OLD Loughtonians men's hockey team have qualified for the Indoor Finals at the National Indoor Arena for the second year running despite a mixed bag of results in their second weekend of Premier League action at Tonbridge School last week.

The men first played out a thrilling 5-5 draw with Havant in their first match of the weekend before they took on a Reading side packed with Olympians.

Loughts enjoyed the lion's share of possession but were only able to open up a one-goal lead at the break. One became two in the second half, but Reading were beginning to find their stride and they soon drew level. Oliver Didham and Liam Doidge each scored to keep their side's noses in front, but a late three-goal blitz from Reading saw them run out 6-4 winners.

Old Loughts saw off Bournville in their third match of the weekend, 4-1, to secure their passage to the finals, and they added further gloss to their achievement with a 9-7 win over eventual league winners East Grinstead.

The team will be confident of reaching the final when they renew acquaintances with Reading in their last four clash in two weeks, with European hockey at stake for the champions.

Meanwhile, Old Loughts' ladies' got their National Indoor League season underway with a dramatic 4-3 win over St Albans in Division 2 South. Hannah Godfrey got herself on the scoresheet in her indoor debut for the club, while a last-gasp save from Emerald Green preserved the victory margin.

Another narrow victory followed in the second game, with the Essex side emerging 3-2 winners after a tense encounter against Staines, with Godfrey once again finding the goal.

The team then produced some superb hockey to dispatch East Grinstead, but all their good work was almost undone as they slipped to 3-0 down in the decisive match against the Army.

However, the team proved they are made of sterner stuff, and a maginificent fightback ensued in the second half, with Becky Halle grabbing a game-winning last-minute goal.

The ladies went down 3-1 against Harleston in their final game of the weekend, but the team will be delighted with their efforts as they prepare for their next set of fixtures at Whitgift School this Saturday.