Hockey round-up: Maidenhead Women's 1sts get back to winning ways while men are beaten by Banbury

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Maidenhead Men’s 1st team were beaten by leaders Banbury on their return to league action at Altwood School on Saturday.

Phil Cowell’s side went into the clash - their first in several weeks - looking to replicate the 1-1 draw they managed away to Banbury on the opening day of the season.

But, having fallen out of form in the weeks before the Christmas and New Year break, the hosts were comprehensively swept aside by the league leaders who have now opened a six-point lead over second placed Bournemouth, with a game in hand.

Maidenhead’s fourth defeat of the season leaves them third from bottom of the South Central Men’s Premier Division 1 table, having played a game more than the teams either side of them in the table.

The result also means they now haven't won in six league matches, a drought they’ll be hoping to end when they visit Slough on Saturday. Slough are one of the two sides they’ve beaten this campaign, with Cowell's men running out 4-2 winners at Altwood School back in early October.

Maidenhead Women’s 1sts got back to winning ways at Sonning on Saturday, edging a tight game 1-0.

It’s been a season of famine or feast for the club so far, with the team having won five and lost five of their 10 matches.

Consistency will be key in the second half of the campaign if they are to climb the table with only six points separating them from third placed Henley 1sts.

They face an intriguing tie at Altwood School on Saturday, when they host second placed Bournemouth.

Bournemouth have lost just twice all season, but they were held to a 1-1 draw by Oxford Hawks on Saturday.