ALL away games for the Basingstoke Hockey Club were cancelled this week due to frozen pitches, but Down Grange managed to host all but the first game, once the sun had done it’s duty and defrosted the astro.

The men’s seconds beat Bournemouth thirds 3-2 in the dying seconds of the game.

Captain Alex Miller opened the scoring through a penalty stroke in the first half to go into half time 1-0 up.

However, Bournemouth started strongly in the second half and scored twice to go 2-1 up.

Basingstoke kept possession and started playing some fast, flowing hockey and equalised with five minutes to go through Brian Dixon.

Both teams wanted the winner but Basingstoke were victorious with 30 seconds to go, when Ben Jubin crossed into the circle for Jacques Lourens to get a touch with his back to goal and put it through the Bournemouth goalkeeper’s legs.

The only other game to be played in the men’s section was an all-Basingstoke league match where the Vikings took on the fifths.

The Vikings went into half time 1-0 up thanks to a goal from Tomas Bonser, but the fifths took control of the game in the second half and quickly equalised through captain Chris Jenkins.

Jenkins then added another mid-way through the half, and the fifths sealed the points with a goal from Mikhail Saujani with five minutes to go.

In the ladies’ section, the seconds hosted Trojans who were equal on points in the league.

The first half was very open, with Basingstoke winning a few short corners but also defending well, but Trojans scored just before half time with a great piece of individual skill.

Basingstoke came out fighting in the second half, but it was Trojans who scored first to go 2-0 up.

Basingstoke won a few short corners and managed to convert one when the routine broke down but Rachel Bomphrey chased the ball and managed to save it going off the back line, and crossed for Ruth Crawford to calmly slap the bouncing ball into the back of the goal.

Basingstoke failed to keep their concentration though and conceded two minutes after scoring, leaving the full time score at 3-1 to Trojans.

Unfortunately, the ladies fourths lost 3-0 to University of Portsmouth, but the result does not impact the team’s place at the top of Hampshire Division Five.