PLAYERS used brooms as well as sticks this week as only a handful of hockey fixtures survived the freezing conditions.

Wisbech Town Hockey Club

WEATHER played havoc with the fixture list on Saturday - but stalwarts Simon Freear and Dom Stannard swept the pitch to ensure the third team got a game.

Two hours later the duo may have been wishing they had left their brooms in the shed as the thirds threw away a three-goal lead to slump to defeat against Cambridge South.

Dan Martell’s hat-trick looked to have given the thirds victory but, after losing Roger Goode to a facial injury, they shipped four goals to surrender the points.

• THE men’s II were the only other side to beat the freezing conditions - and they claimed their 11th league win of the season.

Goals from Jason Esser, Matt Goodwin, Lee Peck and Hugo Atkins earned the unbeaten seconds their 4-2 triumph over Cambridge South II.

March Town Hockey Club

THE men’s first team failed to follow up on their first victory of the season as they slipped to a 4-1 defeat against Old Southendian.

Matthew Lynn’s goal could not prevent the Division One basement boy’s 11th loss of the season.

• A STORMING second-half comeback fell just short as the men’s II were pipped 6-5 by Bourne Deeping.

The seconds, who trailed 5-1 at the break, almost staged a remarkable recovery courtesy of Charlie Boughton’s hat-trick and Toby Odlin’s brace.

But Deeping’s decisive sixth goal was enough to secure them the points in Division Four North-West.

Long Sutton Hockey Club

THE men’s II produced a ruthless finish to their first half of the season as they spanked March III 12-2.

Nick Bailey smashed seven goals in the demolition job, with Jeremy Watt (2), Stefan Fox, Luke Lovegrove and a March own goal the other entries on the scoresheet.

• THE men’s firsts had to settle for a point after City of Peterborough III fought back from 3-0 down to claim a 3-3 draw while the ladies’ II fell to a 4-1 defeat against Spilsby despite a goal from player of the match Lisa Baker.

• JAMES Baker grabbed a goal for the men’s IV but they were beaten 3-1 by Horncastle II.