Goalless draw to mark season start
The 2018/19 hockey season got up and running at the weekend and Team Bath Buccaneers’ senior men’s side began with a trip to University of Birmingham in the Men’s Hockey League. At a frenetic pace, Archie Foster missed a chance after being played through by Ireland international John Jackson, with Buccs’ keeper Stephen West having to be vigilant to keep out Birmingham’s short corners at the other end. In front of the partisan crowd, both sides were reduced to nine and ten players in various parts of the first half and even ended the match with ten each as defences came out on top in a 0-0 draw. In the newly named Recreo Verde League, Buccs’ A team drew 1-1 with Firebrands in the Premiership while the B side were beaten 3-0 at Bridgend in Conference North. Despite a brace from Nicholas Blake Blumson, the C side were handed a 6-2 defeat away to Bristol UWE. The derby between the D and E teams unsurprisingly went the way of the D side, but in a close 2-1 encounter. Richard Warwick had given the E side the lead before David Armstrong and Oliver Neal turned the game around, despite some good saves from Es’ goalkeeper Adam Newman. In East Central One, the F team thrashed local rivals City of Bath C 8-0, while a Zac Morris strike from a short corner rescued a 1-1 draw for the G team, who began the season with a three-point deduction, against West Wilts after being behind at the interval. It was the second week of the season for the ladies in the West Clubs Women’s League and Buccs’ senior and second sides went head to head in the Premiership. Courtney Hansford put the first team ahead before the sides went in level at the break. Tess Hannah and Olivia Hamilton netted in the second half to seal victory for the first side. In their opening game of the season, the thirds set their stall out with a thumping 11-0 victory over Taw Valley, Rosie Taylor-jones (3), Charlotte Crombie (3), Anna Clark (2), Lizzie White (2) and Anna Pennington all getting on the scoresheet. Following up their 3-1 win over Frome in Wessex Division 1, the fourth team earned a clean sheet with a 5-0 victory over Royal Wootton Bassett 2nd with goals coming from Millie Lang, Georgia Bale (2), Sarah Wiseman and Mia Parkinson. Also against Royal Wootton Bassett, this time their thirds, Buccs’ fifths needed a Megan Henson goal to separate the sides to also make to wins from two. ■ CITY of BATH the men got their season started with a 2-1 defeat at home to Swindon in the Championship. It was worse for the A team, who were beaten 6-1 by Firebrands B in Central One. There was a win for the B team, 2-1 against Bristol UWE A, in the same division where the C side were thrashed by Buccs F. In Wessex Division 1 of the West Clubs Women’s League, City of Bath made it two wins from two with a 3-0 success over Swindon 2nd. The seconds did likewise and built on their brilliant 8-2 win over Chippenham 4th in Wessex Division 2 with a 5-0 victory away to Wells City Acorns.