Cooper on fire with 10-minute hat-trick

HOCKEY

A QUICK-FIRE hat-trick from David Cooper saw Eastcote men to a 6-2 victory over West Herts.

Cooper notched three times in the opening 10 minutes to help his side triumph in their second pre-season friendly.

The early intensity soon dropped, allowing West Herts back into the game, however Alex Stobbart’s penalty stroke ave them more reathing pace before e break. James erger made it five in the second half and Stobbart completed the scoring in what was a winning week for all eight of the club’s male teams against West Herts.

Eastcote’s veteran sides were in London League action with the Over 40s Old Boars winning 7-2 at Wimbledon with goals from Simon Samuel, John Fitzgerald, Keith Anthony, Mike Pell, Phil Montgomery and Graham Jackson. The Over 50s Past Masters beat Richmond 8-1 thanks to hat-tricks from Lloyd Wood and Steve Copland and one each from Max Jason and Sudesh Nayar.

Eastcote’s ladies were beaten 2-1 by Basingstoke in their final friendly despite a valiant effort to get back on level terms through Helen Williams. They start their South Clubs’ Women’s Hockey League Division Two campaign on Saturday against newly-promoted Oxford Hawks seconds. Eastcote’s U12s to U16s Colts resumed training on Sunday and anyone interested in getting involved can email colts chairman Jackie Ripley on jackie.ripley@gmail.com.