Western Conference next autumn. Then followed a 5-1 home defeat by second placed Old Cranleighans, who have stayed in the top esheleons throughout the season and could still take runner-up spot with one game to go. The OC's game started brightly for Winchester and they looked to have scored in the first three minutes with the ball crossing the goaline a moment after the umpire had blown for a penalty corner. However, the action then switched mainly to the other end with Winchester's goalkeeper Ally Birch excellently saving a penalty corner away to his left, but was unable to keep out a better directed effort a minute later. The game at Kings' was being played at a high pace, something that suited the ultra-fit Surrey visitors who's passing accuracy at speed was excellent viewing. Winchester on the other hand, having been dragged into the same style, struggled to find their own players and relinquished the ball too readily and had to scramble to defend. Winchester held firm for 20 minutes, but were undone before half time by two penalty corner goals, the first half saved on the line but bouncing in off the post, the second a low effort to Birch's left. Drawing breath at the break, Winchester (3-0 down) had their best spell in the opening 15 minutes and came close as Craig Jeffery played a sharp one-two with Ben Hibberd taking him into the "D", but firing just wide. Shortly afterwards, Cranleighans took themselves clear of any trouble with their best goal, a flowing move ending in a reverse strike to make it 4-0. With five minutes remaining, Birch was wrong-footed as the ball bounced in off a defensive stick to take the score to 5-0. However, Winchester were still showing intent and when Hibberd stole the ball off a defender, his pass found Micah Smithard who set up Jeffrey to roll under the keeper. The game finished with Winchester on the front foot, the OC's keeper having to make a penalty corner save from Hibberd. * Trojans lost 4-2 at bottom Premier Division 2 club Purley Walcountians, where Colin French and Ben Frost were on target. Fareham have ended their England Hockey Western Conference season on a positive note with a nerve jangling 3-2 win at Havant and a drama packed 3-3 draw with Team Bath Buccaneers.
They survived a late penalty stroke miss to cling on to a double-clinching victory at Havant and scored in the dying seconds to share the spoils with Bath. The Havant derby burst into life with three goals in the opening ten minutes - a Niall Stott penalty corner conversion and a second goal by George Davey soon after wiping out the early lead Matt Cox gave Havant from a short corner. Fareham called the tune in the opening 35 minutes and when teenager Will Jones scored his maiden goal straight after the second half restart it looked curtain for Havant, 3-1 down. But Havant bossed the second period without penetrating the Fareham defence for long periods. Fareham played for last nine minutes with ten men - Stott being yellow carded - and conceded a second through Portsmouth Grammar School's Ethan Hoddle. Havant looked set to snatch a draw when they got a late penalty stroke, but Maciej Janiszewski fired wide of George Harris's goal to enable Fareham to run out 3-2 winners in front of a big floodlit crowd. Chris Davey went from zero to hero and snatched a late equaliser in Fareham's 3-3 draw with Team Buccaneers. The local window cleaner was disciplined by Fareham after his double yellow card in the recent 4-2 defeat by champions Exeter University, but wiped the slate clean with his dramatic equaliser against Bath. Fareham made a superb start with Luke Cornish scoring in the opening minute, but Bath hit back immediately through Adam Croutear and turned round 2-1 up through a Cameron Heald penalty stroke. "We looked to be impatient before half-time, but very much deserved to be back in the game in the second half," reflected Fareham coach Ben Barnes. James Seager came off the substitute's bench and restored parity in the 56th minute - a fine individual move with Martin Gough. Only for Croutear to score a third for Team Bath two minutes from time and against the run of play. But with the umpires checking their watches, Fareham got their equaliser with a splendid team goal scored by Chris Davey and involving Danny Rawlings, Cornish and younger brother George. Barnes said: "The whole team stepped up in the second half and the momentum had shifted in our favour. The tempo of the game went up markedly. "We've had good results in the last three games, and hopefully we can take plenty of positives into our England Hockey Cup semi-final at Reading on Sunday April 8 and the Hampshire Cup the following weekend." Scott Rawlings scored twice as fifth placed Fareham seconds drew 3-3 at Haslemere, where teenager Fergus Jackson was also on target. A 3-2 win over Southampton University has also taken Fareham into the Hampshire Open League Cup semi-finals against Winchester II on April 15. Andover play Haslemere in the other tie. Sue Merry notched a hat-trick as Southampton thrashed Worthing 7-0 and ended the relegated West Sussex club's South Women's League Division 3B tenure.
