Daylight from bottom side after crucial win

Team Bath Buccaneers have put daylight between themselves and Men’s Hockey League Division One South bottom side Brighton & Hove Albion.

In the penultimate round of fixtures before their Christmas break, Buccs registered just their second win of the campaign with a good 5-1 win at Brighton on Sunday.

It moves Buccs seven points clear of the winless bottom side, and now three points off both Sevenoaks and Havant - although the former has a game in hand on the other two.

The Women were narrowly beaten 2-1 at Slough in the Vitality Women’s League Division One South.

It leaves Buccs seventh, also with two wins so far this season, but just two points ahead of bottom side Harleston Magpies. Their final match of 2023 will be at home to unbeaten leaders Surbiton 2nd on Saturday.

In the West Area Men’s League, which doesn’t break for Christmas until December 16, Oakley Sparshott-thompson enjoyed a hattrick as Buccs 2nd romped to a 6-1 win at home to Isca 2nd. Graham Davies, Henry Swan and White were also on the scoresheet as Buccs continued their unbeaten start to the Premier Division campaign and now sit three points clear of Whitchurch at the top.

The third team were narrowly beaten 3-2 at Chippenham in Division One North. Harry Brooking and Sean Irwin scored the Buccs goals as they drop to third and two points off unbeaten leaders University of Bristol 2nd.

Second-bottom City of Bath were edged out in a nine-goal thriller by visiting Ross on Wye to remain two points clear of winless Cardiff & Met 3rd.

Luke Walker was at the double for Buccs 4th in their 4-1 win at Newent. Samuel Wavish and Harvey Gaunt also scored as Buccs moved five points clear of Division Two East bottom side Corsham, who battled to a 2-2 draw at Stroud for a fourth point of the campaign.

In Division Two West, Keynsham suffered a 5-2 defeat at Swansea to stay two places and eight points clear of bottom side Cardiff & Met 4th.

Henry Young and Marcus Bowman both bagged braces for Buccs 5th as they matched that scoreline at home to Chippenham 4th. Sam Reeves scored the other Buccs goal to continue their unbeaten start to the Saxon Division One campaign and maintain their three point lead over West Wilts, who beat secondbottom Keynsham 2nd 5-0.

City of Bath 2nd are behind West Wilts on goal difference after they were held to a 3-3 draw at Chippenham 3rd. Bottom side Buccs 7th remain three points adrift and still without a win, having been narrowly beaten 2-1 at West Wilts 2nd. Alex Ares scored Buccs’ goal in the second half.

Ali Hussain netted twice for Buccs 7th in their 4-1 success at North Somerset. Jonty Gustard and Jack Howman were also on target as Buccs join three other sides all on 13 points in Concorde Division One.

The derby in Saxon Division Two needed just the one goal to see City of Bath 3rd to victory over hosts Buccs 8th.

It keeps Bath five points at the top from Corsham 2nd, who edged a five-goal thriller against visiting West Wilts 3rd.

Buccs 8th stay six points clear of the bottom two.

In the West Area Women’s League, Buccs 2nd held hosts University of Bristol to a 1-1 draw. Ella Chainey scored the Buccs goal as they remain sixth in the Premier Division.

That was the same score for the third team home to Chippenham in Division One North as they moved eight points clear of winless bottom side Bristol & West Jaspers.

A single goal from Netty Pellow proved enough for Buccs 4th to beat hosts Royal Wootton Bassett. It continues their unbeaten start to the campaign as they lead Corsham by two points after they thrashed visitors North Wilts 7-1.

Keynsham 2nd moved two points clear of the bottom in Brunel Division One following their big 5-0 win over now second-bottom Weston-super-mare.

In Whitehorse Division One, Buccs 5th enjoyed a 6-1 win over bottom side Corsham 3rd. Sophie Parnell claimed a hat-trick, alongside goal for Tilly Kennard, Isabel Harrison and Susie Barnes, as they remain four points adrift of leaders Chippenham 2nd in third. Chippenham thrashed Buccs 6th 8-1 despite a goal from Issy Shaw.

City of Bath are a point behind Buccs 5th in fourth as they were 2-0 winners at home to West Wilts, while Corsham 2nd moved above Buccs 6th on goal difference after they claimed just their second success of the campaign - 3-1 at home to second-bottom Swindon 2nd.

In Whitehorse Division Two, City of Bath 2nd moved on to seven points after holding hosts North Wilts 2nd to a 2-2 draw.

Corsham 4th were edged out in a five-goal thriller at Swindon 3rd to remain bottom of Berkeley Division Three on goal difference.