Rover Oxford Ladies suffered a big setback to their hopes of staying in the National League when they lost their first play-off match 2-0 to Sevenoaks at Iffley Road on Saturday.

They play their second play-off game next week away to Whitley Bay – and they have to win in order to give themselves any chance of remaining in the England Slazenger League next season.

The Oxford side looked a little sleepy in the first few minutes of Saturday’s game.

This crucial play-off game was always set to be hard and Rover did not help themselves from the opening whistle.

Once composed, they started to fare better but they were finding it difficult to get the ball out of defence.

Some crucial saves from goalkeeper Caroline McCulloch and defender Carolyn Brebner kept Rover in with a fighting chance but finally Sevenoaks scored a goal in the 21st minute.

Rover looked more fired up in the second half and took the game to Sevenoaks.

Despite some excellent att-acking play from Emily Court, just back from England duty at the Under 16 four-nation tournament, Rover were un able to slot the ball away.

Lorraine Campbell and Rebecca Demczak kept the momentum going and despite wave after wave of Rover attacking play, they just couldn't find the net.

Against the run of play, in the 65th minute, Sevenoaks slotted their second goal. Rover continued their intensity to the end, but it was to no avail.

Other score: Aylesbury 2nd 2, Oxford Hawks 2nd 1 (R Nagle).

MORE than 700 children took part in the 17th Rover Oxford Junior hockey festival at the weekend.

It is one of the UK's largest junior hockey tournaments. Matches took place at Coke-thorpe School and Witney ATP.

On Saturday, the youngest age groups competed for the winners and runners-up medals with City of Oxford beating Oxford Hawks 2-0 in the Under 8s final while hosts Rover Oxford overcame local rivals Hawks 1-0 in the Under 10s competition.

Local clubs’ dominance was broken by Bambridge Academy whose long trip from Northern Ireland was rewarded with a fine win in the Under 12 boys competition, beating Wallingford 3-2 in the final.

On Sunday, City of Oxford drew 2-2 with Hawks in the U14 boys final but City held their nerve, coming through to win in 2-1 the penalty shoot-out.

The Under 16 girls competition saw Cheltenham beating West Witney 1-0, while in a high-standard Under 16 boys final, Eastcote overcame Teddington 1-0.

Aylesbury squeezed past West Witney 3-2 on penalties after a goalless U12s final while Hawks lost 2-0 to a strong Aylesbury team in the U14 girls final.

Fair play trophies were presented to Wallingford U14 boys, West Witney U14 and U16 girls, Rover Oxford U16 boys and Hawks U12 girls.