Salisbury Hockey Club: Mixed results ahead of half-term break

The ladies 1’s travelled to Oxford Hawks, still missing four of their key starting line-up. They knew they would have to dig deep to pick up some points against the team placed 4th in the table.

Salisbury started strongly, with some fantastic fluid passing, great movement off the ball and pressing the Hawks all over the pitch.

Unfortunately, a few loose passes and a mix up at the back led to the Hawks taking an early lead.

Salisbury continued to work hard, ride tackles and create chances. Some fast-attacking play down the right wing by Emma Packman created a chance for Lily Jackson to slot home calmly from close range.

With end-to-end chances, it was Hawks who scored their second, quickly followed by Packman from Salisbury getting the equaliser just before half time.

The second half, played out in the same way, with the experienced captain Kate Parker and Jenna Whittle leading from the front with excellent work rate, communication and determination for Salisbury.

The game remained 2-2, with a vital point to put Salisbury 8th leading into the half term break next week.

It was a hard game for Salisbury Men’s 1s this weekend against Portsmouth. It started well for Salisbury who took an early lead from a well-executed short corner converted by Rufus Lyne.

It was a lead that sadly could not be held, with some well worked attacks and short corners from the opposition, the Salisbury’s defence could not hold on in face of a continual bombardment and despite another goal from Chris Pearl they slipped to a defeat.

Ultimately Portsmouth’s experience told as they took control through direct and well executed short corners ultimately taking the game 5-2.

Elsewhere in the club the Men’s 3s beat Chichester with a strong performance 4-1.

Leaders of the goal scoring competition Max Hamer and Lisa Lovett continued their rich veins of form with a hat trick and brace respectively giving both their teams good wins.