Fareham will play Canterbury at Henry Cort twice in the space in 24 hours after being handed a home draw in the quarter-finals of England Hockey's Tier 1 Championships.
Canterbury are already earmarked to play Fareham in what promises to be a critical South Division 1 relegation clash on Saturday February 29.  Now they'll set up camp locally and play again in the T1 Cup a day later, on Sunday March 1.
In the other quarter-finals, Beeston will host Belper, Southgate play Birmingham University, and Bowdon entertain Timperley.
Southampton's first and second teams have reached the last eight of the Tier 3 and 4 competitions. The first team receive Okehampton on March 1, while the seconds travel to Addiscombe.

​Havant are through to the Canterbury final qualifying phase (January 4/5 2020) of England Hockey’s prestigious Jaffa Super Sixes after finishing runners-up to Old Georgians in the Southern Counties tournament at Fleming Park.
They were beaten 4-3 in the final by the affluent Weybridge club, having won all five of their previous games, Croydon & Old Whitgiftians (2-1), Marlow (6-2) and Bournemouth (2-0) in the group stage, and then Trojans (2-1) and Old Bordenians (5-1) in the quarter and semi-finals, respectively.
Trojans bowed out in the quarters, having scored 15 goals in their three league matches against Woking (5-0), Old Georgians (2-5) and Burnt Ash (8-0).
Southampton University were well satisfied, having beaten Horley (5-3) and drawn 3-3 with Bromley & Beckenham, while Bournemouth lost all three group ties to Croydon & OWs (0-3), Marlow (2-5) and Havant (0-2).
The tournament was superbly managed by Ian Bassett of Trojans HC.
Results -
Quarter Finals
Old Bordenians vs. Brighton and Hove (4-0), Old Georgians vs. Bromley and Beckenham (14-2), 
Havant vs. Trojans (2-1), Indian Gymkhana vs Croydon Old Whitgiftians (4-5).
Semi Finals 
Havant vs. Old Bordenians (5-1), Old Georgians vs. Croydon Old Whitgiftians (6-3).
Final
Old Georgians vs. Havant (4-3).

Fareham ladies are four points clear at the top of the South Women’s League Division 3B after winning ten of their 12 matches, the arrival of 21-goal Heather Batten from Trojans having been a significant factor.  Old Georgians (0-3) and Southampton (2-2) have halted Fareham’s winning surge which influential coach Steve Lemon plans to take into the new year. Vicky Field has scored nine times and Rachael Clark four.
Fareham ladies: Back (from left): Stephen Merse (Manager), Rachael Clark, Hannah Simon, Heather Batten, Emily Denham, Kiera Denham, Laura Pendleton, Georgia Collins, Ange Cryne.  Front: Hayley Wood, Hannah Oldham, Sophie Raymond, Lydia Rosewell, Tara Lemon, Vicky Field, Lydia Jackson, Steve Lemon (Coach).

​Bournemouth are turning their Chapel Gate home into a fortress as they continue their push for promotion in South League Premier Division 2 West.
The 3-0 win over Henley was Bournemouth’s fifth win in six home matches and leaves them fifth in the log going into the winter break, five points behind leaders Staines with a game in hand.
That they will make up in mid-January with a weekend double banker at home to PHC Chiswick and at promotion rivals Oxford BU the following day.
Unbeaten in their last seven games, five of which they have won with two drawn, Bournemouth controlled affairs against Henley with a goal by Matt Underwood separating the sides at the half-time break.
Henley’s goalkeeper pulled off numerous fine saves as Bournemouth strove without success to increase their lead – one effort from Charlie Cooper, headed for the top corner, being tipped around the post.
Bournemouth lost the experienced Sam Bury to an injury and then had a let off as Henley had a potential short corner equaliser disallowed.
Lions finally relived the pressure with two late goals – Cooper making it 2-0 with a waspish reverse stick shot and Conor Moors scoring his 11th goal of the season from a penalty corner drag flick in the final phase. 

