1:11pm Wednesday 3rd March 2010
THE RACE for the East Conference title is hotting up, as Old Loughtonians men’s team kept their noses in front of Canterbury at the top of the league thanks to a demolition job on Indian Gymkhana at the weekend.
The Chigwell outfit remain in the box seat with just four games to play after stretching their goals advantage over their closest rivals to seven, following their 7-1 victory.
Alex Jennings settled any early nerves with a goal after just three minutes. Stuart Robson doubled Loughts’ lead minutes later, and Jennings made it three on 14 minutes.
Leroy Philips got in on the act and Oliver Didham notched a fifth before the half-time whistle had even been blown.
Frustrations grew for the visitors after the break, as they resorted to some tough tactics. But Jennings completed his hat-trick after converting a penalty stroke, following a bad challenge on Darren Cheesman.
Indian Gym then capitalised on some lax defending to add a consolation, but Loughts and Jennings were not to be denied, as another poor challenge gave him the chance to slam home his fourth of the game and 20th of the season from the spot, taking him to the top of the league’s scoring charts.
Holcombe are next up on Saturday, while the team are also in cup action, as they take on Hampstead & Westminster in the last eight of the EH Cup.
Elsewhere, the ladies’ team were held to a goalless draw at fourth-placed Horsham.
Ele Powell and Leigh Sanderson both came close in the first half, but Loughts had Sarah Smith and Maddie Row to thank for preserving their clean sheet at the other end.
The team suffered two head injuries in the second half, but they kept their composure and held on for the draw. St Albans are the next opponents this week.
Meanwhile, Waltham Forest ladies eased their relegation fears with an emphatic 4-1 win at Letchworth.
Katherine Abbie drilled the ball home for the first goal but Forest were pegged back. However, Jenny Todd restored the visitors’ lead with a strike following a penalty corner, before grabbing her second, shooting under the keeper.
Philippa Leguen de Lacroix put the gloss on the win with a volleyed finish after Todd was denied her hat-trick by the keeper.
The team face a tough test when local rivals Crostyx make the trip to Douglas Eyre on Saturday.
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