This is Exeter -- UNIVERSITY of Exeter face their biggest home match of the season as they tackle defending England Hockey Men's Conference champions Cardiff & Met at the University Sports Park next Sunday (12.30pm). Both teams – who drew the corresponding fixture, and title decider, 0-0 on the last day of last season – head into Sunday's clash on the back of wins. Fourth-placed Exeter will be buoyed by a resounding 6-1 win at basement side Guildford and another two goals for the university's top scorer Nick Cooper, who has 12 for the season. Nick Rees and South African Olympian Ian Haley also scored two as Exeter eased to their biggest league win of the season. All Exeter's goals came from open play, with Rees getting the greens off to a flying start with his third-minute finish. Exeter seek to avenge a 4-2 defeat at second-placed Cardiff at the end of September. Second-from-bottom Isca face their toughest away game of the term, at leaders Team Bath Buccaneers on Sunday (1pm). Exeter-based Isca seek to bounce back from a 2-1 home defeat by University of Birmingham, despite levelling through Tom Poustie after five minutes. Buccs claimed their eighth league win, 3-2 at sixth-placed Havant, thanks to goals from perennial top scorer Tim Davenport and Jack Betenson (2). Betenson scored the 67th minute winner with the scores level at 2-2. Isca University seek to get back to winning ways in the Investec Women's Conference West at home to eighth-placed Firebrands at the University of Exeter Sports Park on Saturday (12.30pm). Isca slipped to fourth following a 2-1 defeat at Oxford Hawks, who overtook their visitors to move up to third despite outstanding performances from keeper Lottie Winnett and Isca player-of- the-match Carla Dunnett. Hawks led 2-0 after 51 minutes before Vicki Gill converted a 65th-minute penalty corner. Laura Allen scored a penalty corner consolation goal for basement side Exe, beaten 6-1 at home by seventh-placed Gloucester City, who led 4-0 at half-time. After 10 rounds, Exe – promoted as West Clubs Women's League champions last season – have yet to win on their return to the national league. Exe face another tough test on Saturday as they visit fifth-placed Swansea Spartans (12pm). Swansea drew 1-1 at ninth-placed Barnes last time out. * *
WOMEN'S
* *
West Premier 1
* *
Taunton Vale 2 Isca C 0
Isca failed to stretch their unbeaten run to four games as they crashed to a 2-0 loss at Taunton Vale. Isca started off slow and had goalkeeper Ffion Barham to thank for keeping the scores level at half-time. In the second half it was Isca's turn to press, but despite good play they could not score. Seven minutes from time Taunton put together a good routine from a short corner to go ahead and quickly made it 2-0. * *
West Premier 2B * *
Isca D 2 Beaminster &
* *
Sturminster Newton 1
Sophie Jefferson smashed the ball in the back of the net to extend Isca thirds' winning run to five games against Beaminster & Sturminster Newton. Lucy Parsons put Isca ahead inside 15 minutes, but the second half saw Beaminster equalising from a penalty corner. Isca continued to dominate though, with Jefferson deservedly getting the winner. * *
Premier 2
* *
Bude 2 Exe C 1
Exe seconds fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Bude. The North Cornwall side dominated possession early in the first half, leaving Exe trailing 1-0 at the break. The second half saw Exe show more attacking intent, but Bude still managed to score a second. Emma Scott caused the home side's defence problems, whilst player-of-the-match Mel Vaggers was the engine room in midfield and her drag-flick goal from a penalty corner was deserved. * *
Petroc 1
* *
Isca E 5 Sidmouth and Ottery C 0
Isca fourths built on last week's win to beat Sidmouth and Ottery at home. Kazz Hayes opened the scoring with an excellent reverse-stick flick from close range, then doubled her tally from a penalty corner. Isca pushed on in the second half to score again from a penalty corner, through Ruth Weeks, before Olivia Eaton-Jones scored an individual goal. Weeks added another shortly before the end. * *
Isca F 3 Teign B 1
Nicky Southgate scored twice as Isca fifths beat Teign seconds. Kayleigh Valler converted Isca's first-half pressure into a 1-0 lead. Nicky Southgate then slotted in the second goal after a good move before adding another late in the second half. * *
Petroc 2
Exe E 1 Okehampton C 1
Sarah Bennett scored as Exe fourths got a well-earned point against Okehampton seconds. Exe started in a positive manner but it wasn't unil nine minutes to go that Sarah Bennett received a fantastic pass from Daisy Bowmer and slotted the ball past the Okehampton goalkeeper. It was not enough to give them victory though as Okehampton equalised with the last hit of the day. * *
Under-16 cup
* *
Taunton Vale 0 Isca 7
Megan King hit four goals as Isca thrashed Taunton Vale in the EHB Under-16 Cup. King hit a first-half hat-trick to add to a good strike from Lizzie Fearnley to give Isca a 4-0 half-time lead. In the second half Isca kept up the relentless pressure and Kye Silver scored early, lifting a shot over the goalkeeper. A goal was added by Sophie Jefferson before King rounded off the scoring. Isca now go through to the regional finals on March 2. * *
MEN'S
* *
South East 1
* *
Isca D 3 Minehead A 1
Hywell Williams scored twice as Isca D beat newly-promoted Minehead A 3-1. Isca started strongly and created several chances before Williams opened the scoring. Good work from Alex Boldy set up Williams for another goal in the second half, before an own goal put Minehead back in the match. But, Sean Garbutt then scored following a goalmouth scramble to seal the win. Reported by This is 3 days ago.
