It was party time for Spalding 2nd on Saturday as they celebrated winning the East Men’s Hockey League Division 4NW title with a 6-4 win over St Ives 2nd.
They were confirmed as champions before the match got under way, with second-placed club rivals Spalding 3rd only able to draw 1-1 at Cambridge South 2nd.
However, they still rose to the occasion with a brace from vice-captain Glenn Perkins and goals for Tom Mayhew, Dave Burrell, Lawrence Smith-Hughes and Keith Stennett steering them to an amazing 14th consecutive win.
It was a proud moment for skipper Rob Callaby and his charges, who have come a long way this season – having dropped their only eight points in the first six games.
Behind them, Spalding 3rd can still seal promotion this weekend despite now being level on points with third-placed Leadenham.
Alan Chervicius marked his debut with a cracking volley at the far post, but a last-gasp leveller denied them.
As fate would have it, Spalding 3rd and Leadenham meet in a winner-takes-all tussle at Glen Park on Saturday (2pm), with the hosts just needing to avoid defeat.
Up in Premier B, Long Sutton’s long run in the division is in serious danger after a 3-2 home defeat against relegation rivals Harleston Magpies 2nd on Saturday.
Ben Shore and Danny Sisson netted for Sutton, but they are now bottom with one game left to play – and that’s a trip to unbeaten champions Letchworth on Saturday.
In the same division, Spalding 1st will finish a fine maiden campaign at this standard in fifth after losing their final home game of the season 5-3 against COP 2nd.
Their goals came from Stuart Cunnington (2) and Dan Needham at Glen Park.
In Division 3NW, Long Sutton 2nd are safe from the drop despite a 6-0 thumping at Cambridge City Veterans.
Spalding 4th are also in no danger of relegation from Division 5NW, but did slip to a 2-0 defeat at home against Cambs South 3rd.
Down in Division 6NW (N), Spalding 5th completed their campaign with a 3-2 loss against Louth 2nd, but finished a very credible third.
Andy Barlow bagged both of their goals.
Behind them, Long Sutton 4th finish in fourth after a 7-4 success over Horncastle 2nd.
- A sweetly-struck short corner from Claire Hindmarsh earned Spalding Poachers 1st a 1-1 draw at Bedford 2nd in East Women’s Hockey League Division 1N on Saturday.
In Division 2NW, a goal from Lyn Tancred couldn’t stop Long Sutton ladies’ 1st going down 2-1 at lowly Newmarket 1st to hit their chances of a top four finish.
In Division 3NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd beat Haverhill 1st 3-2 thanks to goals from Akayla Newton, Evie Maltby and Charlotte Morris, while rock-bottom Spalding Poachers 3rd lost 4-0 at St Ives 2nd.
