Sam Chilvers struck twice for Oxford Hawks as they began their South League Premier Division 2 season with a 3-3 draw at Lewes.

However, as Lewes equalised with just a minute to go, Hawks returned home feeling they should have had three points in the bag.

Lewes led 1-0 at half-time but the Oxford outfit came out far stronger in the second half.

Chilvers changed from left half to centre forward, and within minutes he tapped in a bouncing ball which a Lewes defender failed to control.

Hawks were getting stronger as the game went, on but Lewes went ahead with a well-taken deflected goal.

Hawks drew level after a defence-splitting pass from Nick Lamb for Chilvers on the penalty spot to deflect in.

With five minutes to go, the keeper stopped Freddie Coppin’s initial shot, and Ted Bennett followed up to make it 3-2. Three points looked secure, but the ball was given away cheaply, and Lewes levelled.

Banbury also managed a draw away from home in their opening game, as they held Spencer (Wandsworth) 2-2 in Premier Division 1.

Matthew Bull struck both goals with two penalty corners, clinically dispatched.

A change in tactics when they were one down, with midfielder Tyson Nunneley dropping deeper to enable Ali Slay and Richard Forman to push forward from the flanks, brought Banbury back into it.

Witney began their Area Division 1 campaign with a 5-0 demolition of Slough 2nd.

Slough were put under constant pressure, and Witney were rewarded through a Lewis Barnard short corner.

This was swiftly followed by goals from Richard Demczak and Edwards, putting them three up at the break.

The job was completed in the second half with Demczak’s second and a first league goal for captain Tim Hardy.

Goalkeeper Peter Bowen was Bicester’s man of the match in their 3-1 win at Abingdon in Division 2.

Bicester’s goals came from Geoff Snell, Chris Ruff and a CJ Birtles penalty flick.

Owen Blackburn struck for Abingdon.

OTHER SCORES Rover Oxford 3rd 1 (K Murfin), Newbury 2nd 2; Witney 3rd 7 (L Frost 2, B Baker, N Vigar, G Wisby, J Crowley, D Woolard), Hawks 4th 2; Witney 4th 4 (B Carroll, T Yallop, R Dyer, M Jarvis), Wycombe 6th 0; Bicester 2nd 4 (A Surana 2, Buxey, Humphreys), Abingdon 2nd 1; W Hampstead 2nd 4, City 2nd 0; City 3rd 8 (J Burke 3, D Painter 2, L Cadman, R Bentley, J Harvey), Maidenhead & 3rd 3; Banbury 4th 4, Witney 5th 1 (S Summers); Wallingford 2nd 1 (J Churchill), Wycombe 4th 1; Wallingford 3rd 2, Banbury 3rd 2; Bicester 4th 4 (P Winspear 2, S Birtles, D Johnson), Newbury 4th 3; Wallingford 4th 4, Reading Univ 2; City 4th 1, Wallingford 5th 3; Hawks Fledglings 6 (P Dunnill 4, J Rogers 2), BA 3rd 2; Hawks Falcons 8 (I Sobey 4, S Griffiths 3, P Curtis), Oxted 1.

Wessex Masters League: Teddington 5, Oxford Hawks Senators 1; Portsmouth Vets 2, City Bulls 3 (A Bowen 2, P Scragg).