Fresh from last season's Hampshire League championship winning triumph, Winchester ladies have made a positive start in their new surrounds and go into the Christmas break in fifth place, having won six of their last nine games in South Women's League Division 3B.
They rounded off their autumn programme with a 3-1 win at Lewes.  Sarah Johns is top scorer with nine goals.
Back row left to right: Ellis Williams, Rose Maunsell, Shelley Mott, Izzy Thomas, Alice Michlethwaite, Abi Philp, Laura Pitfield, Mimi Chainey. Front: Becca Davies, Holly Cameron, Emily Lott, Liv Childs, Sarah Johns, Ella Chainey

Fareham sent in their boys to do a man’s job – and how the youngsters responded by pulling off a remarkable 4-3 win over Old Cranleighians in the first round of England Hockey’s Tier 1 Championships.
With a host of first team regulars unavailable, head coach took a 13-man squad to Thames Ditton to face an OCs side challenging strongly in second place for the Western Conference title.
“Our average squad age was little more than 21 years – and alongside the two 30-year olds in skipper Martin Gough and Shane Vincent, we paraded about seven teenagers,” beamed Barnes.
“It was a great result. We led 4-1 at one stage, but conceded two late goals to make things tense late on, but we ran the clock down well by simple possession play in the corners.  To be honest the 4-3 scoreline flattered OCs.”
Barnes had a special mention for debutant goalkeeper Josh Dawson, whose triple save early in the proceedings was key to the victory, and Portsmouth Grammar School teenager Rory Buckeridge, who is in the England Under-16 squad.
“Rory slotted in very well, was calm, assured and skilful. Jamie Young played his first 1’s game for three years and produced a notable performance, while Andy Allan did well up front” Barnes added.
Fareham took the lead through Kieran Page after some fine individual play from Rory Penrose, but were pegged back by a Cranleighians equaliser.
A trademark Shane Vincent drag flick restored Fareham’s lead, which recent recruit Josh Steel, from Solent University extended before some quality pressing enabled Will Penrose to add a fourth to give the visitors a cushion.
Old Cranleighians threw caution to the wind in the latter stages and clawed two goals back, but were unable to score a fourth and force the tie into penalty strokes.
“A lot of the young lads took the opportunity to stake a claim for a first team place when the National League resumes in early February. Competition for places has certainly increased on the back of this cup win,” said Barnes, whose Fareham side lies bottom of the South Division with only one win.
Fareham’s squad v OCs was: Josh Dawson, Rory Buckeridge, Will Raymond, Philip Larcombe, Shane Vincent, Rory Penrose, Fergus Jackson, Will Penrose, Kieran Page, Martin Gough, Josh Steel, Andy Allan, Jamie Young. 

​Chichester were left to ponder on what might have been after having three separate leads cancelled out and then fluffing a late penalty stroke in a 3-3 Eastern Conference thriller against Spencer at Chichester College.
Had they won, Chichester would have leapfrogged their Surrey visitors and gone into the winter break in third place in the table; instead they put their feet up one slot lower, nine points adrift of unbeaten leaders Wapping.
Talented teen Alex Pendle twice gave Chichester the lead, but when he limped out of the action with a hamstring injury soon after the half-time break, Chi’s prospects of victory possibly went to the sick bay with him.
Pendle fired Chichester into a 17th minute lead from a penalty corner, but saw his efforts cancelled out soon after when Alex Thakore was caught napping and James Turton equalized for Spencer.
Seven minutes before the break, Pendle began and finished a right-side move to restore Chichester’s lead – the youngster robbing a Spencer defender and playing a neat one-two with Alex Baxter before making it 2-1 at the break.
When he limped off, Chichester’s attacking threat diminished and midway through the second period Steve Dowds squared it up again at 2-2 for the visitors.
But Chichester, who had played arguably some of their best possession hockey of the season in the first half, responded again – Ollie Baxter making it 3-2 with eight minutes left after Thakore and Jack Lerwill had done the spadework.   It was his 11th goal of the season.
Back came Spencer with a superb individual goal by Kyle Good, who barnstormed his way through a host of Chichester challenges before rifling his equalizing shot past Chris Bristow.
The drama didn’t end there as minutes from the end of a pulsating six-goal thriller, Chichester were awarded a stroke when a Spencer defender stopped a shot on the line.
But Alex Holton sent his penalty flick straight at the Spencer goalkeeper – and Chichester’s late chance of a victory disappeared.

