Robbies secure National League place with win over Plymouth
CLIFTON Robinsons Men’s secured their National League status with a 6-1 demolition of Plymouth Marjons.
Robbies went ahead when Micah Smithard deflected in a Ollie King shot after the youngster cut through the visitors defence with some silky skills.
A powerful Rory Thorburn dragflick and sweet counter-attacking move finished by Nick Robilliard gave Robbies a nerve-settling 3-0 lead before the visitors scored a penalty corner of their own.
Plymouth pressed hard in the third quarter but the home team weathered the storm before sealing the win with three more goals, two from Smithard, thus completing his hat-trick, and the other from King.
As Plymouth host fellow strugglers Cardiff University next Sunday, one team must drop points, meaning Robbies are guaranteed to finish above the relegation zone whatever results unfold in their final two games - away to Cheltenham on Sunday and then at home to ISCA.
University of Bristol will clinch promotion to National League South Division One if they defeat a resurgent Exeter University 2nds at Coombe Dingle on Sunday (1.30pm). Exeter have won four of their last five games and still need a point to be sure of their survival in the division.
It was another clean sweep of wins for all six Robbies men’s teams.
A Jules Inniss penalty corner strike and a Chris Tidy hat-trick, including the winning goal four minutes from time, helped the 2nds to a crucial 4-3 win at Bristol & West.
In Women’s National Conference West, University of Bristol gained their first points of the season when they were 1-0 winners over Firebrands. Clifton Robinsons 2nds gained a creditable 0-0 draw with Team Bath, and on Saturday host the Bristol students at Redmaids School (2pm). Firebrands entertain Cheltenham at Failand (noon).
Clifton Robinsons first team continue to struggle in Vitality Top Six matches, their latest defeat, 3-0, coming at leaders Surbiton.
In local Women’s matches, Redland gained a fifth consecutive win in West One North as they overcame Newent 2-0. Lisa Browne and Laura Glover scored the goals.
Redland 2nds were defeated 2-1 by Bristol and West Jaspers in West Two West. Katie Thorpe scored for Redland.
Redland 3rds rounded off a superb season by gaining their 18th victory from 18 matches in Berkeley Division Two. Their latest victory was a 7-1 win against Knowle 2nds. Macy Weaver (3), Meghan Porteous (2), Jess Dickens and Issy Yarnold scored the goals.
In Berkeley Three, Thornbury, without leading scorer Corinne Deas, were still too good for Wick 3rds, gaining a 4-0 win, with goals from Esther Jenkinson (2), Vicky Ball and Sophie Vizard.
Wick were 4-1 winners over South Gloucs, with Jo Stevenson, Bel Clark, Zoe Atterton-Knowles and Rosie Caley their scorers. A Shelby Haynes effort earned Wick 2nds a 1-1 draw with South Gloucs 2nds in Berkeley Two.
Clifton Robinsons Under-12
Girls will go to the prestigious National In2 Hockey Finals in May as West champions after winning the area finals at Clifton College. Clifton Robinsons Boys beat Cheltenham in the semi-final but missed out making it a double success for the club, losing in the final to ISCA.