Hockey title is Saxons’ to lose

That’s how the Hastings club’s captain Paddy Cornish is looking at things as Saxons head the way going into the second half of the campaign.

Cornish, pictured, said: “We’ve done half the job, we’re where we wanted to be at the start of the season. It’s a blank canvas again, but we’re in a position where it’s ours to lose.”

Saxons arrived at the festive break two points clear of second-placed Horsham II and four better off than third-placed Penguin having won nine and drawn two of their first 11 fixtures.

The first of those victories was a 10-4 thrashing of Penguin on the opening day, but the return match in Worthing on Saturday promises to be far tougher as the opposition have won eight and drawn one of their last nine.

“There’s three massive games for us this year,” added Cornish. “They’re all away and the first one is this week. I’m not expecting to get nine points, but if we can get three points from the first one, it will be a good start.”

Saxons will travel to West Sussex “feeling positive” after a very useful friendly away to Ashford II last weekend - their first match of any kind since the 2-1 league win at Middleton & Bognor on December 10.

See tomorrow’s Hastings Observer for the full article.