IT was an incredibly busy weekend for teams representing Yate Hockey Club as no less than nine games were played over Saturday and Sunday.

The pick of the results was the Yate Men 2s, as they secured promotion and the West Men's Bridge Division 2 Championship thanks to a thumping 6-1 win.

Yate Men 2s

Yate travelled to Coombe Dingle to play Westbury & United Banks 5, knowing that a win would put them in the driving seat for promotion.

They started well and George Tucker made a great run into the D for Martin Ashley to pick him out for a composed finish to open the scoring.

Westbury hit back and levelled the scores but they stayed focused and quickly regained the lead with a well-worked penalty corner, seeing Ashley score at close range. Tucker then got his second at the back post to make it 3-1.

Yate's fourth came when Gay made a lung-busting run to receive the ball and drive into the D to score before a well-drilled short corner move saw Alex Robbins add a fifth.

Player of the match Tucker completed his first hat trick for Yate's sixth and final goal of the day.

Due to other results going their way this win sees Yate 2’s achieve their target for the season of gaining promotion as West Men's Bridge Division 2 Champions with a game to go

Yate Ladies 1s

Yate travelled to Gloucester City 2, who they were level with on points in the league. 

The home side scored early on after a dubiously awarded penalty corner but Kyishia Cooke equalised in the second-half after she capitalised on a good advantage from the umpire to latch on to Zoe Vale's though ball and power in past the keeper. 

There would be no further goals and the points were shared.

Yate Men 1s

Yate emerged victorious from a thriller against Cardiff Uni 2s at YOSC on Saturday. Goals from Dom Chambers, Jason Newman and Angus Friel saw the score at 3-3 with five minutes to go, before Nick PG scored the winner for Yate from a well-worked penalty corner.

Yate Ladies 2s

Yate Ladies 2s picked up six points in a tense weekend of back-to-back matches. Their two wins against Cheddar 2 and BAC respectively, also relegation threatened, sets up a dramatic season finale.

On Saturday, Kim Harris and Lucy Mackenzie scored to secure a 2-1 victory and confirm Cheddar's relegation. 

On Sunday, Nicola Bruce, Sally Thomas-Ellis and LG scored in a tense battle. The visitors pulled two back, but the team rallied to hold the match with a final score of 3-2. 

Yate 2 need to draw or win against Marlborough in the final game, and hope other results go in their favour, to remain in the league.

Yate Ladies 3s

Yate lost 3-0 at Bristol & West Jaspers 2

Yate Ladies Development Team

Yate travelled to Corsham with a bare 11 and no keeper but played with their usual spirit.

Corsham opened the scoring before Alexandra Bessex equalised for Yate. Corsham went on to get another two goals before half-time. 

In the second half, Yate pulled it back to 3-3 through Angela Turner and Saoirse M but Corsham scored from a penalty corner and again on the break at the end to win 5-3.

Badgers and Girls u16s

On Sunday Yate Badgers beat North Somerset 2-1 and the u16 Girls were unlucky to lose 2-1 against Bath Buccs. 

After helping the men's 2s and Badgers to their wins at the weekend with some fine saves, Yate goalkeeper Luke Davies represented the KLB School team in the England Hockey T3 National Finals in Nottingham, where they came 6th. Luke made some great saves and did himself proud.