She opened the Southampton scoring in the first minute and bagged two more in the second half as the visitors stayed fifth in the log. Abi Woodcock and Rachel Maunder gave Southampton a 3-0 lead - an advantage they extended after the break with Merry completing her hat-trick and Lou Hopkins and Tish Lloyd-Davies adding further goals. Fareham suffered the disappointment of a 4-0 defeat by Teddington and lie fourth from bottom Chichester secured their England Hockey League status for another year – but will want to ensure they don’t have such a late-season Eastern Conference drama next year.
They travelled to Brighton & Hove for their Survival Sunday showdown, knowing a win would all but guarantee another year playing at national level. Chichester started well with early chances but failed to capitalise on early pressure. Brighton started to get more of the ball and their pressure resulted in a penalty stroke. Luckily keeper Maciej Pacanowski was on top form and saved it. Brighton continued to break with pace. After lax defending down the left, Brighton escaped the tackles and Pacanowski was left with no chance as Joe Naughalty fired the hosts into the lead six minutes before the break. Chichester did well to the weather the storm with Pacanowski excelling, making yet another excellent save from a penalty stroke (his ninth of the season) after confusion in the D resulting in a stroke being awarded and the unlucky Kiran Henn being shown a yellow card. Chi regrouped at half-time knowing they had 35 minutes to save their status. The second half was scrappy with Brighton happy to counter against Chi as they pushed for an equaliser. After good work from the Chichester midfield, a penalty corner was awarded and expertly converted by Oli Baxter, making up for several misses during the game. With their tails up chi pushed for winner and after some more good saves from the Brighton keeper, a combination of Alex Pendle and Alex Baxter brought the teenager the vital second goal. In the last minutes Chi showed the effort and desire required to see out the game, despite a yellow card for Pendle and an injury to captain marvel Alex Thakore. So Chichester survive another year – knowing they need to learn the lessons to make sure they don’t leave it so late next season. They finished the season fourth from bottom, but only one point above Old Georgians, who will face off in the Conference play-offs. A late missed Havant penalty stroke enabled Fareham to snatch a 3-2 victory over their promoted Western Conference neighbours under the Havant College floodlights and in front of a good size crowd.
It was the second time this season Fareham had won the derby by the odd goal, having been 4-3 victors at Henry Cort in the autumn. Fareham had the best of the first half and Havant the second. Havant took the lead in the 7th minute from their first penalty corner. A worked routine provided Matt Cox with an opportunity to shoot on goal; the shot lobbed up in the air off a defender and went over George Harris in the Fareham goal to give Havant an early lead. Fareham, unshaken from this early set back, struck back two minutes later from their first penalty corner when Niall Stott's shot from the top of the circle was saved by Chris Bristow. The rebound went straight back to Stott, who neatly converted the second attempt against his old club. This set back for Havant worsened a minute later when Fareham's George Davey converted an open play opportunity to put the visitors in front. The remainder of the half was goalless, but there were chances with Fareham moving forward and with purpose on every opportunity. Fareham seemed a shade quicker than Havant and although Havant got some control of the game towards the end of the half, Fareham deserved their 2-1 lead at the interval. It was clear Havant had to play with more intensity in the second half if they were to have any chance, but within seconds of the re-start Fareham stretched their lead to 3-1 after ex Havant forward Will Jones converted a three touch move that caught a Havant defence napping. It was Jones's first goal in Fareham colours. Despite the start it was a much better half for Havant, who enjoyed longer periods on the ball, but in the early stages they were unable to penetrate a Fareham defence who were well marshalled by goalkeeper Harris. Havant had a good spell in the last third of the game, winning three penalty corners. The first was well saved by Harris down low to his left, the second was not stopped at the top of the circle and it was from the third that Portsmouth Grammar School's Ethan Hoddle deflected the ball into the Fareham goal in the 61st minute after a well worked routine. Niall Stott picked up a yellow card with nine minutes remaining and the numerical advantage allowed Havant to push Sam Hatherley forward, leaving three at the back. Maciej Janiszewski won a penalty corner with five minutes left, but again this was not stopped. From the resulting 23 yard hit Mike Deller-Merricks created a turnover and ran into the circle. He lifted the ball over a diving Harris which was stopped from going in the goal by a defender's body and after the umpires consulted a penalty stroke was awarded. Maciej Janiszewski uncharacteristically put the flick just wide of the goal. Havant had a final chance to level the score winning a penalty corner in the last minute of the game, but the ball was not stopped once more at the top of the circle and Fareham claimed all three points. Havant complete their programme with a weekend double, at home to Cardiff Met on Saturday and away to Birmingham University on Sunday. Fareham host Team Bath Buccaneers at Hnry Cort on Sunday, 1.30. Havant and Fareham go head-to-head in an England Hockey Western Conference derby under the Havant College floodlights this (Thursday) evening, 8pm push back.