Bournemouth, Havant and Trojans are among the 16 teams involved in Saturday's England Hockey Super Sixes regional tournament at Eastleigh's Fleming Park centre.
All three are drawn in the same group, with Trojans getting the tournament underway against Woking at 9.30am, the same time as Southampton University play Horley.  Bournemouth play Havant at 11 o'clock.
The two pools are -
A: Brighton & Hove, Bromley & Beckenham, Herne Bay, Horley, Indian Gymkhana, London Academicals, Old Bordenians, Southampton University.
B: Bournemouth, Burnt Ash, Croydon Old Whitgiftians, Havant, Marlow, Old Georgians, Trojans and Woking.
England Hockey Premier League side Old Georgians are hot favourites to win the tournament, which reaches its climax around 4.30pm.

Sian Edwards scored twice as Fareham Ladies maintained their four-point lead at the top of the Women’s South League Division 3B table.
After a goalless first half against a Tulse Hill & Dulwich team who Fareham had swamped 11-0 in the first game of the season, they ran out 4-0 winners - coach Steve Lemon's 'no holds blast' half-time team talk being crucial.
The first goal came three minutes after the interval when top scorer Heather Batten intercepted a pass in the visitors' 'D' and squared the ball for Georgia Collins to score.
Heidi Podd reacted quickly to make it 2-0 after the umpire had played advantage after a penalty corner shot hit the foot of a visiting player.
Lydia Jackson was involved in several dangerous runs and, from one of them, Edwards fired in the rebound after a Jackson shot had been saved.
Edwards, no mean performer (for Hursley Park ladies) with cricket bat in hand, scored again two minutes from time after link-up work from Batten and Hannah Oldham.
Lou Hopkins scored both goals as fourth-placed Southampton trimmed Aldershot & Farnham 2-0, taking her total for the season to seven.
Reflecting on the game, Southampton's Sue Merry said: “There was a dramatic difference in the speed of play compared to last week’s game against Old Georgians which tends to affect the way in which we perform. 
“At times we allowed Aldershot and Farnham too much time on the ball which led them into a false sense of security and gave them more credit than what they deserved.
However, in true Southampton style we persisted and our efforts paid off. After bit of a scramble in front of the goal mouth, Lou managed to put the ball over the line opening the scoring.”
Goalkeeper Linda Dunham and her defence remained calm and collected whilst preventing Aldershot and Farnham from converting any attempts they had at equalising. 
The Southampton midfield and forward line worked tirelessly up and down the pitch, linking up with the defence and producing some decent runs of play which Aldershot and Farnham struggled to counteract. 
Southampton’s endeavours paid off when a crisp move left Hopkins with a one-on-one with the Aldershot goalkeeper to clinch the points. 
Merry added: “Mentally, the first half of the season has been tough. The quality of training we have been receiving and the hard work we have been putting in hasn’t quite been reflected in some of our results. But we are fourth in the table.” 
 

