Hockey
Bromsgrove hit Yardley for six

BROMSGROVE Hockey Club’s Men signed off for the Christmas break with a 6-1 MRHA West Midlands Two victory at Yardley on Saturday.

Late arrival meant Bromsgrove were unable to complete their normal warm-up routine and as such they were caught napping in the first five minutes when a defensive error left Yardley’s centre forward Noor Zaman clear at the top of the D to put the hosts ahead.

The visitors rallied though and levelled through Karl Troth to make it 1-1 at the break.

Tom Jennings put Bromsgrove ahead early in the second half and from that point on the hosts crumbled.

Jennings added to the advantage and further goals were added by Rammy Arafa, Calum Edwards and Andy Holland to seal the victory.

The success leaves Bromsgrove seventh in the table and they return to action on January 14 with a trip to Pershore.

THE Ladies 3rds made it four wins in a row when overcoming bottom of the table Droitwich 2nds 4-0.

Clare Bolt opened the scoring after Jane Humby and Libby Joss combined well to create the chance, her first goal for the club since joining through the highly successful ‘Back to Hockey’ campaign.

Libby Joss doubled the advantage from a well executed short corner before half time and she repeated the feat after the break. Humby completed the scoring with a goal in the dying minutes.

Droitwich did not create many chances but when called upon, Anna Evans, Helen Wilmore and Charlotte Smith helped keeper Charis Walters achieve her second clean sheet in a row.

Manager Jo Walters expressed delight at the team’s progress, saying: “This time last season we had eight straight defeats.

“The girls have worked hard to turn around our fortunes and we are now in the top half of the table. I am so proud of them all.”