Oxford Hawks had a mixed weekend in English League Division 2, losing a game they were hoping to win before winning a game they were expecting to lose.

They went down 4-3 to second-bottom Harleston Magpies in East Anglia on Saturday, but bounced back to beat Ipswich 2-1 at home 24 hours later.

As has become a habit, Hawks started poorly against Harleston, conceding two soft early goals to Wheelhouse and Cobbald.

They let in a third goal to Cowan against the run of play and went into the last eight minutes 3-0 down.

But then began an extraordinary comeback with three goals from Simon Dawson in the last few minutes.

The first came from a penalty stroke after Ali McShane was impeded while trying to finish from four metres out.

Then good work from the left resulted in a cross which Dawson finished on the far post.

Unfortunately, Hawks' pressure up front left gaps at the back. Hawks keeper Chris Boyle did well to tackle a breaking forward, but was adjudged to have fouled him in the process and Cobbald score from the resulting penalty stroke.

Hawks immediately broke to the other end, won a short corner and Dawson completed his hat-trick.

Hawks followed up their disappointment on Saturday with a superb performance to defeat Ipswich.

In a first half which they dominated, Hawks went ahead through a superbly struck short corner from Dawson his fourth goal of the weekend!

Midway through the second half, Hawks went further ahead when Tim Newton beat the Ipswich defence well and finished from the top right of the D.

Ipswich pulled a goal back in the last ten minutes, but Hawks held on.

Oxford University dropped to bottom of Division 2 after drawing 2-2 at Hounslow.

The students were two goals down to strikes from Slay and Philpott after 20 minutes, but hit back through Sellick (34) and Fulford (67).

Hawks 2nd were unable to continue their recent run of good results, going down 3-1 to Kent side Holcome. Tim Gilmanot was their scorer.

Hawks 3rd produced one of their best performances of the season as they beat Holcombe 3rd 2-2 with under 18 player Matthew Baggs showing exceptional skills. Goals came from Andy Sumser and Matt Wethey.

Other score: Hawks 3A 3, Sunbury 4th 0.