It’s tight at the top going into the break

The Vitality Women’s Hockey League Conference West division is tantalisingly poised going into the winter break, with the top three teams level on 18 points and Team Bath Buccaneers just a point adrift.

Buccs closed the gap courtesy of a 2-1 win at Bristol Firebrands, who slipped behind Oxford Hawks and new leaders Witney on goal difference after they both won.

As for the men, there was nothing to split Buccs and Sevenoaks, who played out a goalless draw in their finals Division One South match of the year.

There’s still a game or two to go in the West Area Leagues however, and Buccs 2nd enjoyed a 5-3 win at Swindon on Saturday in the Premier Division to continue their fantastic form and sit just a point off the two leaders, despite having played a game more than Whitchurch.

City of Bath were narrowly beaten 2-1 at home to Leominster to fall to their first defeat in four games in Division One North. Buccs 3rd recovered from last week’s draw to thrash Swansea 2nd 6-0 to stay two points behind leaders Clifton Robinsons 2nd.

The Fourth team won 4-1 at Chippenham 2nd, while the local derby in Division Two East also went to Buccs as their Fifths hammered City of Bath 2nd 7-2 to extend Bath’s winless streak to eight and remain without a point at the bottom.

Buccs 5th move up a place to third-bottom on goal difference with the Fourths enjoying a threealicia game winning run.

Keynsham enjoyed a 3-0 at home to Old Bristolians in Concord Division One, while City of Bath 4th offered Clifton Robinsons 4th a home walkover, which was disappointing after they picked up their first win of the campaign last time out.

Keynsham sit two points off leaders Robinsons, with both remaining unbeaten thus far. Keynsham 2nd played out a 2-2 draw at Old Bristolians 4th in Concorde Division Two to move up to third bottom on seven points.

Corsham were 2-0 winners at Cirencester 2nd in Saxon Division One, while City of Bath 3rd lost 5-1 at home to West Wilts 2nd and Buccs 7th were beaten 5-0 on their travels to local rivals Chippenham 3rd. Victory saw Corsham close the gap to leaders Swindon 2nd to two points after Swindon’s unbeaten start came to an end. Bath remain second bottom with Buccs 7th sixth on 13 points.

A 3-3 draw saw Corsham 2nd earn a point at home to Royal Wootton Bassett in Saxon Division Two for a second consecutive draw. Buccs 8th won 2-1 against visiting Shepton Mallet 3rd to close within a point of Corsham in second-bottom.

As for the women’s divisions, Buccs 2nd’s unbeaten start came to an end after they were edged out 3-2 at Lydney in the Premiership. They now lead the way but just points from Lydney and Howardian who also won to close the gap.

The Third Team enjoyed a 4-0 win at home to Royal Wootton Basset sett as Corsham were held to a 2-2 draw by visitors Chippenham 2nd. Buccs continue to lead by a point at the top of the Division Two East table, with Corsham on 11 points in sixth.

Keynsham were 3-0 winners at home to South Gloucestershire in Berkeley Division One and extend their lead to three points at the top after University of Bristol 3rd’s draw. The Second Side were thrashed 6-0 at Bristol & West Jaspers for a fourth loss in five game in Berkeley Division Three.

City of Bath 2nd conceded over ten for the second consecutive game as they were routed 11-0 by Buccs 4th. Bath’s first team were 4-0 winners in another local derby against Keynsham 2nd, while Corsham 2nd lost 3-2 at leaders North Wilts.

Bath remain five points off the leaders in Whitehorse Division One, while Buccs are three points further down the line after their second consecutive victory. Corsham are fading away after their third successive defeat to be on 12 points, and four off Buccs despite only being a place behind. Bath 2nd are without a point in eight games.

Buccs 6th matched the Fourth with an 11-0 dismantling of Marlborough 2nd in Whitehorse Division Two. The Fifths were beaten by a single goal against Corsham 3rd for a second consecutive loss as Corsham closed the gap to two points in fifth after their third consecutive win, while Buccs 6th are just a further point behind to leave Corsham in a Buccs sandwich.