WOMEN'S
* *
West Premier 1
* *
Taunton Vale 2 Isca C 0
Isca failed to stretch their unbeaten run to four games as they crashed to a 2-0 loss at Taunton Vale. Isca started off slow and had goalkeeper Ffion Barham to thank for keeping the scores level at half-time. In the second half it was Isca's turn to press, but despite good play they could not score. Seven minutes from time Taunton put together a good routine from a short corner to go ahead and quickly made it 2-0. * *
West Premier 2B * *
Isca D 2 Beaminster &
* *
Sturminster Newton 1
Sophie Jefferson smashed the ball in the back of the net to extend Isca thirds' winning run to five games against Beaminster & Sturminster Newton. Lucy Parsons put Isca ahead inside 15 minutes, but the second half saw Beaminster equalising from a penalty corner. Isca continued to dominate though, with Jefferson deservedly getting the winner. * *
Premier 2
* *
Bude 2 Exe C 1
Exe seconds fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Bude. The North Cornwall side dominated possession early in the first half, leaving Exe trailing 1-0 at the break. The second half saw Exe show more attacking intent, but Bude still managed to score a second. Emma Scott caused the home side's defence problems, whilst player-of-the-match Mel Vaggers was the engine room in midfield and her drag-flick goal from a penalty corner was deserved. * *
Petroc 1
* *
Isca E 5 Sidmouth and Ottery C 0
Isca fourths built on last week's win to beat Sidmouth and Ottery at home. Kazz Hayes opened the scoring with an excellent reverse-stick flick from close range, then doubled her tally from a penalty corner. Isca pushed on in the second half to score again from a penalty corner, through Ruth Weeks, before Olivia Eaton-Jones scored an individual goal. Weeks added another shortly before the end. * *
Isca F 3 Teign B 1
Nicky Southgate scored twice as Isca fifths beat Teign seconds. Kayleigh Valler converted Isca's first-half pressure into a 1-0 lead. Nicky Southgate then slotted in the second goal after a good move before adding another late in the second half. * *
Petroc 2
Exe E 1 Okehampton C 1
Sarah Bennett scored as Exe fourths got a well-earned point against Okehampton seconds. Exe started in a positive manner but it wasn't unil nine minutes to go that Sarah Bennett received a fantastic pass from Daisy Bowmer and slotted the ball past the Okehampton goalkeeper. It was not enough to give them victory though as Okehampton equalised with the last hit of the day. * *
Under-16 cup
* *
Taunton Vale 0 Isca 7
Megan King hit four goals as Isca thrashed Taunton Vale in the EHB Under-16 Cup. King hit a first-half hat-trick to add to a good strike from Lizzie Fearnley to give Isca a 4-0 half-time lead. In the second half Isca kept up the relentless pressure and Kye Silver scored early, lifting a shot over the goalkeeper. A goal was added by Sophie Jefferson before King rounded off the scoring. Isca now go through to the regional finals on March 2. * *
MEN'S
* *
South East 1
* *
Isca D 3 Minehead A 1
Hywell Williams scored twice as Isca D beat newly-promoted Minehead A 3-1. Isca started strongly and created several chances before Williams opened the scoring. Good work from Alex Boldy set up Williams for another goal in the second half, before an own goal put Minehead back in the match. But, Sean Garbutt then scored following a goalmouth scramble to seal the win. Reported by This is 3 days ago.