Comment

Oxford Hawks took a vital point from their visit to Brighton in the last game of the season and look to have secured their place in Premier Division 1 for another year.

Three losses on the trot had put Hawks at risk of relegation for a second successive season in a very tight division where - dependent on outcomes in other leagues - four sides could face relegation from a league of only 12 teams.

Before the game, Hawks sat on 25 points with three other sides and a defeat would have placed them in jeopardy.

However, Hawks rose to the challenge with one of their best performances of the season and were good value in a 2-2 draw which leaves them in ninth position, but looking a good bet to avoid the drop.

Hawks took the lead after 20 minutes Nick Ferraby - released from Leicestershire County Cricket training for the game - driving into the circle and finishing a superb solo effort.

Brighton stormed back, but Hawks showed a steel in defence that had been absent in previous weeks with Nick Styles and Nathan Monk resolute at the heart of the defence and Phil Hargraves quite outstanding in goal.

Half-time arrived with Hawks still one goal up, but Brighton turned on the pressure at the start of the second half.

Some uncharacteristically hesitant defending at short corners allowed Brighton two goals in quick succession and Hawks had their backs to the wall, but they responded when Ferraby again scored - this time finishing a penalty corner with an irresisible drag flick.

The last 15 minutes swung from end to end. Tremendous saves from Hargraves kept Hawks on terms, but with Ferraby and Will Headley prompting from midfield they could have stolen a late winner from two penalty corners in the dying minutes.

Hawks moved up one crucial position in the table above Purley and although not mathematically safe, they remain reasonably confident that they had done enough to preserve their Premier place.

Other scores: Oxford Univ 1, Chichester 2; Tulse Hill 5, Rover Oxford 1; Abingdon 3, Marlow 3; Wallingford 5, Bicester 0; Oxford Hawks 2nd 1, Havant 2nd 2; Rover Oxford 2nd 8, City of Oxford 2nd 3 (S Harrison 3); City 3rd 4 (M Bramald 2, C Robinson 2), Bicester 3rd 0; Hawks 4th 4 (J Black 2, C Darby 2), Eastcote 6th 2; Hawks Fledglings 5, Wallingford 4th 0; Hawks Falcons 1, Winchester Vets 5.

4:12pm Monday 31st March 2008

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