Buccs keep pace with early leaders as season begins to really kick into gear

Bath Buccaneers’ ladies made it three wins from four to keep pace behind early Vitality Women’s Hockey League Conference West leaders Penarth with a 6-0 win.

Going to Basingstoke on another wet and windy weekend, Buccs managed a goal in the first quarter and although they were 2-0 up by half-time it was felt Buccs hadn’t really got into gear. The second half proved a drastic change, with three goals in the third quarter - including a gorgeous reverse hit from Issy Chaudhry and a conversion from a short corner. A clinical performance saw Buccs win 6-0.

The men’s side did likewise in Division One South of the Men’s Hockey League, but they were involved in a narrower contest just edging past visitors Teddington 2-1.

In the men’s West Area divisions, Buccs 2nd are top of the Premier League on goal difference following a dominant 6-1 win at home to Swindon. In Division One North, City of Bath were narrowly beaten for the first time this season as they went down 4-3 at home to Bristol & West. In contrast, Buccs 3rd won their first game of the campaign, 3-2 at Gloucester City, to have now won, drawn and lost each of their opening three games.

The fourth side drew 3-3 at Lansdown in Division Two East, Buccs conceded early on to a quick break however they retaliated and would go 2-1 in front with Tom Sherry amongst the goals. A reverse shot saw Lansdown equalise before half-time, with a green card to Asher further compounding Buccs’ misery.

A slightly more composed second half saw James Way restore Buccs’ advantage. As Buccs attempted the defend their lead, Lansdown managed to earn themselves a point, but it does maintain Buccs’ unbeaten start after two games.

In Saxon Division One, Buccs 5th enjoyed a confident 4-0 win over Chippenham 4th to make it three wins from three. They remain behind leader Corsham on goal difference after the won 3-1 at home to Swindon 3rd. City of Bath 2nd were beaten for the first time this season, 3-0 at another unbeaten side in West Wilts.

At the other end of the table, winless Buccs 7th were narrowly beaten 1-0 at Chippenham 3rd, while City of Bath 3rd went down 4-1 to Devizes 2nd at Kingswood School.

The derby in Concorde Division One proved rather one-sided as Keynsham beat Buccs 6th 5-1. Keynsham scored three times in the first six minutes to get off to the perfect start and forced Buccs into a change of formation. Goalkeeper Newman was in fine form to keep Buccs afloat alongside centre-back Henry Purchase, however Keynsham managed a fourth before half-time.

Buccs took the game to Keynsham in the second period and were rewarded with a penalty corner which was converted by Marcus Bowman. Despite a number of half-chances for Reeves and Masters, a penalty corner to Keynsham was converted in the final minutes to win 5-1.

Keynsham 2nd made it two wins from two in Saxon Division Two with a 4-2 win over North Wilts 2nd at Wellsway School. Corsham 2nd went one better with a 4-1 success at Swindon 4th to claim a second win in three games.

In the women’s divisions, Buccs 2nd suffered their first defeat of the campaign in Premier League after narrowly going down 1-0 at Gloucester City 2nd. Obscurely, the third team drew for the third time in Division One North, maintaining their unbeaten start without actually winning a game, after they held hosts Westberries to a 1-1 stalemate.

Keynsham made it three wins from three in Division Two East after narrowly edging out visitors BAC in a seven-goal thriller. Corsham managed a 2-1 win at Clifton Robinsons 4th to claim a second victory.

The Buccs derby in Whitehorse Division One turned out to be a close affair as the fourth side squeezed past the fifth with a 4-3 win. It maintains the fourth side’s unbeaten start, while the fifths have now won one, drawn one and lost one of their opening three games.

City of Bath claimed their second win in three games with a 7-1 thrashing of Chippenham 3rd, while Corsham 2nd were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Chippenham 2nd to have also won, drawn and lost each of their first three games. Keynsham 2nd were beaten 6-0 at Knowle in Brunel Division One to remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Corsham 3rd made it three wins from three in Whitehorse Division Two with an emphatic 5-0 win at West Wilts 2nd. Buccs 6th topped that with a fantastic 11-1 win at home to Royal Wootton Bassett 3rd, making it two from two. City of Bath 2nd were also big winners, 9-0, at home to Chippenham 4th for their second win of the campaign.

Keynsham 3rd played out a goalless draw at Redland 4th in Berkeley Division Three.