Former Havant hit-man Andy Pett is driving Basingstoke's bid for Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division One honours.
His brace in the 3-2 win over Havant II - in which Liphhok & Ripsley cricket ace Grant Rouse also scored - took his tally for the season to 21 and strengthened Basingstoke's grip on the leadership going into the Christmas break.
Beatles fan George Harrison and David Taylor-Bagent responded for Havant.
Fareham II were held 3-3 by Sunbury & Walton Hawks in a bottom Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 1 match littered with green and yellow cards, eight in all.  Ed Faherty, Paul Metcalf and teenager Sam Ratcliff scored for Fareham.
 ​

​A controversial and potentially match winning disallowed second goal, compounded by a last gasp penalty stroke equaliser, saw Fareham have a precious National League South Division victory over Oxford Hawks ripped from their grasp as the visitors escaped from Henry Cort with a 1-1 draw.
Heading into the last five minutes of a nerve jangling bottom-of-the-table affair, Fareham were hanging onto a single-goal lead from a clinically worked penalty corner by Fergus Jackson.
And when the talented teenager rifled a second set-piece goal past Hawks goalkeeper Chris Price, Fareham thought they had won.
But amid protests from the Fareham players, umpire Neil Smith disallowed the goal, believing Jackson’s shot had ‘skimmed’ the foot of team-mate Chris Davey before it flashed past the goalkeeper.
Soon after and with only 40 seconds left on the clock, Fareham defender James Meakin was penalised for pushing in the D and penalty stroke specialist Jack Biggs stepped up to steal Hawks’ last gasp equaliser.
Fareham head coach Ben Barnes confessed he “was speechless at the end of the game.
“The lads worked so hard and did enough to win the game but at 1-0 you are never safe.
“I did not see anything wrong with the disallowed goal, nor did Oxford’s coach.
“The umpire was certain it ‘skimmed’ the shin pad of the forward (Chris Davey) near the goalkeeper so that’s what he gave.
“The player is positive it did not touch him, video evidence from our camera (mounted on the clubhouse balcony immediately overlooking the Oxford goal) does not have ‘snicko’ and it looks like all it hits is the goalkeeper’s kicker and leg guards and then the net.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have VAR at this level so we have to carry on. 2-0 would have seen us safe and the penalty stroke was gut wrenching only two minutes later.”
Fareham were ahead courtesy of a short corner routine goal-scorer Fergus Jackson explained he had been involved with since he played in the Under-14s.
“It’s basically a one-two, with Will Penrose passing Rob Wilson’s injection for me to smash it into the net. I tried hard to get us to do that earlier in the season, but now the other lads know it works we’ll doubtless do it again,” Jackson said.
Jackson’s disallowed goal would have made it 2-0, but with Oxford equalising in what was effectively the final play, Fareham will spend the winter break anchored to the South Division basement with only one win and two draws from ten outings.
Barnes continued: “At some point we will see the positives of turning an 8-1 defeat at Oxford Hawks four weeks ago to being gutted we have drawn 1-1 to the same team, but very hard to take the manner in which it unfolded.
“We may have taken that result before the game but we could have had all three points and do feel it was cruelly ripped out of our hands
“I am sure it will give us fire to our ambition to continue to improve for the eight games after Christmas.
“We must not forget this is a young side and they have shown unbelievable resolve with all that has been thrown at them since September.
“I know they will keep improving and I am sure if we get ourselves in front again that we will want to see it over the line next time. 
“I was incredibly proud of the performance against Oxford and if we keep playing like that we will get results.” 

Havant go into the two-month winter break a handy third in National League South Division 1 after thrashing relegation strugglers Canterbury 5-0 at the Polo Farm.
A sixth win in ten matches leaves Havant four points adrift of unbeaten leaders Oxted.
All of five of Havant’s goals came from open play, with Manuel Silvetti scoring the first of a brace in the seventh minute to give the visitors the lead at the end of the first quarter. 
Atiq Arshad doubled the lead two minutes after the start of the second quarter and this was made 3-0 with ten minutes left on the clock to the half time when Michael Deller-Merricks converted. 
Manuel Silvetti scored his second and Havant’s fourth in the 43rd minute and Miguel Rodrigues made it 5-0 with three minutes left on the clock. 

