Durham University 2nds 3 Ben Rhydding 5

Ben Rhydding continued their good run with a third-successive North Men's Premier Division win.

This was a huge game and Rhydding rose to the challenge and played the better hockey against the university side.

The intensity at which the players from Ben Rhydding train is really paying dividends now. Their hard work is being reflected in some good performances.

However, a slow start saw the away team punished as Durham took control.

Superb defending and build up play from Andy Clemerson and Connor Dowley saw their team through this weak phase until Will Musgrave began to stoke things up with a slick corner execution to level the scores.

Callum Franks, ever eager in the D, was on hand to take Rhydding into the lead and make the most of the tireless service from Kieran Borrett and Josh Sykes in midfield.

Big Callum Connor found the balance between daunting power and clinical composure at the back and Ali Jordan put the miles in again.

Cam Herbert made some technically sound decisions in goal and is beginning to grow in maturity as a senior keeper.

The gap was pushed to 3-1 when Musgrave converted again but the students replied immediately with a fast-break goal.

It was Rhydding that looked the stronger side throughout and Harry Sherlock gratefully connected with a well-timed ball in from Borrett to deliver yet another of his signature goals – an impressive, searing deflection.

He continued to link intuitively with Elliot Dowley and the pair of them tore the Durham defence apart.

Dowley was rewarded with a convincing reverse stick shot to take the lead to 5-2 and the game was all but over.

A last-gasp goal for the students was too little too late.