THIS week, Basingstoke ladies firsts sponsored by KJS Solicitors were up against Tulse Hill & Dulwich.

Injuries to the umpire, players and problems with the pitch all conspired to slow and interrupt the  game; however, Basingstoke took everything in their stride by starting the game with attacking pace.

Great teamwork resulted in Claire Bowman opening the scoring with a wonderful reverse stick shot.

Tulse Hill & Dulwich bounced back through a penalty corner which found the back of the net.

Basingstoke thought they had taken the lead through Catriona Bausor, but this was disallowed. Another penalty corner allowed Roxy O'Dea's powerful shot to hit the backboard.

Controversy continued as Bowman was bundled to the ground in front of goal, with the umpire awarding a penalty stroke which Bowman got up to despatch.

Tulse Hill & Dulwich kept their hope alive by scoring their second penalty corner, however Basingstoke continued to dominate, with Bowman being awarded another penalty stroke.

She fired home for her hat-trick of the game for Basingstoke to finish as 4-2 winners.

Basingstoke ladies seconds faced a tough game against league leaders New Forest.

Starting the game well by taking the lead through a goal from Pip O'Sullivan, New Forest fought back with a strong counter attack and managed to get a goal back.

However, Elle Smith kept Basingstoke in the game in the first half by diving to save a penalty flick, with the game ending 1-1 at half time.

New Forest started off determined in the second half.

However, Basingstoke showed tenacity and resilience with Sarah Mainprise scoring a goal by volleying the ball from the D.

The opposition looked close to equalising, but in the final minutes, great offensive play resulted in Basingstoke’s third goal, thanks to Katie Hossick, leaving Basingstoke with a decisive 3-1 win.

Ladies thirds travelled down to the coast to play an entertaining match against Portsmouth and Southsea. 

Basingstoke started well, with great possession play and winning plenty of penalty corners, which eventually led to player of the match Nicky Houghton scoring the first of her four goals from close range. The opposition gradually got into the game, scoring two quick goals, to lead 2-1 at half-time.

The second half saw Basingstoke equalising through Nicky Dowds, who knocked in a cross from the right. This was an exciting game as Portsmouth and Southsea retook the lead, before the ladies thirds scored three unanswered goals through Houghton. The game concluded with a decisive 5-3 win to Basingstoke.

Ladies fourths continued their winning streak by beating Portsmouth and Southsea 4-1, with two goals from Amy Rowe, and the other two coming from Jo Gault and Ulrike Maier.

Despite practically camping in the opposition’s half for eighty percent of their game and playing great hockey, the ladies fifths struggled to shake Trojans fifths defence.

The game concluded with a frustrating 0-0 draw.

Ladies sevenths won 4-0 against Aldershot & Farnham. In the first half, Basingstoke faced a strong defensive wall, struggling to break through the midfield, however  this did not stop Jess Ochtman from scoring her first goal through a short corner.

In the second half, Basingstoke picked up the pace, by scoring an additional three goals to add to their tally with two more goals from Jess Ochtman.

In a tough game at home this week, the mens firsts lost  2-4 against Reigate. Basingstoke’s goals came from Grant Rouse and David Stones.

The mens seconds lost  4-2 against Gillingham. The game started well with Basingstoke keeping possession with great attacking play, but unfortunately Gillingham scored first. 

Then scoring again before the end of the first half, luckily a great passage of play led to a goal from Stephan Bonser, who lifted the ball over the keeper to find the back of the net.

The second half saw Basingstoke battling to maintain possession but some lax defending led to two more goals from the opposition bringing the score to 4-1.

In the latter stages of the game, Basingstoke got a goal back, however,  they couldn’t even the gap, and the game concluded with a  4-2 loss.

Looking to bounce back after the previous weeks surprising defeat at Salisbury, the men's thirds welcomed Havant to Down Grange. 

Basingstoke started well, with great pressure resulting in the tried and tested link up play between Ben Blackmore, Greg Smith and Ben Shaughnessy who scored Basingstoke’s first goal.

Basingstoke continued to pile on pressure, and fifteen minutes into the game Greg Smith scored Basingstoke’s second goal. Just before half time Havant managed claw a goal back.

In the second half,  Havant didn’t even feature in Basingstoke’s D. It was Andy Footman’s reverse stick shot that sealed the victory with a 3-1 win.

Basingstoke go back to second in the league with a tough trip to Gillingham next week who sit in third place - only separated by a goal difference.

The mens fourths won 6-1 against Portsmouth and Southsea.

 Basingstoke started well, with a goal from Adam Neighbour, who then doubled the lead with another clinical finish just after coming back onto the pitch following his green card. Pete Wood then ran the ball from midfield and slotted the ball into the far-left corner of the goal for Basingstoke’s third goal.

Portsmouth and Southsea tried to fight back by scoring a goal before half-time. 

However, two goals in the second half from Harry Cave and a textbook short corner routine finished by the injector Chris Cox finished off an excellent win.