Things about to get tougher

Having beaten the bottom two in their last two South Hockey League Sussex Area - Division One matches, Saxons’ next four games are against the teams placed third to sixth.

Next up tomorrow (Saturday) is a trip to fourth-placed Mid-Sussex II, who are only a point worse off than Saxons and possess a better goal difference.

Mid-Sussex also won away to previous leaders Brighton & Hove III last weekend, meaning Saxons are now the only team yet to taste defeat.

Saxons captain Paddy Cornish said: “We need to show them a lot of respect and go there with the frame of mind that it will be a hard game.”

With things so tight at the top, the division looks wide open this term. “It’s been interesting the last couple of weeks the results that have come in,” added Cornish.

“It shows that every team in the league is capable of picking up points and it will be a lot closer this year.” Pete Watters is expected to return in place of the unavailable Toby Reed.

South Hockey League Sussex Area - Division One standings (all played five matches): 1 SOUTH SAXONS 13pts, 2 Penguin 12, 3 Brighton & Hove III 12, 4 Mid-Sussex II 12, 5 Worthing II 9, 6 Crowborough 7, 7 Eastbourne II 6, 8 Middleton & Bognor 6, 9 Hailsham 4, 10 Crawley II 4, 11 Lewes III 1, 12 Horsham III 1.