The pair go into the match in good form, Havant having beaten Isca 3-1 at the weekend, with Fareham buoyed by their 3-3 draw with title chasing Cardiff Met. Admission is free-of-charge, with plentiful car parking available. At the end of a highly competitive match, Winchester were able to congratulate their opponents, Old Edwardians on winning 4-2 and clinching the Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 2 title, but for long periods were anticipating an unlikely victory against a team with only one loss in the campaign.
Keeper Ally Birch was a busy man in the first quarter of the game with a series of sharp saves. Eventually, London Ed's probing won them a lead as a player was allowed to drive into the "D" unchallenged and found the corner of the net. Winchester, buoyed with a substantial amount of possession, soon levelled matters as Greg Cox fired a penalty corner drag-flick top left. Edwardians were still very dangerous and crunched a shot onto the inside of the post, Birch saving the follow up. However, just ahead of the break, Cox repeated his penalty corner strike, this time finding the target via a deflection to take a 2-1 half time lead. Satisfied with a fine defensive first half performance, with the midfield of Rob Richie, Rory Penrose, James Baxter, Andy Winnett and Cox snuffing out much of the Edwardians switching tactics through tireless running, Winchester believed that they could roll further ahead in the second half. However, after only seven minutes, Winchester missed an opportunity to easily clear their lines and Ed's pounced to level the scores. Further pressure told from the visitors as they converted a pinball-like penalty corner to take the lead. Kings' student James Baxter forced another penalty corner for Cox, but this time to no avail and with ten minutes remaining, Ed's sealed their win with an all-aerial attempt resulting in a stunning overarm smash past Birch. 3/22/2018 0 Comments Bernie goal gives Southampton drawSouthampton ladies remain fifth in South Women's League Division 3B after a 1-1 draw with Tulse Hill & Dulwich and amid a plethora of clubs vying for a final five place finish.
It needed a late equaliser by Bernie Jones to secure a point for Southampton, whose last two matches are at relegated Worthing on Saturday and a re-arranged affair at Wimbledon. Southampton, who have Fareham among their contenders for a top five finish, began well in the freezing Sports Centre conditions, with Sue Merry, and Nat Romain both denied by the Tulse Hill goalkeeper. But 21 minutes in and Southampton were caught on the break and turned round 1-0 adrift. Led by the tenacity of Emma White and goalkeeper Linda Dunham, Southampton beat off Tulse Hill's attempts to stretch their half-time lead. Southampton's positive attitude led to an equaliser seven minutes from time, Bernie Jones picking up the piece off a Lauren Carter strike to give the city girls a share of the spoils. Fareham lost ground after a 2-1 loss to Eastbourne at the Saffrons. 3/22/2018 0 Comments Micah hat-trick has Henley rowingMicah Smithard celebrated his first South League hat-trick as Winchester banished their Premier Division 1 relegation fears with 4-2 win at Henley.
Skipper Matt Molloy got the other goal for Winchester, whose visit to champions elect Oxford Hawks was snowed off. Trojans avenged an earlier 6-0 defeat by beating London Academics 4-1 with Richard Aves, Dan Ferrier, Dave McNee and Jacques Priester on target. In Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 1, Southampton are more or less safe after a 4-2 win at Romsey, a result which is likely to send the Abbeymen down alongside Addiscombe. Trojans ladies are back on top of the Investec Women’s Western Conference – but they’ll need a massive helping hand this weekend if they are to prise the championship out of Stourport’s grasp.
