OXFORD Hawks’ stellar form since the winter break continued with a 4-3 victory at home to Teddington.

It means having picked up seven points from the first ten Men’s Hockey League Division 1 South games of the season before Christmas, they have collected ten points from the four matches since.

And the win opened up some daylight for the first time over their opponents, who are third bottom.

The hosts’ bright start was rewarded with a goal from Andy Watts, who converted at the second attempt.

Teddington equalised from a penalty corner, but Hawks edged ahead again from a set piece of their own, finished by Tom Miotto.

A flowing move three minutes later stretched the lead, with Josh Wierszycki setting up Watts to convert at the far post.

Some sloppy play after half-time allowed Teddington back into the game, but Ted Bennett made it 4-2 from a penalty corner nine minutes from time.

It did not completely kill off the visitors, who scored a penalty with three minutes remaining to set up a tense finish.

But the home side held on to continue their fine form.

Hawks’ ladies are also on the up, climbing to second in Conference West.

Claire Werlinger scored both goals in a 2-1 win against University of Birmingham 2nd at Banbury Road North.

Oxford OBU’s title chances in Premier Division 2 West of the South League were given a big boost on Saturday.

They thrashed visitors PHC Chiswick 5-2, despite having a penalty flick saved early on.

Undeterred, Oxford opened the scoring through Richie Heywood, who intercepted a sideline ball and slotted it between the keeper’s pads.

Henry Vallis slapped in a penalty corner to double the lead, which became 3-0 by half-time when James Cutter scored off a slick penalty corner routine.

Vallis scored his second, while Jamie Bloomfield was also on target in the second half to complete the rout.

And their mood was further improved by the news leaders Surbiton 2nd had been held to a draw.

It left Oxford a point off the top, with a game in hand on their rivals.

Witney leapfrogged OMT into MBBO Regional 1’s top five with an emphatic 7-2 home success.

Ollie Hartley and Ben Moss were on target in an even first half where the hosts began to find their rhythm after their previous game had been postponed.

The second half saw them hit top gear, as Dan Wallis, Jacob Deacon, Rob Manson, Fraser Barnard and a penalty flick from Tim Chilvers sealed a big win.

LATEST RESULTS

MEN

Ashford (Middx.) 3, Oxford Hawks 2nd 3 (T Claughton, T Sobey, H Taylor); Oxford Hawks 3rd 8 (M Northfield 3, L Piper 2, P Barnett, J Lawton-Smith, R Scragg), Reading 4th 1; Ramgarhia 3, Oxford Hawks 4th 1 (M Oakes); Oxford Hawks 5th 2 (P Poulter, S White), S Berks 3rd 1; West Hampstead 6th 8, Oxford Hawks 6th 1 (J Nugent); Oxford Hawks 7th 1, Phoenix & Ranelagh 3rd 2; Wycombe 2nd 0, Oxford 2nd 3 (S Lyddon, D Bleach); Oxford 3rd 2 (P Alexandrou, R Griffiths), Wycombe 3rd 4; Reading 5th 3, Oxford 4th 1 (C Turner); Oxford 5th 5 (G Jan Janes 2, A Meijer 2, A Coward), Reading University Knights 5th 3; Wycombe 4th 1, Oxford 6th 3 (M Bramall, J Darnell, T Christophers); Abingdon 3rd 0, Oxford 7th 2 (E Dyer, M Cahill); Oxford 8th 1 (R Lawrence), Henley 4th 3; Oxford 9th 4 (S Copping 3, H Collinet), Leighton Buzzard Fledglings 2; Bicester 2nd 5, Witney 2nd 2 (R Heslip, J Blacker); Witney 3rd 7 (J Easterbrook 3, J Merrill 2, E Easterbrook 2); Haslemere Vets 0, Oxford Hawks Falcons 6 (C Burrell 2, M White, P Dunnill, C Potter, S Griffiths).

LADIES

Oxford University 2nd 2, Oxford Hawks 4th 0; Oxford 4th 2 (E Reynolds, M Hulcup), Oxford Hawks 5th 0; Oxford 6th 3 (V Hutton, T Parthipan, N Makwarimba), Banbury 4th 1; Oxford 7th 3 (J Adams 2, D Parry), Milton Keynes 4th 0; Oxford 8th 2 (M Dogar 2), Wychwood 2nd 1; Oxford Hawks O35 3, Leamington O35 1; Oxford Hawks U16 A 2, Surbiton U16 Wrens 2; Oxford Hawks U16 B 10, Thame U16 0; Oxford Hawks U14 B 4, Thame U14 0; Oxford Hawks U12 A 12, Thame U12 0; Oxford Hawks U12 B 0, Oxford U12 B 4.