Three wins out of three sees Buccs’ girls crowned the county champions
Team Bath Buccaneers’ under-12 girls have been crowned Avon County In2hockey champions and have reached the regional finals.
They began the tournament against Clifton Robinsons. The Buccs defenders had to work hard in an even game before they moved the ball up the pitch and snatched a 1-0 win.
They also battled hard against Westbury and came out top in another end-to-end match.
Their final game of the tournament was against Firebrands. Buccs brilliantly defended several short corners, then in the second half found the net to win their third game and the tournament.
After a difficult start, the boys put in a fine performance to finish runners-up in their tournament. With many in the team having never played together before, it was tough ask against a very well-drilled Clifton Robinsons side, who won 5-1 despite some great saves from new goalkeeper Benji Howlett.
boys showed great character to win their next two games 3-1 and 2-0, against Westbury and Firebrands. Noah Giles, Archie Taylor and Michael Katsande all made the scoresheet.
Elsewhere, Buccs’ men’s first team suffered their second defeat of the campaign in Division One South of the Men’s Hockey League. They went down 2-1 at Southgate and drop to fifth, but still level on points with Old Loughtonians in second.
The ladies remain top of Conference West in the Vitality Women’s League after beating Cheltenham 3-0 to lead both Oxford Hawks and Exe on goal difference after six games.
In the West Area leagues, Buccs’ men’s second side hit Truro for six in the Premier Division to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign to lead Cheltenham by two points. In Division One North, Buccs 3rd are up to third after beating Royal Wootton Bassett 3-1. City of Bath are three points behind in seventh following their 3-3 draw at Gloucester City, who are also on seven points.
Buccs 4th enjoyed a 4-2 win at Ross on Wye in Division Two East to close the gap on the second place side to two points, with a game in hand. Leaders Stroud are also two points ahead, but have played the same number of games at Buccs.
In Saxon Division One, Corsham made it five wins from five with a 4-1 win over West Wilts, who suffered their first loss in the process. Like their first team, City of Bath 3rd drew 3-3 at home to Royal Wootton Bassett 2nd for their first point of the campaign, while the second side were also embroiled in a stalemate, 2-2, at Chippenham 3rd. Another side to draw were Buccs 5th, 1-1 at home to Swindon 3rd, while the seventh side were beaten 6-1 at unbeaten leaders North Wilts.
Keynsham remain top of Conthe corde Division One on goal difference after thrashing Bristol Firebrands 4th 8-0. Buccs 6th needed a single to goal to hold off Old Bristolians 3rd and move up to ninth.
Corsham 2nd maintained their point lead at the top of Saxon Division Two following their 5-1 win at West Wilts 3rd. Keynsham 2nd were 3-0 winners at home to Chippenham 5th as they sit third, a point off Corsham with a game in hand. Buccs 8th drew 2-2 with North Wilts 2nd to claim their first point of the season.
In the women’s leagues, Buccs 2nd needed just a single goal to win at Taunton Vale in the Premier Division to remain a point behind the top two. The third team played out a goalless draw at Chippenham in Division One North, their fourth draw in five games.
Corsham moved up to second on goal difference in Division Two East following their 4-1 win over North Somerset Gryphons. Keynsham are a goal behind despite winning 3-1 at Marlborough.
City of Bath thrashed visitors Buccs 5th 10-2 in Whitehorse Division One. They move four points clear of Buccs 5th but are four points off leaders Buccs 4th, who beat Chippenham 2nd 2-1. Corsham 2nd were beaten by the same scoreline at Royal Wootton Bassett 2nd to fall two points behind Bath.
Keynsham 2nd narrowly edged past hosts BAC 2nd, 2-1, in Brunel Division One, to claim a second win of the season. In Whitehorse Division Two, leaders Buccs 6th maintained their perfect start with an 8-0 thrashing of Chippenham 4th. Corsham 3rd are now five points behind in second after being held to a goalless draw at North Wilts 3rd. City of Bath 2nd were 4-0 winners at West Wilts 2nd to move to within a point of Corsham.
Despite drawing their third game, Keynsham 3rd have a point on the board after playing out a 1-1 stalemate at home to Bristol Bluebirds.