Chichester were in seventh heaven after launching their National League Western Conference campaign with a blistering 7-2 win over Isca at Exeter University.
They fell behind to an eighth minute penalty corner by Isca’s James Morris, but by half-time were 3-1 up through a Dan Brook set-piece and two field goals in a minute from Alex Holton and teenager Alex Pendle.
Jon Wright clawed one back for Isca with a penalty stroke three minutes after the break, but Chichester ran amok with three goals in quick succession midway through the half by Jo Bidgen, Alex Messenger and Alex Baxter, who added a seventh late on.
Fareham and Havant began their respective programmes on a less successful note, losing to promoted Oxford Hawks and Olton & West Warwicks, respectfully.
Complex technical issues relating to player registrations meant Fareham were unable to field anything like a full side at Oxford, Kiwi goalkeeper Tom Mallon and Peru’s Seb Dennison being among the spectator absentees.
It culminated in a 5-2 defeat for Fareham, who clawed back a 2-0 deficit (Jack Biggs and Andy Watts) to draw 2-2 through a fine individual goal by George Davey and Jack Gilbert’s penalty corner conversion.
But Oxford scored three times in the last five minutes – Watts completing his hat trick either side of Kit Cutter’s fourth – to run out rather flattering winners.
Charlie Stubbings marked his Havant comeback after a spell at Durham University by opening the scoring, but Olton & West Warwicks ran out 3-1 winners through Ed Waters, Tom Mallett and Martin Ebbage.
In the other matches, Bristol University stunned Cardiff Met 3-1, while Birmingham Uni and Team Bath fought out a goalless stalemate.

Winchester are off to a flier in South League Premier Division 1 with a 5-2 with over Indian Gymkhana at Osterley.  Craig Jeffrey and Micha Smithard each scored twice for Winchester, alongside one for Ben Hibberd.
But Trojans ladies crashed 3-0 in their Investec National League Western Conference match against Isca in Exeter.
Results -
Men
South League Premier 1
Indian Gymkhana 2 Winchester 5 (Jeffrey 2, Smithard 2, Hibberd)
Premier 2
Trojans v Eastbourne
Hants/Surrey Regional 1
Croydon & Old Whitgiftians 3 Fareham II 2 (Gould, McKenna)
Regional 2
Wimborne Wayfarers 7 Surbiton 0, Winchester II 3 Havant II 2
Hampshire League
City of Portsmouth 3 Southampton 2, Petersfield 0 Hamble3, Salisbury 1 Romsey 3, University 3 Gillingham 1.
Women
National League Western Conference
Isca 3 Trojans 0
South League
Fareham 1 Eastbourne 1, Horsham 3 Southampton 3 (Jones, Bulkeley,  Mahoney)

Fareham are set to include two promising New Zealanders and a Peru international striker against newly promoted National League Western Conference rivals Oxford Hawks at Banbury Road on Sunday, 2pm.
Kiwi Under-21 goalkeeper Tom Mallon will be between the posts, with 23-year old Jack Gilbert, a penalty corner specialist, in midfield.   Peruvian Seb Dennison will lead the attack.
The three newcomers, who all looked sharp at last night’s training session according to Fareham head coach Ben Barnes, have replaced retired goalkeeper George Harris, Luke Cornish [pictured left by Neil Marshall](who has returned for his final year at Loughborough University) and penalty corner man Jamie Rawlings, who is trying his hand at Reading.
Among the other Fareham recruits are Nottingham University defender Guy Bristowe, Brooklands/Manchester University back four-man Richard Bolton, and Will Seebold, who has returned from a spell at Cardiff & Met.
Winchester teenager Will Penrose has also joined the Henry Cort set.
“We’ve got a host of younger players breaking through, Fergus Jackson and Phillip Larcombe having impressed in pre-season, as has Alex Beckett, so it should be a good blend of youth and experience,” Barnes added.
“Once we get the first couple of games under our belt we can then assess where we are as a competitive squad, but I am very encouraged with the depth of the squad this season.
“No bold predictions just a good group to work with and I can see some quality.”

Champion St Cross Symondians cricketer Ed Ellis swaps bat for stick as newly promoted Oxford Hawks begin their maiden National League Western Conference campaign against Fareham at Banbury Road on Sunday, 2pm.
Ellis played a lead role in Symondians’ ECB Southern Premier Cricket League title triumph this summer, having earlier been a prime player in Hawks’ South Premier League success last winter.  He is hockey coach at King Edward’s School in Oxford.

