Hampstead & Westminster beat Holcombe 7-2 as the race for play-off spots in the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division continues to throw up some enthralling hockey.

Second in the table only on goal difference, Hampstead & Westminster continue to push current leaders and reigning champions Surbiton hard, and in the process dented Holcombe’s play-off hopes.

Goals from San French, Rupert Shipperley (2), Matt Guise Brown, James Oates, James Chaffey and Chris Cargo proved too much for Holcombe, although Nick Bandurak scored two for the Kent outfit.

Meanwhile, Surbiton were 5-1 winners at Reading with Alan Forsyth scoring two and others coming from Ben Boon, James Royce and Hayden Beltz. Lee Morton scored for Reading.

East Grinstead boosted their play-off hopes with a 3-2 win over rivals Beeston, with Simon Faulkner (2) and Ross Stott scoring their goals, while for Beeston it was Elliot Hibell and Nick Park.

The University of Exeter continued to fight hard to avoid relegation with a 3-1 win at Brooklands MU. Thomas Butler, Archie Winter and James Carson scored their goals, while David Flanagan claimed Brooklands’ lone goal.

Wimbledon fired six goals past hosts Sevenoaks, Ed Horley, Phil Roper, Callum Swinnerton-Ions and Jack Waller scoring in the first half before Ben Arnold and Chad Conlon added more after the break.

Men’s Conference East

Sam Ward and James Tindall both scored hat-tricks to help leaders Old Georgians to a 7-0 win over Brighton & Hove in the Men’s Conference East, while Tom Watson also scored in a win which leaves them 12 points clear.

Second-placed Southgate were 3-1 winners over Cambridge City, while Canterbury strengthened third spot with a 5-2 win over Richmond, with Will Heywood scoring a hat-trick for the hosts.

Elsewhere, bottom of the table City of Peterborough were 3-1 winners over Oxted with Joe Finding, Brendan Andrews and Ross Amblers their scorers, while Teddington beat Old Loughtonians 3-2 in a result that could prove vital in both team’s ambitions to make it into the top six and secure a place in Division One for next season.