HOCKEY: FORMER Great Britain star Sally Walton bagged a brace as Olton & West Warwickshire beat Isca University to increase the gap between themselves and the chasing pack in the Conference West.
Olton claimed a narrow 2-1 home win on Saturday on their return to Grange Road to move four points clear of fourth-placed Trojans with just four games remaining.
The two sides battled out a goalless opening period but three goals in 12 minutes changed the match in the second period.
In the 54th minute, Walton scored from open play to give Olton a lead which lasted for ten minutes before Isca levelled through a penalty stroke.
It took Olton all of two minutes to retake the lead, through a second Walton goal from open play, and they held out to claim a vital three points.
Olton’s men’s team were also in action in Sheffield on Sunday where they came from behind to win 5-3 to remain second in the Conference North.
Sheffield took the lead in the sixth minute and doubled their advantage with 25 minutes gone before Steve Batten scored for Olton in the 29th minute and Martin Ebbage scored from a penalty corner on the stroke of half-time to level things up.
In the second half, Sheffield’s discipline seemed to leave them but they still took the lead in the 48th minute.
Olton equalised again five minutes later through Dan Sulway, before taking the lead in the 60th minute, with a second goal from Ebbage, before two minutes from time Jack Williams ensured a 5-3 away win.
Olton are in second place and cannot now catch leaders University of Durham but are in a chase with third-placed Bowden to keep the runners-up slot.
This weekend the women travel to Southampton to take on fourth-placed Trojans knowing a win would secure third place, while the men are at home to Bowden with a win set to secure second place.
