BASINGSTOKE Hockey Club Ladies started well, taking the game to Surbiton, with the forwards surging up the pitch from pushback, taking Surbiton by surprise and penetrating the D.

Surbiton’s defenders blocked the initial attack, but Basingstoke’s midfield provided a second wave of attack, with Roxanne O’Dea pouncing on the deflection and slapping the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

Just before the end of the first quarter, Surbiton took advantage of an attacking overload with their unmarked player zig zagging into the D and hitting the ball past the goalkeeper.

The second quarter saw Surbiton winning several short corners, but Basingstoke’s defence held firm, with Clare Griffiths charging down a straight strike and disrupting the oppositions routines at the top of the D.

With the half-time score at 1-1. Surbiton’s pace got the better of the ladies 1s, which saw them surging forward time and again.

Despite creating several attacking chances, Surbiton caught out Basingstoke on the counter attack.

With their players working the ball up the pitch and converting two excellent strikes in succession. Credit to Basingstoke’s defenders, who undertook the lion’s share of the work in keeping Surbiton out of the D.

Kudos to defender Stephanie Hazell, who was instrumental in marshalling the defenders and stopping any through runners with solid tackling skills.

Final score, a 3-1 win to Surbiton and a great effort from Basingstoke.

Onwards to the next game, where the ladies at home against Oxford Hawkes.

In their match against Chichester the ladies 5s drew 1-1.

The game was evenly matched from the onset with opportunities for both teams to score. Basingstoke took an early lead through captain Karen Binney in the first half, with Chichester equalising in the second half from a well worked short corner.

Team tactics in the latter stages of the game of swapping out players to pull off an offensive attack in a bid to win, did not pay off for the 5s.

Basingstoke’s defence then had to hold strong and a good clearance from Jane Bailey in the D, stopped the opposition from taking the lead, following a measured counter attack from Chichester in the dying seconds of the game. A solid performance from the ladies 5s.

In other games this weekend the men’s thirds beat Yateley 2s 3-0 and the first lost 2-1 against Spencer.

The seconds lost 4-2 against Southampton University, and the fourth lost 4-3 against Havant, while the fifths lost 3-2 against Andover.

The ladies fourth lost 2-1 against Trojans and the seconds won 4-1 against Portsmouth.

The sevenths lost 4-1 against Poole and the thirds 5-0 against Hamble.

The fifths drew 1-1 against Chichester. It was a 3-2 defeat for the under-16 girls in their match against Camberley.

With presence on the National Hockey stage, Basingstoke Hockey Club continue to seek sponsors, with new and exciting options; if you are interested in becoming a supporter, please contact projectpitch@Basingstoke-hockey.com.