A 3-0 win at Cannock enabled Trojans to nick the leadership away from snow-hit Stourport on minimal goal difference, but they will need the West Midlands side to lose one of their two games this weekend if they are to snatch the crown. A goal in each half by Imogen Lea, either side of a Jenny Peebles penalty corner conversion, earned Trojans the corn at Cannock. Now Trojans must thump relegated Team Bath at Stoneham Lane on Saturday (2pm) and hope Stourport – 3-2 winners over Isca, but snowed off against Bath – lose to Olton & West Warwicks. Stourport play Bath on Sunday. ![]() Luke Cornish grabbed a dramatic late equaliser to give Fareham a deserved 3-3 draw with Cardiff Met, a result which may have ended the Welsh club's prospects of finishing top of the Western Conference. A pulsating game played in atrocious conditions saw Fareham lead 2-0 at half-time, conceded two goals in five minutes early in the second half yet showed the character to hit back and force a draw after Cardiff had gone 3-2 up on the hour mark. "It was a very competitive game, but full marks to both sets of players and umpires. Player behaviour was spot on. Just one green card for a minor offence in a match where the stakes were high, particularly for Cardiff," reflected Fareham head coach Ben Barnes. Fareham got their noses in front from a 17th minute penalty corner - a crisp four-man routine culminating in a well taken James Seager strike. Better was to follow just after Alex Boxall had gone close, Martin Gough scored a second goal to give Fareham a 2-0 interval advantage. Cardiff, currently behind Exeter University in a two-horse race for the WC title, hit back with two goals inside five minutes early in the second half. Ronan Taggart pulled one back after Fareham goalkeeper George Harris had miscued an intended clearance and soon after Jack Pritchard bagged his 14th goal of the term to make it 2-2. Fareham forced two unconverted penalty corners before Ioan Wall turned the game on its head with Cardiff's potentially third match winning goal on the hour. But Fareham were far from finished and set up a grandstand finish. Boxall was inches away from sliding home an equaliser, but then in the final play Niall Stott forced a save from Cardiff goalkeeper James Fortnum and Cornish picked up the rebound to make it 3-3. * Fareham's snowed off derby with Havant has been rearranged for Havant College on Thursday evening, 8pm. Havant, who had been due to host in Sunday's snowed-off Fareham derby, trimmed Western Conference rivals Isca 3-1, while Chichester threw themselves a lifeline in the Eastern Conference relegation play-off scrap with a 3-2 win over Old Georgians, which lifts them out of the immediate danger zone. Results - Men Western Conference Fareham 3 (Seager, Gough, Cornish) Cardiff Met 3, Havant 3 (Janiszewski 2, Bloomfield) Isca 1. Eastern Conference Chichester 3 (Baxter, Thakore, Whitehouse) Old Georgians 2 (Tindall 2). South Premier Division 1 Henley 2 Winchester 4 (Smithard 3, Molloy) Division 2 Trojans 4 (Aves, Ferrier, McNee, Priestner) London Academicals 1. Regional Division 1 Basingstoke 0 Fareham II 1 (Metcalf). Division 2 Romsey 2 Southampton 4, Winchester II 2 London Edwardians 4. England Schools Under-18 Boys Cup King Edward VI 0 Guildford Royal Grammar 5. England Schools Under-18 Boys Plate Peter Symonds 7 (Hocking 4) Lancing College 1. Women Investec Western Conference Cannock 0 Trojans 3 (Lea 2, Peebles) South League Division 2 Trojans II 3 (Goldsack, Spurr, Cole) East Grinstead II 2. Division 3B Eastbourne 2 Fareham 1, Southampton 1 (Jones) Tulse Hill & Dulwich 1. 3/16/2018 0 Comments Peter Symonds' go cup goal crazyWinchester teen Isaac Hocking led the way as Peter Symonds’ went on a goal spree, thrashing Yeovil’s Richard Huish 12-1 to clinch a place in the AOC Cup final and Lancing 7-1 in the England Schools’ Under-18 Boys’ Plate.
Hocking helped himself to eight of PSC’s 19 goals, with Tim Loescher and Kabir Sahota bagging hat-tricks and Jack England a brace in the 12-goal demolition of Richard Huish, which sets up a cup final showdown against Birmingham Met on May 2. Peter Symonds’ fell behind to a Lancing penalty corner in the England Schools’ Plate but, having got themselves back on level terms by half-time, ran amok in the second half, scoring six unanswered goals to run out 7-1 winners. Hocking (4), Loescher (2) and Tom Croft-Baker were on target. PSC host St John’s Leatherhead in round three at the Trojans Club on Tuesday, 4.30pm. A place in the quarter-finals of the prestigious England Schools Boys’ hockey cup beckons for King Edward VI on Thursday afternoon. They host RGS Guildford at Wellington Sports Ground, Stoneham Lane, 5.30pm push back.
