Royce equaliser keeps University of Exeter's survival hopes alive

JAMES Royce's late equaliser kept University of Exeter's survival hopes alive as the England Hockey League men's premier division bottom club snatched a 2-2 draw at Beeston.

Andrew Monte gave Beeston the lead with two penalty corners in the first ten minutes but the Exeter side fought back in the second half to clinch a crucial point.

Rufus McNaught-Barrington started the comeback with a 40th minute penalty corner before Royce struck with two minutes remaining to secure the draw and move on to six points with three matches remaining.

But ninth-placed Brooklands MU maintained their six point lead at the foot of the table after a 1-1 draw with leaders Reading.

The Berkshire side has been decimated by injury and call-ups to the England squad for the on-going Hockey World Cup in Delhi.

And Brooklands MU sensed the points were there for the taking with Mark Bateman handing them a 1-0 lead at the interval.

But the Manchester side couldn't hold on for the three points as Jonny Colding restored parity in the 49th minute.

Meanwhile, eighth-placed Loughborough Students ensured they couldn't be caught by the University of Exeter as they moved ten points clear of the bottom with a defeat of Hampstead and Westminster.

Simon Faulkner edged the Students ahead with a 22nd minute penalty corner before Jerome Goudie sealed the points in the final minute for a 2-0 win.

In the final game of the men's premier division, second-placed Surbiton moved four points behind Reading with a 2-1 defeat of Cannock.

Sam Mee handed Cannock a surprise lead at half-time before a Tim Pinnock penalty corner and James Ashcroft's strike turned round the match in the second half.

In the only match of the women's premier division, defending champion Bowdon Hightown edged closer to safety with an emphatic defeat of the University of Birmingham.

Sally Walton, Fay Nash and Kath Coveney added to Tina Cullen's double strike to hand Bowdon a 5-1 victory with Jenna Woolven securing Birmingham's consolation.

The win moves Bowdon four points clear of ninth-placed Clifton with a game in hand.