Trojans feared the worst when Guildford took the lead in just 30 seconds under the Stoneham Lane floodlights, but a gallant fightback saw the South League Premier League strugglers equalize before half-time before conceding a 2-1 defeat from a scruffy short corner.
Guildford, one point behind London Wayfarers (4-1 winners over Winchester), got round the back of the Trojans defence from the push back and Ross Fergusson enjoyed the easiest tap in at the far post for his 19th goal of the season.
Trojans, to their credit, repelled subsequent Guildford pressure and gained a foothold in the game, culminating in a Colin French [pictured] equalizer from their third (of four) penalty corners, picking up a rebound after a shot from Neil Hastings had been blocked by the visitors’ goalkeeper.
Trojans certainly took confidence into the half-time break, but Guildford reasserted themselves in the second period, forcing the evergreen Steve Cole into two flying saves – one with his outstretched leg and another with his stick – before an untidy short corner undid all Trojans’ efforts and Josh Moore scrambled the winner the visitors just about deserved.
Winchester, whose next match at Trojans on January 11 will be critical, go into the Christmas break rock bottom after a 4-1 defeat at leaders London Wayfarers, where Todd Hutcheson was on target.

The Stoneham Lane spotlight will be firmly on Trojans on Saturday evening as they entertain South League Premier Division 1 title chasers Guildford under the floodlights, with a 6.30pm push-back, not 5 o'clock as previously stated.
The pair fought tooth and nail for the Premier 2 championship last season, both matches being drawn, 3-3 in Surrey and 2-2 in the Stoneham Lane return.
This season Guildford are vying for the leadership with London Wayfarers (who host Winchester today) while Trojans face a struggle for survival at the opposite end of the table.
Bournemouth, fifth in Premier 2 West with a match (at Oxford) in hand, host Henley at Chapel Gate.

​Two goals in a six-minute period either side of half-time set up Havant’s 3-1 win over Teddington, who had shared the spoils in an eight-goal National League South Division thriller with Fareham the previous week.
They took the lead from their second penalty corner, Matt Cox expertly deflecting the ball above the head of giant goalkeeper Alex Rooney and then, soon after half-time, James Morris capping a fine individual performance by making it 2-0.
Teddington looked dangerous on the break, but fell farther behind when Federico Bertoni potted Havant’s fourth penalty corner – his fierce shot went straight through the goalkeeper’s legs – but the visitors did claw one back late on through Rhys Doherty.

​It’s pre-Christmas crunch time for Bournemouth ladies, whose hopes of pushing for promotion in their debut season in South Women’s League Division 2 could rest on the outcome of Saturday’s long haul visit to Eastbourne.
The East Sussex girls lie second behind leaders Oxford in the log having beaten Bournemouth 3-2 on the opening day of the season.
But Bournemouth are in a rich vein of form, having won five of their last seven unbeaten matches, the latest a 4-0 victory over Epsom, in which Amy Hill scored twice to take her season’s tally to 11 and Charlotte Grenville-Cleave bagged a brace.
Bournemouth are playing in the South League for the first time this season, having switched from the West of England competition.
Bournemouth men had their top of the table South League Premier 2 West match at Oxford postponed due to a frozen pitch and will regroup ahead of Henley’s visit to Chapel Gate on Saturday.
Leaders Staines were thrashed 4-0 by PHC Chiswick.

