THE never-ending rain resulted in only three games played in the NHL last Saturday but surprisingly most teams have completed almost half their league programme (reports Jim Johnston).

Leaders Ludgershall maintained their one-point advantage over Headley at the top of the table after both sides won and King's Somborne also won to move into third spot.

Ludgershall beat local rivals New Street 'A' 6-3 at Astor Crescent in a game which saw no quarter given until the last 10 minutes. Ludgershall held all the aces in the first half and went 2-0 up with Mick Walsh laying on goals for Matthew Lawrence and Ryan McDonald.

A spirited Street fight back in the second half saw them level terms within 10 minutes of the restart through Paul Smith and Jason Birchcell and it stayed 2-2 until the last 10 minutes.

Brendon Spanswick then fired Ludgershall back in front but within a minute Smith rapped another Street equaliser, only for Spanswick to put the home side back in front again and it was left for Ryan McDonald's fine solo effort to kill of Street's brave challenge with Ludgershall's fifth goal, and two minutes from time his brother Simon added the sixth.

With Broughton's first team game at Awbridge falling victim to the weather, a stronger Reserves outfit made things difficult for King's Somborne but Terry Harfield's visiting side won the local derby 4-2 with two goals from Michael Jackson and one each from Lee Young and Alan Smith while Broughton replied through Danny Palmer and Mark Connelly.