Bromley's under-18 girls' hockey team was involved in a rather unusual non-league fixture when they lined up against a Crackenford Veterans' XI

This was the first time either team had tried out such a contest between youth and age. The veterans were all in their 40s and 50s, with at least one 60-year-old.

Joanne Mansfield neatly slotted home for the girls after 15 minutes. But the veterans cleverly exploited lapses in the girls' defences to lead 3-1 at the break.

While the veterans did manage to add one more to their half-time score, the girls put away six with Hannah Greenwood, Hayley Kennedy and Alice French each netting twice to complete a 7-4 win.

Meanwhile, in their Mercian League match against Old Mid-Whitgiftians, the under-16 boys made up for last week's defeat against the powerful Old Williamsonians team from Rochester, who had put a weakened Bromley side to the sword 6-0.

Matt Illingworth, Iain Beable and Nick Saunders all found the back of the Old boys' net before half time.

After the interval Illingworth completed the season's first hat-trick, closely followed by Beable, who completed his own treble with an unstoppable shot. Philip Cross and Brian Weedman then scored to complete the 9-0 rout.

Bromley ladies' first team drew 3-3 with Maidstone in the Printwize East League when again Bromley were guilty of relaxing when conceding atwo-goal lead.

Chris McNeill restored Bromley's lead from a penalty corner, but Maidstone rallied and then equalised in the dying seconds.

November 27, 2001 12:16