Men’s hockey round-up: Four-some pair shine as Spalding hit dozen to open up five-point lead

Two players bagged four goals apiece as Spalding 1st romped to a huge 12-0 win over Sudbury 1st in East Men’s Hockey League Division One North on Saturday.

In what was a top versus bottom clash, Joe Rogers and Stu Cunnington led the charge with their respective four-goal hauls to make it 14 wins from 16 games so far.

James Mayhew (2), Jacob Baker and Tom Amess rounded off the rout for the mighty maroons, who are now five points clear at the top after rivals Harleston Magpies 2nd were beaten.

Also amongst the goals was Gary Hales, as he bagged a hat-trick in Long Sutton 1st’s thrilling 4-4 draw against high-flying Kettering 1st in Division Two North West.

Having lost their last three, a double from Hales put them 2-1 up at the break at the Peele Leisure Centre.

Hales netted again as the score moved to 3-3 after the break, before Sutton fell behind with ten minutes left.

Tempers boiled over and both sides saw players visit the sin bin before Josh Fyson fired a late leveller for Sutton.

In the same division, Spalding 2nd grabbed a fine 1-0 win over St Ives 2nd.

In what was only their second win of the season, a first-half finish from Peter Wright gave Spalding a chance of launching a late bid to beat the drop.

Down in Division Four North West, the South Holland derby between Spalding 4th and Long Sutton 2nd went with the form book.

Table-topping Sutton romped to 7-1 success on home territory, with Tyler Hagan and Daniel Batten both bagged hat-tricks and Alex Canham rounding off the rout.

David Burrell did grab a goal just after half-time as Spalding reduced the deficit, but the leaders proved too strong and are now eight points clear of the rest.

In Division Five North West, Long Sutton picked up a 1-1 draw at Kettering 4th.

Dominic Ibrahim blasted Sutton ahead from a short corner in the first half, but they were pegged back by a late penalty flick.

Spalding 5th, meanwhile, saw their game against Wisbech 4th in Division Six North West postponed.

Saturday fixtures: Spalding 1st v Cambs City 3rd (2pm); Cambs Uni 3rd v Spalding 2nd (11.30am); COP 3rd v Long Sutton 1st (4pm); March 2nd v Long Sutton 2nd (2.30pm); Spalding 4th v Cambs South 4th (12.30pm); Long Sutton 3rd v Cambs Nomads 3rd (1pm); Spalding 5th v Ely City 3rd (3.30pm).