Bridgefield carried off the Championship 4 Shield after a cliffhanger finish to the season at Walsall today.

Watford Saxons were in the box seat before the action got under way, knowing that victory over Sedgefield would give them the title. But Sedgefield hadn’t read the script, racing into a 10-2 lead and eventually winning 14-8, including a seven-goal haul from Connor Keeble and five from Ben Stephenson.

In the process, Sedgefield did Bridgefield a huge favour. It meant that, if Bridgefield then beat Coventry – they duly won 12-5 - Bridgefield and Sedgefield would be level at the top with 12 points. The title was then decided by the narrowest of margins – Bridgefield's 6-5 victory over Sedgefield when the sides met at Bolton at the end of January. It was as close as that!

Bridgefield, Sedgefield and Watford Saxons all progress to Division 4 next season, with Caledonia Storm, 10-8 winners against Invicta Marlins today, Coventry, York, Invicta Marlins and Sheffield Dolphins in Division 5.

​Photo: Bridgefield coach Ant McGuinness and his players celebrate their victory at Walsall today.

The challenge of playing three tough games in a weekend proved no problem for Caledonia and Penguin as they completed men’s Championship 1 hat-tricks of wins at Coventry today.

Finlay Nesbitt (Photo: Trevor Hyde) led the way for the Scots, scoring seven as Invicta were beaten 15-9. Caledonia were 8-5 up after two periods and broke clear in the third, scoring four times without reply.

Penguin led all the way against Welsh Wanderers, winning 10-5, including four goals by James Salt and three from Mehmet Arat.
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Caledonia and Penguin go to the finale of the Championship 1 programme at Habs, 19/20 March, as joint leaders both on nine points from five games. The teams clash on the final day in what could be a title decider.

Caledonia and Penguin both chalked up two wins on day one of men’s Championship 1 at Coventry and share the lead at the top of the table with seven points from four matches.

It wasn’t straightforward for the Scots, who needed to rally late on to beat Exeter 16-15. Tom Hutchens’ (Photo: Trevor Hyde) fifth goal early in the final period had the Devon side 14-12 up. That prompted a dominant Scottish response, goals by Dominique Zahra (2), Finlay Nesbitt and Ali Campbell establishing a 16-14 advantage. Sam Alberici replied for Exeter at the death – his fourth strike.

Penguin beat Sutton & Cheam 11-10, a victory which was a little more clear cut than the final score suggests.

​Andrea Tulli gave Penguin a flying start, scoring five of his six goals as his team built an 8-2 lead. Sutton fought back and briefly trailed 10-9 before a Mehmet Arat goal made the points safe for Penguin. 

The battle to determine which team wins the men’s Championship 4 title will go to the final day tomorrow after dramatic finishes to games at Walsall today.

Three teams – Watford Saxons, Bridgefield and Sedgefield – are involved, all already guaranteed progress to Division 4 at the start of next season.

Watford started today’s action with the only 100 per cent record. They were comfortably placed with a 4-1 lead against Bridgefield, but Bridgefield eventually levelled at 7-7 with 3.21 remaining thanks to an Alex Saunders goal.

The game progressed to the last minute, when Watford edged ahead again with a goal by youngster Josh Barrett with 16 seconds remaining. Just seven seconds were left when Saunders (Photo: Trevor Hyde) scored again to square a thriller at 8-8.

Sedgefield were pushed all the way by Coventry, winning 9-8 when Connor Keeble scored his fourth goal – the only one of the final period.

Sedgefield play Watford tomorrow while Bridgefield take on Coventry. 

Caledonia retained their unbeaten record in men’s Championship 1 at Coventry today when Harry Gray’s goal just 37 seconds from the end secured a 7-7 draw against Sutton & Cheam.

Sutton opened up a 5-2 lead at the start of the third period when Ryan Symington scored from a man-up chance. A Chris Evans goal made it 7-5 to Sutton early in the last – only for Darren Campbell (Photo: Trevor Hyde) and Gray to salvage a point for the Scots.

Penguin were too strong for Exeter, winning 17-7, including four goals by Mehmet Arat.

Dan Laxton inspired a storming start by Welsh Wanderers against Polytechnic, netting all his side’s goals as they took a 4-2 first quarter lead.
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Wanderers went 11-9 up when Lewis Gilmour scored at the start of the final period – but that sparked a tremendous Poly revival which was to earn them the points with a 13-12 win. The vital goals were scored by Sergio Schiaffano (3) and Pedro Stellet. Laxton’s seventh goal of the game came too late to rescue his side. 

St Andrews University have unfortunately been forced to withdraw from the women’s qualification tournament at Walsall on 2/3 April due to the long-term closure for repair of their Dundee pool.

The programme for five remaining teams – Kirkintilloch & Kilsyth, Liverpool Water Beatles, Manchester Comets, Solihull and Sunderland - has been adjusted. See fixtures page for details.

The top three will qualify for places in Division 3 at the start of the 2022/23 season. 

Otter edged out Hucknall 13-12 with a last minute goal to claim their second men's Championship 2 win of the weekend at Haberdashers.

The London club were cruising with a 6-2 advantage at one point but Hucknall levelled at 7-7 midway through the third period. Hucknall eventually took the lead for the first time at 10-9 and went to 12-10 early in the final quarter - but it wasn't enough.

Two goals by Denes Csizsinszky made it 12-12 before Tilemachos Pissas hit the winner just 43 seconds from the end.

The Portobello-City of Bristol clash produced an equally tense finale. Goals by Andrew Melville and Chris Raffo eased the Scots from 6-6 to 8-6 in the final period only for Bristol to grab a point at 8-8 with goals by Stuart Fennell and - with 16 seconds remaining - Nathan Brown.
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Manchester Hawks' 15-12 victory over Cheltenham Spartans featured hat-tricks by Conor Lynch, Adam Lecomber and Dan Bentham. George Wood scored five for Worthing, who beat Castleford 12-6.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Tilemachos Pissas scores for Otter against Hucknall today.

Southampton top men's Championship 3 after maintaining their 100 per cent record with a 17-14 victory over Tyldesley at Marlborough College today.

Rotherham Metro are now firmly placed to clinch a top three spot after completing a hat-trick of wins during the weekend. They beat Croydon 15-10, bursting clear with six goals in the third period. 

Meanwhile, Durham Palatinates hit back after their day one defeat against Croydon by beating Newport 14-6. Newport never recovered after conceding a couple of brilliant goals early on by the outstanding Chinyere Owotor (Photo: Trevor Hyde).

The British Army enjoyed a fine weekend, winning for the third time - 10-5 against Birmingham.
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Durham head for the finale weekend next month in second place. Durham's clash with Southampton could well decide the championship.

City of Bristol recovered from 9-4 down to draw 12-12 with Manchester Hawks in men's Championship 2 at Haberdashers today.

Bristol were close to taking both points. Briefly, they led 12-11 in the final period only for Rory Inman to claim his fourth goal for Hawks from a man-up with just 36 seconds remaining. Nathan Brown scored four for Bristol. 
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Hucknall were too strong for Cheltenham Spartans, winning 17-2, including hat-tricks for Matt Brown, Nic Rimlinger and Matt Smith. Later, Sam Joyce's six goals proved crucial in another Hucknall win - 10-7 against Worthing.

Ben Scott nettted six in the final period as Portobello beat Cheltenham Spartans 21-19.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Still going strong . . . Craig Figes, GB captain at the 2012 Olympics, scores for Bristol against Manchester Hawks today.

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