Dereham's East Men's League hockey side are probably ruing the fact that Christmas has come early for them, after their resurgence con-tinued with a third consecutive Premier A victory on Saturday, 2-1 over Cambridge Uni-versity.

Dereham's East Men's League hockey side are probably ruing the fact that Christmas has come early for them, after their resurgence con-tinued with a third consecutive Premier A victory on Saturday, 2-1 over Cambridge Uni-versity.

While most teams have one more round of fixtures, Dereham's game this weekend has been postponed, meaning they must wait six weeks for their next match.

With the form they are in - Saturday's win moved them out of the bottom two - the interruption has come at a bad time. They hosted a Cambridge University side on a similarly hot streak, the visitors unbeaten in their previous six league games. The students took the lead inside the first 10 minutes.

Dereham's attacking flair created several chances in the first half. Their persistence paid off when Laurie Hill converted a short corner with a low drag flick and Hill added a second just before the break, beating several defenders before scoring with a powerful shot.

Cambridge came back strongly, but the home defence held firm. Dereham had their chances in the second half, with the pace of Michael Timm, Sam Plater and Callum Callahan causing problems, but the goal that would have provided breathing space eluded them.

Norwich City IV 0, Dereham IV 6

WITH the M & A Partners Norfolk Hockey League Division Three top spot in their sights, Dereham set out with great gusto, but the game was evenly balanced for 20 minutes.

The deadlock was broken by Rebecca Smith-Ames who pounced on the ball following a determined run from the right by Hannah Bebbington. Dereham kept up the pressure and Jackie Taylor found space to slot two past the keeper before the half-time break.

The first 20 minutes of the second half, like the first, were evenly balanced. Chloe Cushion-Swales, playing as sweeper, had a few crucial moments when City were on the attack but Emma Milton, Sam Colman and Fran Leverett kept their heads and kept the ball well away from Natasha Grapes who had very little to do in the Dereham goal.

The midfield players - Paige Thompson, Smith-Ames, Kim Hazell and Carolyn Reid - had a busy game. Another chink appeared in the City armour and play through the middle created the opportunity for Taylor to get her hat-trick.

This was the start of another period of sustained attack by Dereham. Player of the match Neola Bush found space and opportunities from the wings with her pace, and the fifth Dereham goal, scored by Beth Redpath, and the sixth by Bebbington were ricly deserved.

Dereham: Hannah Bebbington, Sam Colman, Chloe Cushion-Swales, Neola Bush, Natasha Grapes, Kim Hazell, Fran Leverett, Emma Milton, Beth Redpath, Carolyn Reid, Becca Smith-Ames, Jackie Taylor, Paige Thompson.