Fareham Ladies have established a four-point lead at the top of South Women’s League Division 3B at the halfway point of the season.
A comfortable 2-0 win over title challengers Barnes put them in a commanding position, with second placed Old Georgians (the only side to have beaten them this far) looking the most likely threat to their championship dreams.
Fareham generally bossed the game against Barnes at Henry Cort and took control from the eighth minute onwards when Vicky Field got a vital deflection in the D.
The build up to Fareham’s opening goal was initiated by a lofted clearance out of defence by Laura Pendleton which sent Field away down the right for an exchange of passes with Heather Batten, who set up the chance.
The quality of Fareham's passing and movement stood out as they gradually wore down their Middlesex opponents with their pace and change of direction as they retained possession. 
One flowing sequence of passes almost brought a second goal in the closing seconds of the first half when Hannah Oldham's cross from the left had Barnes all at sea but the final touch proved elusive and it remained 1-0 at the break. 
Fareham got back into their rhythm immediately play resumed and they doubled the lead in the 38th minute with a Georgia Collins shot from a penalty corner. 
Delighted Fareham coach Steve Lemon said: “Georgia possibly didn't quite get as much power on her drag flick as intended but it did the trick as the keeper and defenders on the line found it too awkward to keep out.” 
“Given the quality of the two defences, it always looked likely that two goals would be enough, however, there were further near misses in front of the Barnes goal and their keeper, Emily Overend, made an excellent save at full stretch to keep out a shot bound for the bottom corner.” 
The visitors tried hard to pull a goal back but the Fareham defensive unit was secure and able to deal with any threats. 
Fareham will expect to strengthen their lead at the top when lowly Tulse Hill & Dulwich visit Henry Cort on Saturday morning, 11.45.
Despite suffering a 2-0 defeat against second placed Old Georgians at Weybridge, Southampton were far from discouraged about their performance, particularly in the second half. were far from discouraged about their performance, particularly in the second half.
Senior pro Sue Merry said: “We worked really hard as a team and continued to show our strengths. When we were on the attack we were fast and supported each other all over the pitch.
“The quality of hockey we were displaying showed in the second half where we held such a dynamic team. 
“We had a goal disallowed, but can look back on Weybridge as the best hockey we have played this season which we will take into our final pre-Christmas game at Aldershot & Farnham.”
Winchester’s visit to Lewes was called off due to a frozen pitch.

Teenager Harry Trussler and Mark Maunsell scored as Winchester clawed back a two-goal deficit with a late rally to secure a 2-2 draw with visiting Banbury at Kings’.
It was a crucial point in the city club’s developing relegation battle in South League Premier 1, which also involves Trojans, who were beaten 6-3 at Oxford University.
With 15 minutes remaining, Banbury led 2-0 from short corners by Will Kellett and Josh Nunneley, the latter’s tenth goal of the season.
Winchester, rather than folding as a near-bottom of the league team might in that situation, stepped up their intent and their quality of possession. 
Skipper Kieran Malloy was everywhere, conducting events, backed up by Harry Trussler whose influence on games increases week by week. 
It was Trussler [pictured above] who found a way back into the game with a direct drag-flick from a penalty corner with ten minutes left on the clock. 
Five minutes later, Winchester achieved the draw with a brilliantly engineered move starting with Rob Goodchild deep in his own half finding Trussler who sent on to the wide Malloy. His pass through to the running Todd Hutcheson showed great vision and creativity, freeing Hutcheson on the back line who pulled back a bouncing pass to Maunsell on the back post to slot home and pull off a great recovery.  Winchester 2 Banbury 2.

Fareham will be cast adrift at the bottom of the National League South Division if they fail to win Sunday’s basement battle against Oxford Hawks at Henry Cort, 1.30pm.
The last match before the two-month winter break features the bottom two sides with only one win each – Oxford’s coming in the shape of a 8-1 mauling of Fareham four weeks ago !
Beaten seven times, Fareham have only four points to their name, Oxford six on account of three draws.
It’s a match Fareham simply cannot afford to lose.
Fareham’s only win this season came 4-2 against Brighton & Hove, who turned the tables with a 2-1 victory in the return fixture.
Head coach Ben Barnes described it as “a very disappointing loss.  We had majority of the game but failed to make the most of our opportunities. We played well and created enough pressure in the second half to win it.”
Marc Clermont scored both Brighton goals, his 22nd minute opener being cancelled out by a penalty corner conversion by Shane Vincent.   But Clermont’s  second goal early in the fourth quarter proved a winner.
Barnes explained: “Brighton counter attacked from one of our promising attacks where we forced it and scored the winner. 
“We still created chances to equalise but Brighton defended well and broke down our play, defended a penalty corner late on and intercepted well when we were guilty of not executing the final pass or guilty of a lack of composure in the circle.”