OLTON & West Warwick Hockey Club stormed their way to two dominant victories at the weekend.
In the Investec Ladies Conference West, Olton & WW women’s side thrashed Oxford Hawks 6-1 to bolster their goal difference, with Sally Walton netting a hat-trick.
The hosts set out their stall and raced into a 12 minutes lead through Kerry Thompson-Moore with a goal from open play, before Walton netted her first of the afternoon four minutes later.
On 20 minutes, it was 3-0.
Harriet Payne got her name on the score sheet for Olton, who were looking back to their clinical best.
Pressing their opponents hard, they continued to lay siege on Oxford’s goal and struck a fourth when Walton netted her brace from a penalty corner.
The second-half was a more gritty affair, but the hosts still managed to get on the scoresheet, Kate Brough striking a fifth with a well-taken strike.
Then, with 14 minutes left to play, Walton completed her hat-trick to give her side a 6-0 lead – which would be reduced by a goal when Hawks struck in the final eight minutes.
The result means Olton stand in third with just three games remaining, heading to sixth-placed Reading, where a win will further enhance their chances of a top six finish in the hunt for promotion to the new Division 1.
Olton’s men’s side were just as fruitful at the weekend, beating Isca Hockey Club 5-2 in Men’s Conference West at Exeter University’s ground.
Harry Sherlock opened the scoring for Olton & WW on seven minutes, netting a rebound, before doubling the lead ten minutes later.
Martin Ebbage added a third on his return from injury with a thumping strike into the net, but Olton saw their lead reduced to two when Isca scored before the break.
The pressure was turned up on the visitors when the scoreline was pulled back to 3-2 five minutes into the second-half, but Tim Idoine’s 55th minute goal essentially killed off the host’s fightback.
Player/coach Peter Jackson struck a fifth late on, which moves Olton into second place, next welcoming eighth-placed Fareham on Sunday (1:30pm).
Meanwhile, Olton Ladies over 35’s team reached the final of the Tier 1 Championship after beating Taunton Vale 4-1, and meet Canterbury at Lee Valley Olympic Park on April 27.