Peter Symonds College are involved in the Plate competition and entertain Lancing College at Trojans Club, 4.30pm. 3/13/2018 0 Comments Cricket ace short corners leadersHursley Park and Hampshire ladies cricket ace Sian Edwards converted two penalty corners as Fareham ladies pulled off arguably their best ever win in the South Women’s League, bowling Wanderers off the top of the Division 3B table with a 3-2 victory at Henry Cort.
Fareham fell behind to an early Jessica Cramp short corner for Wanderers, but scored twice in five minutes later in the first half through Vicky Field and Edwards to take a 2-1 interval lead. Wanderers levelled the scores, again from a Cramp set-piece, but Fareham snatched victory with Edwards scoring her second four minutes from time. Southampton ladies are eyeing a potential top three Division 3B finish after beating Horsham 4-1 – the game being all but done and dusted by half-time. They made a near perfect start with Bernie Jones converting an early short corner, while increased pressure and fluent passing led to two more Sue Merry goals before half-time. Southampton’s three-goal buffer led to complacency in the ranks and Horsham pulled one back before Lou Hopkins wrapped things up. * Southampton are staging a ‘back to hockey’ event, ideal for people who have never played before, at the Sports Centre on Tuesday evenings (6-7.30pm) from April 3 to 24. ![]() Ben Barnes cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as Fareham bungled a great chance of beating Isca, having dominated the match, led twice, hit the goal frame four times and allowed their Exeter hosts to nick the points with two second half goals in quick succession. They trailed early on, but led 2-1 and 3-2 before defensive lapses gifted the West Country side a 4-3 victory. “It was very disappointing,” Barnes said. “We dominated the game. We hit the post four times, but went to sleep for two of Isca’s goals and let speculative long balls in to our circle which were deflected in at the back post.” Fareham fell behind to a seventh minute Tom Brooks goal, but two goals in three minutes midway through the first period by George Davey and Jamie Rawlings, from a penalty corner, gave them a 2-1 lead. Dave King levelled for Isca before half-time, but alongside repeatedly rattling the woodwork, Fareham were denied by a succession of fine saves by Ed Jones and wasted other chances. “We had two golden chances and, in my opinion, should have had a stonewall penalty, only to have been awarded a short corner when Alex Boxall was fouled badly in the process of shooting,” Barnes lamented. Fareham did regain the lead through Martin Gough (51), but were undone by two goals in quick succession by Tom Brooks, Isca’s hat-trick hero. “We went to sleep,” Barnes moaned. “Had we been sharper we would have won with seven goals on the board, instead of which we lost. All very disappointing as we dominated the game.” Fareham left out combative midfielder Chris Davey, whose indiscipline (and two yellow cards) cost them dear in the previous 4-2 defeat by Exeter University. Davey will also miss Saturday’s rearranged home match with Cardiff Met, but be back for Sunday’s snow threatened derby at Havant, who surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at lowly Cheltenham. Matt Cox and Michael Dellor-Merricks gave Havant a 2-0 lead, which Cheltenham bettered in the second half. Fareham seconds moved into fifth spot in Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 1 with a 5-2 win over visiting Croydon & Old Whitgiftians, with George Davey (2), Christian McKenna (2) and Kieran Page on target. 3/13/2018 0 Comments Winchester winners face the cameraWinchester, who ended an eight-match winless run by beating Indian Gymkhana 4-0.
Back (from left): Kent Langridge, Craig Sims, Ally Birch, Adam Tollefsen, Jack Culmer, Rob Goodchild, Andrew Thomas, Will Penrose. Front: Isaac Hocking, Ben Hibberd, Kieran Molloy, Micah Smithard, James Pawley, Craig Jeffery. An apparently comfortable 2-0 win against relegation bound Addiscombe in Hampshire/Surrey Regional League Division 2 was, in fact, a hard fought affair, with Winchester II’s reliant on a fantastic debut goalkeeping display by John-Mark Jeffcott-Calzado and goals from their youngest players.
