Sidmouth and Ottery Hockey Club (SOHC) men’s 1st XI completed a league double over Bude, following up their 4-1 home success on the opening day of the season with a 3-0 win in North Cornwall on Saturday.

The victory also means that the team reach the festive break – the season resumes in January – as the only undefeated side in the Southern Two table.

SOHC, with teenagers Billy Rudolph and Sam Cortinhas back in action owing to both being home from University for the festive period, made a bright start, retaining possession with a combination of clinical and professional play. A feature of the performance was the speed with which they sought to regain the ball as and when it was lost.

The home team defended well, but the pressure eventually told when, from a well-worked short corner, Jonathan Hext drilled the ball home.

Shortly after, and again from a short corner, Chris Bishop applied the slick finish to double the lead which they took into half-time.

After the break SOHC continued to dominate and the lead was extended with a poachers finish from Nick Mansfield.

Shortly after the third goal there was a nasty injury when Duncan Gracie took a blow to the head with the ball and the game was held up while an ambulance was summoned.

It was agreed that, despite there still being 18 minutes of the match remaining hosts Bude agreed to the game being ended at that point.

SOHC are keen to record sincere thanks to all concerned at Bude both for the way they rallied round to help then stricken Gracie and also for a superb tea!

SOHC go into the festive break holding an 11 point lead at the top of the table, though second placed PGSOB A do have a game in hand. The table-toppers return to league action on Saturday, January 13 when they entertain fourth placed Caradon who they beat 1-0 away on match day two of the season.