Despite inclement weather, South Berks hockey teams demonstrated resilience in their penultimate weekend of fixtures, commencing with the Men’s 4th team under sunny skies at Cantley Park. Facing Leighton Buzzard, they sought a rebound from two consecutive losses. Duncan Clarke quickly found the net, securing a lead doubled by halftime. The scoring spree continued with Tom Scott, Chris Priddle, and Justin Patterson extending the lead to 5-0. Scott further cemented his season’s tally with two additional goals, positioning the team for a third-place league finish after their final game against Maidenhead.
The Men’s First team engaged in a challenging match against Slough, with an intent to avenge a previous loss. Despite a slow start, Berks dominated possession but were halted by a spectacular goalkeeping performance, leaving the scoreline goalless at halftime. The match faced a temporary suspension due to adverse weather, including lightning and hail. Upon resumption under clearer skies, Slough took a surprise lead, but Berks managed to equalize through Luke Kenndy’s effort, culminating in a draw that boosted their league standing.
The Ladies’ teams also encountered tough matches, with both the 2nd and 1st teams finishing with 1-1 draws against Marlow and Havant, respectively. This sets the stage for their final games, with potential finishes in notable league positions.
The Men’s 5th team held a strong Marlow side to a 2-2 draw, thanks to Ethan Tran’s scoring, aiming for an eighth-place finish with one game remaining. In contrast, the Ladies’ 3rd and 4th teams faced mixed fortunes, with the 4th team securing a victory against league leaders Reading, keeping their title aspirations alive.
Conversely, the Men’s 2nd and 3rd teams faced defeats but had clear objectives for their final fixtures. The Men’s 6th team’s victory over Amersham keeps them in contention for the league title, depending on the outcome of their next match and Slough’s performance.
Finally, the Ladies’ 5th team’s victory against Slough, propelled by goals from Dani Osman and Sascha Zambo, places them in a favourable position to clinch the league title in their upcoming game.