It looked as though it might be a stroll in the park when Winchester opened the scoring in the first minute. Ed Player's pass from a free hit found Stuart Swift wide left – the sprightly lead marksman driving the ball at Wessex Leopards and England Under-16 prospect Rory Penrose, who slammed his reverse strike past the Addiscombe keeper. Despite their 50 goal season deficit and facing certain relegation, Addiscombe showed spirit, perhaps fuelled by Winchester's poor decision making, and had numerous attempts on goal, some of which were wide of the mark, but many that needed saving. Enter 2nd XI debutant goalkeeper, Jean Mark Jeffcott-Calzado, deputising for his Kings School mentor Ally Birch, called to 1st XI duty. The young keeper made a series of stunning saves to deny Addiscombe the foothold in the game they probably deserved. The theme continued, with missed opportunities at both ends in an error strewn game, until another Kings’ schoolboy, James Baxter, drove with the ball from 40 meters out and launched a shot to the far post that was deflected by a defender into the corner of the net to give Winchester a 2-0 winning lead. Winchester lie fourth in the log, four points behind Andover, who smashed Southampton 9-4 in a Sports Centre fest. But Southampton can make themselves more or less safe in the relegation scrap if they beat Romsey at Hampshire Collegiate on Saturday. Romsey lost 4-3 at Camberley & Farnborough and are second from bottom. 3/13/2018 0 Comments Uphill task faces Trojans ladiesTrojans’ prospects of finishing top of the Investec Women’s Western Conference and featuring in the end-of-season play-offs are fading fast.
A 2-0 defeat by new leaders Stourport and a disappointing goal-less draw against Isca has bowled Trojans off pole position and in need of a slip up by the West Midlands club if they are to quality. The goal-less stalemate with Isca is the only point Trojans have taken from the last three games. Unless Stourport lose either of their remaining games against Isca and Team Bath (this coming weekend) or Olton & West Warwicks on March 24, Trojans look destined to finish second in a league they’ve led all season. Trojans’ remaining two games are against Cannock and Team Bath. They were rocked by two Stourport goals in quick succession midway through the first half – and never recovered. Sarah Parkinson-Mills fired Stourport in front with a fierce reverse stick shot and minutes later Clare Pearson made it 2-0 after Trojans had been carved open down the flank. Trojans seldom looked capable of pulling back the deficit and the best they could manage were efforts by Becky Treharne and Heather Batten. The loss put huge emphasis on Trojans beating Isca on Sunday, but the Stoneham girls were unable to recapture their pre-season form and were held to a goal-less draw. Trojans wasted a plethora of penalty corners, particularly in the second half, often due to poor injection and failed to use the width of the pitch to stretch their West Country visitors for much of the game. Trojans were left hanging on at the end as Isca forced three unconverted short corners. ![]() Winchester halted an eight-match winless run and lifted themselves out of immediate harms way in the South Premier League danger zone with an emphatic 4-0 win over Indian Gymkhana at Kings’. Ben Hibberd and Craig Jeffrey scored twice each as Winchester, boosted by three goals in the opening 15 minutes, celebrated their first win since beating Henley 6-3 on December 2 – a result they must repeat on Thames-side on Saturday. The victory over Indian Gymkhana took Winchester to the 20-point mark – seven clear of Henley – so they should be safe if they can beat the Berkshire side on their own soil. Winchester made the perfect start with a Ben Hibberd penalty stroke – awarded when a shot from Micah Smithard was illegally stopped on the line. It was surprising Winchester kept that early lead intact. Gymkhana, without a win themselves in five games and sliding into the danger zone, laid siege to the Winchester goal, with the telescopic outstretched legs of evergreen goalkeeper Ali Birch denying Jadeep Gill and Marcus Mahne. Things threatened to boil over as the visitors’ attacks were thwarted, but the umpires kept green and yellow cards in their pockets throughout and calmly officiated the game. Having repelled the Gymkhana pressure, Winchester stretched their lead with a Craig Jeffrey grace – a reverse stick shot followed by a rasping third goal into the roof of the net which climaxed a solo Jack Culmer run. Gymkhana almost clawed a goal back on the stroke of half-time when a deflected shot flashed over Birch’s goal. But all hopes of them rescuing the situation ended after the break when a fine break to the right byeline by Smithard teed up a simple tap in for Hibberd’s 14th goal of the season. *Winchester Boys took the lead from an Isaac Hocking penalty stroke but were beaten 3-1 by Bournemouth in the England Under-18 Cup quarter-finals. Trojans’ prospects of finishing top of the Investec Women’s Western Conference and featuring in the end of season play-offs are fading fast.