Current Polish International goalkeeper Maciej Pacanowski has switched from Chichester and will make his debut between the posts for Havant in Sunday’s National League Western Conference match against Olton & West Warwicks at Havant College, 2pm.
He will be joined by Argentinian defender Federico Bertoni and Charlie Stubbings, who has returned from Durham University.
A notable Havant absentee will be Sam Hatherley who, having graduated from his studies, is working in London and playing for Old Loughtonians, ironically alongside striker Maciej Janiszewski, who accepted a tempting offer to switch clubs. James Lester is also now London based.
There are changes behind the scenes at Havant, with Raj Laly replacing Ady Adams as head coach, with Warren Gilmour his number two.  Steve Lawson remains as manager.
Havant have experienced some interesting per-season results drawing with Indian Gymkhana, defeating Tunbridge Wells (5-1) and Chichester (12-0) with a 6-2 loss against Premier Division Reading (6-2) and a 4-0 defeat last weekend by East Conference Richmond (4-0).

Hot shot Amy Sheehan has returned to her old Stoneham haunts to lead Trojans’ attack in the Investec England Hockey Western Conference.
She will make her competitive comeback against Isca at Exeter University on Saturday, having spent the past six seasons playing Premier Division hockey for Slough.
She explained: “I’m currently teaching PE at Romsey School and loving it, especially coaching the boys and girls hockey teams.
“I’ve been back in Southampton for the past two years, but travelling to play and train at Slough three times a week was tiring in the extreme, so I’ve decided to come back and re-join Trojans and hopefully help them push for the promotion spot they lost out on last season.”
Sheehan’s goals will come in handy for Trojans – she’s scored over 100 in recent seasons with Isca and Slough !
 

Zoe Stride celebrated her switch from Trojans by scoring twice on debut as Southampton Ladies opened their South Women’s League Division 3B programme with a 3-1 win over Lewes.
The ex-Stoneham striker scored either side of half-time, cancelling out a Lewes equaliser, before the 80th goal of Sue Merry’s distinguished South League career settled it.
Fareham came from behind to beat Chichester 2-1 with second half goals by Tara Jolly and Gracie Coleman.

Seventeen teams are involved in round-robin Hampshire Cup first round matches at Aldershot, Haslemere, Wide Lane and Wimborne on Saturday.
The groups are –
North (Aldershot & Farnham, Fleet & Ewshot), Winchester, Yateley.
Central (Wide Lane): Andover, Southampton, Trojans, University.
East (Woolmer Hill): Basingstoke, Hamble, Haslemere, United Services.
West (Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne): Bournenouth, Romsey, Salisbury, Swanage & Wareham, Wimborne Wayfarers.

Congratulations to Southampton ladies Fiona Jarman, Linda Dunham (England 055s), Annie Day (England 065), Sue Merry (England 060) and Sonia Bannatyne (Wales 055) in representing their Countries in the Home Internationals in Swansea in 055s to 065s age groups.
Special congratulations to Fiona and Linda on becoming 055 Champions and to Sue for winning 060s Championship.  “It was very proud to have five members of the Southampton Hockey Club in Swansea,” said Sue Merry.

Trojans’ veterans over 40s and over 50s hockey teams won the Wessex Masters  cup and plate competitions at Godalming.
The 50s surged into a three-goal half-time lead through Jerry Young, Simon Maidment and Geoff Furneaux, but prompted by the craft and guile of Ian Ellis, Winchester clawed two goals back after the break.  Trojans held on to win 3-2.
Trojans 40-plus side emphatically beat Portsmouth & Southsea 10-0 in the Plate final.
Paul Hilton scored four times, the sprightly Colin French a hat-trick, with Chris Jackson and Luke Maunders getting one each.
Simon Gibbons, chairman of Trojans hockey section and on the winning over 50’s team, said: “It was a fantastic team performance. To take two teams and win both cups will take some beating.”

Bournemouth stalwart and Hampshire supremo Mike Ward has received England Hockey’s coveted Life Time Achievement Award in recognition of his phenomenal contribution to the sport for close on a half century.
A goalkeeper for his home town club Bournemouth in his playing days, Mr Ward has combined the roles of South League chairman, Hampshire President and Men’s League secretary for a staggering 47 years (since 1971), besides holding countless other posts in county hockey.
He has also held numerous off-field administrative roles with Bournemouth at both Kinson and Chapel Gate.
With over 650 teams, the South League is the largest of its kind in the country – and no matter the weather, Mr Ward will always be on a touchline in the winter months, umpiring, assessing or watching a game. 
An accomplished after dinner speaker and devotee of red wine, he lives and breathes the game of hockey. 
Collecting his cut glass Shard-design award at a glittering gala dinner in Leicester, Mr Ward confessed he was “taken aback, totally surprised and almost emotional” when his citation was read to the 600 strong audience.
“I had absolutely no idea it was coming. I’m generally not one for awards, but feel immensely proud to be have been recognised by England Hockey in this way,” he smiled.
“First and foremost I’m an administrator and thoroughly enjoy all I do for the game.”