BASINGSTOKE Hockey Club Ladies completed a league and cup double thanks to a 1-0 win at Southampton in the Hampshire Cup, writes SARAH SHEARING.

The ladies knew they would have to be at the top of their game against the South3B outfit The game started very openly, Basingstoke moving the ball around well and using their pace and skill to create chances, but also defending well when Southampton built their play.

The visitors went close twice in the first half, with goal bound efforts from Sarah Shearing in open play and Kirsty Kent from a penalty corner being saved well on the line by the Southampton defence.

The score line remained 0-0 at half time and the message from Lisa Scarborough was simple – continue playing the fast, free flowing hockey, get players into the circle and the goals will come.

In the second half, Basingstoke went 1-0 up after 5 minutes, through a clinical penalty corner strike from Roxy O’Dea.

Southampton nearly replied straight away, but the Southampton forward failed to convert into an open goal on her reverse.

Basingstoke continued to play the ball through the middle and up the wings and put continued pressure on the Southampton defence, winning more penalty corners and having a shout for a penalty stroke turned down. In the dying seconds Southampton won a penalty corner which was well defended by goalkeeper Gemma Carswell and her defence as they secured the double.

The men’s fourth team were also in cup action on Monday, looking to claim the Hampshire Trophy.

However despite an excellent effort from the squad led by captain Eliot Boyd, the men lost 1-0 to Southampton.

On Sunday, coach Ryan Casson’s England Over 40’s visited Down Grange for a friendly against the men’s first team, including a few guest players, in preparation for their summer matches.

The game was very end to end, with both teams playing different styles of hockey.

The firsts using their pace, skill and trickery, and England using their experience and preciseness of passes to attack and defend well.

The deadlock was broken first by Basingstoke, who won a penalty corner which Graham Garrett-Lang converted with a well-executed drag flick. England then equalised from a penalty stroke converted by Tristan Baynes.

England then went 2-1 up before half time, Greg Wade scoring from open play.

Basingstoke changed tactics and pressed high in the second half and soon found the equaliser from Jason Wolley, before the home side took the lead again through Adam Jolley.

England then equalised before half time through Phill Harper, taking the game to penalty shuttles.

Basingstoke came away from the shuttles as 3-2 victors.