Team Bath Buccs 1sts' England Hockey League Men's Conference West title hopes took a knock on Sunday as they were made to come from behind three times in a 3-3 draw by Exeter University at the Sports Training Village.
Jody Paul's side were looking to make it four wins from four outings in 2013 but the visitors had other ideas.
Exeter took the lead midway through the first half when former Buccs youngster Ed Matts finished past Tom Skinner from a tight angle. It was a lead Exeter held until midway through the second half when three goals were exchanged in a frantic four minute spell.
First, Buccs drew level through Matt Ruxton's instinctive finish, only for Exeter to strike back seconds later to go in front again through Andrew Ross. When Ben Carless flicked home to level for the home side in the 49th minute, it finally looked as though Buccs would go on to take all three points.
Exeter took the lead for the third time with eight minutes remaining when Ian Haley reacted first to a rebounded shot. Buccs then threw everything at their opponents and found an equaliser in the dying stages from the stick of defender Tom Griffiths.
Buccs sit in fourth spot, four points behind leaders Guildford, who they face in two weeks' time. They will hope to travel to Surrey on the back of a win at Birmingham University this Sunday.
The A team completed a Davis Wood Premiership double over Robinsons with a 1-0 home victory.
Buccs went into the game on the back of some poor results but reignited their push for a top-four finish thanks to Steve Daxter's winner from a penalty corner.
An understrength Sabres B side had no answer to Championship leaders Cardiff & UWIC A as they went down 5-0 in Wales.
Admirals C suffered their first defeat in ten matches in Central 1 as they lost 3-0 at home to Westbury & UB A.
All three goals came in a disappointing ten-minute spell in the first half.
Pirates D were thrashed 16-1 by second-placed hosts Minehead in the same division after turning up with only nine players.
Their weekend got worse on Sunday when a 5-2 home defeat at the hands of Mid Somerset saw them drop into the bottom three.
Two goals apiece from veteran Fairweather and Wilkins helped Vikings E to a 4-1 victory over Wootton Bassett A.
Parfitt was named man of the match as Vikings continued their winning run.
Ancient Mariners F made it three wins on the bounce at West Wilts C, triumphing 3-2 in Warminster despite a spluttering display.
Willis dispatched a short corner to give Mariners the lead and Prentice made it 2-0 after good play on the right from Jiggins and Silcox. Another short-corner strike extended the visitors' advantage but the second half saw a reversal in fortunes and Wilts punished two mistakes to cut the deficit, leaving Buccs hanging on for victory.
Adam Sandey struck twice for Blades C as they defeated Wootton Bassett B 3-2. Alan Piesse's added a third with a clever lob over the keeper in the second half.
↧