Bicester’s Back to Hockey team ran out 5-1 winners over Buckingham in a friendly match.
The two sides, which were made up of ladies who haven’t played hockey for several years, conjured up an entertaining encounter despite the conditions, and it was Bicester who opened the scoring on eight minutes when an efficient passage of passing was finished off by Louise Walker.
Emma Chaytor doubled Bicester’s lead before George Davis was afforded time and space to place a powerful strike past the goalkeeper and bring Buckingham to within one, but Walker scored her second to restore Bicester’s two-goal lead at the break.
After half-time, Buckingham upped their passing accuracy with Emma McSweeney and captain Emma McStraw pressing down the wings, but Bicester added a fourth as Walker grabbed her hat-trick before Chaytor bagged her second to complete Bicester’s victory.
The friendly was organised following the success of England Hockey’s Back to Hockey initiative. Many of the players had either not played competitive hockey for at least 15 years, were back from maternity or raising young families or have never played at all.
If you’d like to get involved in the Back to Hockey scheme, visit either www.buckinghamhc.co.uk or www.bicesterhockeyclub.org.uk.