A 2-0 defeat by new leaders Stourport, followed by a goal-less draw with Isca, has left Trojans second in the log with only two matches left to play. It was an equally unsuccessful weekend for Havant and Fareham in the men’s Western Conference. Havant surrendered a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 at relegation threatened Cheltenham, while Fareham twice held the advantage in Exeter, only to lose 4-3 to Isca. Results - Men England Hockey Western Conference Cheltenham 3 Havant 2 (Cox, Dellor-Merricks), Isca 4 Fareham 3 (G Davey, J Rawlings, Gough). South League Premier Division 1 Winchester 4 (Jeffrey 2, Hibberd 2) Indian Gymkhana 0. Division 2 Staines 2 Trojans 1 (Bassett) Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 1 Fareham II 5 (G Davey 2, McKenna 2, Paige) Croydon & Old Whitgiftians 2, Wimborne Wayfarers 4 (Clark 2, Bollom, Membury) Epsom 4. Division 2 Addiscombe 0 Winchester II 2 (Penrose, Baxter), Camberley & Farnborough 4 Romsey 3, Southampton 4 Andover 9. Women Investec Western Conference Trojans 0 Stourport 2, Trojans 0 Isca 0. South League Division 2 Banbury 5 Trojans II 3. Division 3B Fareham 3 Wanderers 2, Southampton 4 (Merry 2, Jones, Hopkins) Horsham 1. Trojans ladies have surrendered their season-long leadership of the Investec Women’s Western Conference after suffering a 2-0 defeat by Stourport, who have leapfrogged them at the top.
Stourport scored twice in successive first half minutes to take a 2-0 interval lead which lack lustre Trojans seldom threatened. In Men’s hockey, Winchester ended a barren eight-match run with a 4-0 win over Indian Gymkhana, who were sent reeling by three early strikes, the first a Ben Hibberd penalty stroke. Fareham ladies pulled off arguably the result of the day, bowling Wanderers off the top of South League Division 3B with a 3-2 win at Henry Cort. Results - Men South League Premier Division 1 Winchester 4 (Jeffrey 2, Hibberd 2) Indian Gymkhana 0. Division 2 Staines 2 Trojans 1 (Bassett) Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 1 Fareham II 5 (G Davey 2, McKenna 2, Paige) Croydon & Old Whitgiftians 2, Wimborne Wayfarers 4 Epsom 4. Division 2 Addiscombe 0 Winchester II 2, Camberley & Farnborough v Romsey, Southampton v Andover Women Investec Western Conference Trojans 0 Stourport 2. South League Division 2 Banbury 5 Trojans II 3. Division 3B Fareham 3 Wanderers 2, Southampton 4 Horsham 1. ![]() Five sprightly Southampton ladies have been selected to play for England and Wales in a Vets Home International Series in Swansea and later in the Women’s World Cup in Barcelona. Fiona Jarman and Linda Dunham have been picked to play for England Over-55s, Sue Merry (pictured) is vice captain of the England 60s, Annie Day in the 65s and Sonia Bannatyne for Wales 55s. All five will later travel to Barcelona to play against Argentina, Australia, Holland, New Zealand and the Home Countries in the World Cup. ![]() Fareham Boys are through to the Mercian Junior Hockey Under-16 finals after topping their six-club qualifying group. Wins over Marlow (4-3), Sevenoaks (4-3) and Canterbury (4-2) alongside a 1-1 draw with Guildford enabled them to edge out Surbiton, the only side to beat them. Fareham now go forward to the Mercian national championship finals at Old Loughtonians in Essex on April 29. Fareham’s team has included 15-year old Fergus Jackson, pictured, who has been playing UK Lions representative hockey alongside KES starlet Finn Coleman. Jackson played for the Lions in this winter’s tournaments in Sardinia and Scotland, is part of the JRPC set up and has played in the Under-15 Futures Cup. He got his first taste of national league hockey as a second half substitute in Fareham's recent 4-2 defeat by Western Conference leaders Exeter University. |
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