Hockey round-up: Derby delight for Spalding 1st as Bourne Deeping are battered

Spalding 1st moved into the top six of East Men’s Hockey League Premier B Division with a dominant 6-0 success over rivals Bourne Deeping 1st on Saturday.

Goals from Joe Higgins (2), Stu Cunnington, Josh Rowbottom, Jacob Baker and George Halgarth settled the derby in Spalding’s favour on what was the last scheduled fixtures this year ahead of the winter break.

Three goals were bagged in each half by the hosts at Glen Park, leaving Spalding two points off fourth place but a massive 17 behind leaders Letchworth 1st.

However, the outlook looks much more bleak for Long Sutton 1st in Division 2N as they suffered their 11th loss from as many games.

In their final game before Christmas a Stefan Fox goal couldn’t stop Sutton slipping to an 8-1 drubbing at Kettering 1st.

In Division 3NW, Spalding 2nd drew 2-2 at Cambridge South 2nd and finish the first half of their season just above the drop zone.

Their goals came from Sullivan Smith and Robin Edlington.

The same can be said of Spalding 3rd in Division 4NW, with their 4-1 home defeat against Cambridge Nomads 2nd leaving them tenth in the table.

Max Bland’s goal was scant consolation for them.

In Division 5NW, Spalding 4th were handed a 4-0 reverse at a Louth 2nd sider who were in the bottom two at the start of play.

They are, however, safely in mid-table.

Down in Division 6NW (N), youthful Spalding 5th contested a rare 0-0 draw with Alford 2nd and sit third in the table.

Long Sutton are one point and one place behind them after a 2-2 draw with Leadenham 3rd.

Freddie Riddington and Steve Smith got their goals.

• Spalding Poachers 1st romped to a 3-0 win over Dereham 2nd to stay fifth in East Women’s Hockey League Division 2NW.

Evie Maltby, Claire Hindmarsh and Maddie Haunch all got themselves on the scoresheet in the ladies’ final game of 2019.

In Division 3NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd were handed a 1-0 defeat at Ely 1st and finish their year in sixth position in the standings.

Elsewhere, Spalding Poachers 3rd went down 3-2 at home against Wisbech 2nd.
Maisie Foden and Sharon Amess got their goals as Spalding lost a 2-0 half-time lead to finish their year in a solid sixth position.