IT WAS the final weekend of league hockey in 2023 for Basingstoke Hockey club (except for one rescheduled game).

League hockey will resume in the opening weeks of January 2024, with some teams playing rescheduled fixtures on January 6. 

Last weekend all fixtures were called off due to frozen pitches, so there will be many rearranged games in 2024. 

Basingstoke Men’s 1s travelled to play 5th placed Wycombe Men’s 1s at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, the home of British hockey.

Basingstoke put pressure on Wycombe from the get-go, passing the ball around their press with ease. Within the first minute, Andy Pett intercepted a ball in the attacking quarter, but couldn’t sort his feet out in the D to get a shot away. A few minutes later and Pett was in the D again, forcing a save from the goalkeeper, the ball rebounded back for a defender to pass off the back line for a penalty corner. Captain Graham Garrett-Lang stepped up and drag flicked it through the keeper to make it 1-0.

Further poor pressing from Wycombe led to further line breaks from Basingstoke and the ball landed with Pett in the D, which he struck past the keeper to make it 2-0. Dean Record, keen to keep up with the two top scorers, got in on the act stealing a ball high up the pitch to run into the D and put his shot through the keeper as well, 30.

Basingstoke pressed on, with Pett scoring a second with a reverse stick strike into the top right-hand corner to silence the crowd and make it 4-0.

Wycombe brought one back from a penalty corner, which Basingstoke responded to with their own penalty corner goal from David Fox, 5-1. Wycombe then scored a fantastic deflection late in the half to bring another back and make it 5-2 at half time.

The second half was slightly quieter than the first, with Wycombe increasing their attacks but with no success. Two further goals from Liam Harrison led to a 7-2 victory for Basingstoke.

Basingstoke still sit unbeaten at the top of the table, with 10 wins from 10 and one game to be rescheduled for the second half of the season.

Next week, Basingstoke Men’s 1s start their England Hockey Cup campaign away against local rivals Andover at 1pm.

Basingstoke Ladies 2s won their first game of the season against Alton Ladies 1s. Two goals from Heidi Lloyd secured a 2-1 victory for Basingstoke.

Basingstoke Men’s 2s played two league games over the weekend. The first they lost 0-5 to Petersfield Men’s 1s, the second they also lost 1-4 to Southampton Uni 2s.

Basingstoke Ladies 3s lost 0-3 to top of the league Winchester 2s. Basingstoke Men’s 3s lost 2-3 against Poole Men’s 2s.

Basingstoke Men’s 4s beat Trojan’s Men’s 5s 4-0 to sit 5 points clear at the top of the table going into the break.  Basingstoke Ladies 4s lost 0-1 against Trojans Ladies 3s.

Basingstoke Men’s 5s lost 0-5 against Gosport 1898 and Basingstoke Ladies 5s lost 1-4 to Chichester Centurions.

Basingstoke Men’s 6s lost 2-6 against Portsmouth Men’s 3s, with the game called off early due to an injury.

Basingstoke Men’s 7s lost 0-2 to Fareham Men’s 7s.

If  you would like to join the club email newmembers@basingstoke-hockey.com (adults) or bhcjuniorhockey@gmail.com (juniors).

Finally, with presence on the National Hockey stage, Basingstoke Hockey Club are seeking sponsors, with new and exciting options; if you are interested in becoming a supporter next season, please contact bhcvicechair@gmail.com.