Survival the goal for promoted Saxons

Survival in South Hockey League Kent/Sussex - Regional 2 is the primary aim for last season’s Sussex Area - Division One champions as they prepare for the trip to Sevenoaks II tomorrow (Saturday).

Saxons captain Paddy Cornish said: “It’ll be a tough campaign - a big step up for us. This year will be a transitional one, which will be more about staying in the league than pushing on.”

Saxons’ cause hasn’t been helped by losing a couple of key players over the summer, including George Eldridge, who has departed for university.

Cornish added: “We’ve lost some important players, such as George Eldridge, while we haven’t really recruited anyone new.”

Saxons lost a friendly 3-0 at league compatriots Sutton Valence II last weekend. Cornish, though, was positive about his side’s performance.

“We played pretty well to be honest,” said Cornish, who wished to thank Raisa Rampersad for umpiring. “We looked pretty tight and organised, which is what we’ll need this year in order to stay in the division. They had three decent chances and managed to take them all, while we just couldn’t find the back of the net.”

The serious stuff starts tomorrow with a trip to a Sevenoaks side which finished safely in mid-table last term.

“We could be up against it,” Cornish commented. “But we’ll have a good go and fight to the end. We need to get used to this division quickly in this season of transition.”