NOW: Pensions Men's Hockey League reports and results

Brooklands Manchester University climbed away from relegation danger as they battled back from behind to beat hosts Reading 2-1 in the NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League Premier Division on Sunday.

 

Reading were desperate for a win to maintain their hopes of challenging for a top-four spot and a place in the championship play-offs, and they got off to a good start with Tom Carson scoring from a penalty corner after just three minutes.

 

But Brooklands pulled back level through Ross Hall after six minutes, and when Richard Slater scored from open play on 44 minutes it proved to be the decisive goal which left Reading ten points behind fourth spot in the table, while Brooklands climbed to eighth.

 

Surbiton climbed to the top of the table on the back of an emphatic 5-0 win over Cannock, with Nick Cooper and Matt Daly (pictured) scoring twice each and Jonny Gall adding the other.

 

Wimbledon battled back from behind to win 5-4 at Canterbury. Ian Sloan scored twice, with others coming from James Osborn, Blake Govers and Phil Roper.

 

Beeston edged to a 1-0 win over Hampstead and Westminster with Stuart Pilgrim’s 23rd minute goal consolidating third place. 

 

 

NOW: Pensions Conference West

 

Team Bath Buccaneers continued their impeccable league form this season with a convincing 7-0 win over the University of Exeter, giving them a healthy six-point lead at the top of the table.

 

Mathew Ming’s hat-trick was the highlight for the Buccaneers, while their other goals came from Matthew Boote, Shaun Baker, Tim Davenport and Liam Sanford.

 

Elsewhere, Fareham fought back from behind to overcome a spirited Barford Tigers side 3-5, whilst the University of Birmingham eased past hosts Cheltenham 3-1.

 

Indian Gymkhana boosted their bid to avoid the relegation play-offs with a 3-2 win at Whitchurch to move above rivals University of Exeter.

 

 

NOW: Pensions Conference North

 

Trailing at half time, Sheffield Hallam battled back to beat rivals Loughborough Students 4-2 and consolidate second spot in the NOW: Pensions Conference North.

 

Adam Clark had given Loughborough the lead on the stroke of half time, but Sheffield Hallam hit back after the break through Liam Ansell (2), Martin Sutherland and David Smith.

 

Olton and West Warwickshire saw their faint hopes of challenging for promotion damaged as they could only draw 2-2 with bottom of the table Leek.

 

Similarly Doncaster could only manage a 2-2 draw when they hosted Belper, while elsewhere the University of Durham secured a 2-0 victory at home to Wakefield.

 

But leaders Bowdon continued to impress with a 5-1 victory against Deeside Ramblers.

 

NOW: Pensions Conference East

 

Leading at half time, Chichester Priory Park had to settle for a share of the spoils after a dramatic 7-7 draw with strugglers Teddington in the NOW: Pensions Conference East.

 

They were 4-2 ahead at half time, but a flurry of second half goals – including two each for Chichester’s Alex Thakore and Teddington’s Thomas Canty and Andrew Pett – saw the two sides forced to take a point each.

 

Elsewhere, league leaders Holcombe delivered another impressive performance to comfortably beat Old Loughtonians 2-7, whilst Richmond picked up a valuable point as they drew 2-2 at home against Bromley and Beckenham.

 

West Herts secured a 3-5 victory over Oxted despite having fallen behind in the first half, while Cambridge City beat Brighton and Hove 3-1.

 

 

 

NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League (Saturday, February 15 2015):

 

NOW: Pensions Men's Premier Division: Canterbury 4, Wimbledon 5; Hampstead and Westminster 0, Beeston 1; Reading 1, Brooklands MU 2; Surbiton 5, Cannock 0.

 

NOW: Pensions Men's Conference West: Barford Tigers 3, Fareham 5; Cheltenham 1, University of Birmingham 3; Team Bath Buccaneers 7, University of Exeter 0; Whitchurch 2, Indian Gymkhana 3.

 

NOW: Pensions Men's Conference North: Bowdon 5, Deeside Ramblers 1; Doncaster 2, Belper 2; Leek 2, Olton & West Warwicks 2; Sheffield Hallam 4, Loughborough Students 2; University of Durham 2, Wakefield 0.

 

NOW: Pensions Men's Conference East: Brighton and Hove 1, Cambridge City 3; Chichester Priory Park 7, Teddington 7; Old Loughtonians 2, Holcombe 7; Oxted 3, West Herts 5; Richmond 2, Bromley and Beckenham 2.

 

* The attached photo shows Matt Daly of Surbiton attempting to tackle Ashlin Freddy of Cannock, Feb 15 2015. Courtesy of Matt Henderson.