HOCKEY

Poynton 1
Old Loughtonians 1
(SEHL Premier) OLD Loughtonians ladies were relegated from the premier division following a disappointing draw with their closest rivals.

The team needed to take maximum points against second-bottom Poynton to close the five-point gap between the clubs and give themselves a chance of making the relegation play-offs going into the final day of the season.

But, despite a valiant effort and a vast improvement in the second half of the season, Loughts did not have enough in the tank to forge a miraculous escape.

Poynton's Katie Maltman opened the scoring on 16 minutes, finishing off a turnover and swift attack that left a three-on-one in the circle.

But moments before the half time whistle, Katie Richards struck the ball perfectly to the stick of Miranda Weeks at the far post to even the score.

The intensity rose in the second half.

Lisa Griffin in the Lought's goal made an amazing stick save on a strong penalty corner drag flick, while Loughts narrowly missed several times at the other end.

However, they were left to rue those missed opportunities and the poor performances in the first half of the season as they dropped out of the division.

They play their final premier league game for at least another year away at Canterbury on Saturday.