READING Men have secured their first Premier Division win of the season at the 12th attempt, writes Dave Wright.

The Blues, ending their worst ever run as a top-level club in England Hockey, defeated Beeston 2-1 at Sonning Lane on Sunday with the three points lifting them off the bottom-of-the-table, going above University of Exeter, whose only win is over Reading.

Harrison Smith was their hero, scoring his first two goals at this level. His first came in the 19th minute and the second after 32.

Beeston were kept at bay by some sound defending and smart saves from keeper Chris Wyver, but did pull one back through Elliot Barton from a penalty corner to set up a tense final nine minutes.

Blues came under further pressure and in the final play of the game they conceded three corners in succession, but held out for a much-needed win going into the mid-season break.

Their next league fixture is away to University of Exeter on February 16.

Reading 2nds extended their unbeaten run in Middx, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Regional One by thrashing winless Aylesbury 12-0. Jatinder Bachu led the rout with four goals, with the others coming from Tom Ferris, James Lavers, Finlay Quaile, Jolyon Summers, Archie Sweeting (2) and Sam Welsh (2).

In the same division, Reading 3rds crashed 6-1 away to Witney 1sts.

Reading Ladies also completed their 2019 fixtures with a victory, defeating bottom-of-the-table St Albans 3-2 at home on Saturday.

After Elisa Filarmonico had given the visitors a 10th-minute lead from a penalty corner, Jenny Crossley equalised in the 19th minute, also from a set-piece, only for Amy Kokkinos to regain the lead for St Albans two minutes later.

It didn't take long for Sophie Shakespeare to bring the scores back level and she went on to net the winner on 50 minutes.

Blues sit comfortably in second place in Division One South, seven points behind unbeaten leaders Wimbledon and six ahead of third-placed Harleston Magpies.

Their next league fixture is away to Sevenoaks on February 1.

Reading 2nds defeated East Grinstead 2nds 2-1 at Sonning Lane to secure their second win of the season in the South Clubs League Division One. They move up to ninth in the table going into the mid-season break.

SONNING Men made it nine wins from 11 games by defeating Wycombe 2nds 6-1 thanks to an Ian Gallagher hat-trick and goals from James Manser, Noel Plant and Pat Thomas.

They remain top of the MBBO Regional Two on 28 points, six ahead of both Wallingford and South Berkshire, with the latter having a game in hand.

Their next league game is at home to mid-table Reading 4ths on January 11.

Sonning Ladies lost 4-2 away to table-topping Harrow in Division Three of the South Clubs' League, leaving them sixth in the table at the halfway stage. Their next fixture is away to the fifth club, Milton Keynes, on January 11.

Sonning 2nds defeated Reading Rockets 3-0 at home to remain second in the Three Counties League's Premier Division Two. They are level on points with leaders Phoenix & Ranelagh, who won 2-1 away to Oxford Ladies 3rds.

In Division Two, second-placed Sonning 3rds inflicted a 5-0 defeat on Reading Rebels.