Richmond target return

Hockey: Richmond bid to return to National League

Richmond are making a determined bid to win promotion to the National League after a five-year absence.

Saturday's 8-0 win over Old Cranleighans, with Graham Berry scoring four goals, leaves them a point clear of newly promoted Old Georgians at the top of the South Premier. The Old Boys went one better, thrashing Fareham 9-1 with James Tindall scoring a hat trick.

In the north, Bowdon are on maximum points after their 4-2 win against Sheffield University Bankers and lead Ben Rhydding by two points. Bowdon have recruited wisely and appear to have put last season's play-off disappointment behind them.

Summer arrivals came from far and wide. John Gray and Johnny Bloomfield were signed from the Irish club Lisnagarvey, Jim McKenna from Tasmania, Dominic McGuire from St Albans and Ibi Latif from Warrington. Clark, who said his side played well for 38 minutes against Sheffield as they built up a 4-0 lead, was annoyed by their performance in the closing stages, allowing the visitors to pull back two goals.

In the west, Bath Buccaneers remain neck and neck with Isca, with Bath edging it on goal difference. Isca scraped to a 4-3 win at Yeovil and Sherborne with two goals from Nick West, whilst Bath won 2-1 at Swansea Bay.