OXFORD Hawks were quickly out of the blocks in their 3-1 victory away to Cheltenham in the Investec Conference West.

They built up a 2-0 lead in the first half-hour.

A simplemove saw Lucy Stewart open the scoring.

Hawks doubled their lead minutes later, when Kara Haines used her skill and strength down the left, and played a pinpoint cross to Katie Hewitt, who turned and buried the ball into the corner of the net.

The visitors stepped off the gas and allowed Cheltenham to pull a goal back before half-time.

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In the second half, Hawks upped the pace but they had to wait for 15 minutes before extending their lead, when Caro Harris drove home a penalty-corner.

Only a great save from the Cheltenham keeper prevented Hie Sawyer adding to the Hawks tally.

Sunny Ricketts scored a hat-trick as Witney continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 7-0 victory over Maidenhead in Division 3A of the South Clubs League.

Witney broke the deadlock when Helen Backhouse netted with a reverse-stick shot, while Ricketts added two more goals before half-time.

Ricketts completed her hat-trick from a quick break and further goals from Hayley Dobson, Katie Gatt and Lucy Reading completed the rout.

OTHER WOMEN'S RESULTS

Oxford Hawks 2nd 1 (K Butler), Spencer 2; Oxford Hawks 3rd 2 (R Cannon, B Nagle), Marlow 2nd 1; Oxford Hawks 4th 3 (L Blakey, R Black, G McErlain), Abingdon 1; Oxford Hawks 5th 6 (E Hammond 4, L Hiner, L Phillips), Wycombe 4th 0; Oxford Hawks 6th 5 (B Wagerfield 2, R Potter 2, M Joyner), Slough 3rd 0; Oxford Hawks Under 18 3 (L Millington 2, L White), Wycombe 1; Oxford Hawks Under 14A 5, Wallingford 0; Bicester 3rd 2 (J Giles, N Camerson), Bicester 4th 0.

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