Abingdon's Will Trigg hit four goals as his side beat bottom-of-the-table Leighton Buzzard 6-0 at Tilsley Park in Division 1.
After a nervous start, Abingdon took the lead after ten minutes when they won two quick penalty corners, from which Trigg's shot proved too powerful for the defenders on the line.
They went two up at their next penalty corner when David Hibbert got the final touch on a Trigg shot from less than a yard out.
David Pegg cleared the ball off the goalline before Trigg made it 3-0 from close range just before half-time.
Trigg completed his hat-trick following a penalty corner, and No 4 came with a mis-hit shot from the edge of the circle.
With ten minutes remaining Fungai Whata dispossessed the right back and intelligently passed the ball round the advancing goalkeeper for Josh Tomlinson to score into the unguarded net.
Also in Division 1, Wallingford drew 1-1 at OMT, one of the form teams of the league.
On a new water-based pitch the game started without either team managing to take control.
In the first ten minutes it was OMT who took the lead with a goalmouth scramble flick over the keeper.
This spurred the Wallingford team on and Angus Jones and James Barrett both fired over with good efforts.
Wallingford’s pressure finally paid off when Jones scored from a short corner with ten minutes to go.
Witney played some good hockey but still ended up losing 4-3 at home to Gerrards Cross. Goals came from Andy Gosnell, Tim Hardy and Julian Easterbrook, but there should have been more.
Gerrards Cross were clinical, getting into the Witney half only a handful of times, but taking their chances.
City of Oxford produced a poor performance as they went down 2-1 at home to lowly Bicester.
They were two down before Martin Hanscombe’s short corner shot was tucked home on the rebound by Alex Cock.
Oxford Hawks lost 3-2 to Spencer in Premier Division 1, with Ed Baldock and Nick Ferraby scoring.
Banbury produced their best performance of the season to defeat second-placed Chichester 3-2 on Saturday.
But they came down to earth with a heavy 9-4 home defeat against runaway league leaders Fareham – who fielded South African Olympians Craig Pell and Geoff Abbot, plus England U21 forward Jonny Kinder – on Sunday.
Adrian Simons netted twice against Chichester, one a fierce low shot and the second after a fine run, and Dave Clarke converted a penalty stroke after Simon Boardman was fouled by the keeper.
Boardman, Dan Smyth, Will Kellett and Clarke were on target against Fareham but tiredness set in and Banbury ended up with their worst defeat of the season.
Rover Oxford chalked up a fine 4-3 win away to Ramgarhia in the Regional division.
Rich Beer and Dan Pilbeam got their first two goals, with Andy Wynd adding the final two.
Meanwhile, Witney beat Neston, from Liverpool, 4-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the HA Vase, where they will be at home to Addescombe on March 8.
OTHER SCORES Fareham 2nd 3, Oxford Hawks 2nd 2; Witney 2nd 4, Ramgarhia 2nd 2; Banbury 2nd 2 (T Instone, G Brooker), Sunbury 2nd 2; Ashford 2nd 4, City of Oxford 2nd 7 (A Small 5, J Gunn 2); Witney 3rd 2 (H Collins, C McGregor), L Buzzard 3rd 1; Witney Wayfarers 3 (T Brown 2, B Carroll), City of Oxford 4th 1 (A Vann); Witney 5th 5, Royal Academy 3; Banbury 3rd 5, Harrow 3rd 1; Banbury 4th 1, Henley 4th 1; Hawks 3rd 7 (D Robins 2, M Sykes 2, R daSilva 2, B de Groen), Newbury & Thatcham 3rd 0; British Airways 4th 3, Hawks 4th 2 (J Black, B Pearson); Hawks Fledglings 3 (T Silman 2, P Dunnill), Eastcote 1; Hawks Falcons 3 (D Hughes 2, P Hall), Amersham Vets 1.
Mercian U16 League: Reading 8, Oxford Hawks 0; City of Oxford/Rover Oxford 9 (J Brownill 4, N Wilks 4, K Ratcliffe), St Albans 0.
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