READING Women met with mixed fortunes on the opening weekend of their England Hockey Super Sixes campaign, writes Dave Wright.

They lost their first Division One game 1-0 to Wimbledon, the only goal coming from Rosie Pickerskill nine minutes from time, but bounced back later on Saturday by beating Canterbury 5-2 with Emma Thomas netting four times and Abbie Dixon adding the other.

On Sunday, Maz Downer scored in the 1-1 draw with the University of Birmingham after ex-Reading player Freya Bull had put the students ahead.

Skipper Thomas scored twice as she led Blues to a 5-1 win over Sevenoaks, the other goals coming from Dixon, Jo Ellis and Jess Minshull-Beech.

Reading, who stand fourth in the Division One table, play Beeston and Repton this coming Saturday before taking on Cambridge City and Harleston Magpies on Sunday, with all games being played at Nottingham Trent University.

In Division 3a of the South Clubs' League, sixth-placed Sonning visit Milton Keynes, the side immediately above them in the standings on Saturday.

Reading Men met with disappointment on the first weekend of their indoor campaign, managing only one point from four games.

The draw came in their first game – a thrilling 4-4 encounter with Bowdon. Gareth Furlong cancelled out David Egerton's opener, but Blues found themselves trailing 3-1 with less than five minutes of the game remaining.

Furlong and Fred Newbold levelled things up with two goals in as many minutes before Andy Oxburgh put them ahead, but Bowdon equalised through Egerton right on the final whistle.

Reading also scored four in their second game, only to concede 11 to Hampstead & Westminster. Furlong bagged another brace with Peter Scott and Adam Price making it 4-4 before letting in seven goals in the last 13 minutes.

Sunday morning's game against Surbiton resulted in a 4-3 defeat, their goals coming from Craig Falconer, Furlong and Scott.

That was followed by a 5-1 loss to Sevenoaks, with Falconer scoring, and that leaves Reading fighting to avoid relegation as they go into their final four Premier Division fixtures this coming weekend. They play Canterbury and East Grinstead on Saturday, followed by Holcombe and Wimbledon on Sunday, with all matches at Repton School in Derbyshire.

When the outdoor season resumes this Saturday, Sonning, the MBBO Regional Two leaders after nine wins and a draw from 11 games, host Reading 4ths (1.30pm).