Two points behind, but with a game in hand on the leaders, are Jersey Hockey Club Thornbacks, who are themselves only a couple of points ahead of OV Victims and JHC Gobis.
Thornbacks are in that encouraging position partly because they have taken six points from two matches scratched by Victoria College 1sts, and partly as a result of the changes to the league at the start of this season.
The decision to mix the teams and make matches less one-sided appears to have worked well.
Thornbacks are a good example, as they finished third at the end of last season – but 22 points behind second-placed Convicts.
Adrian Heelis, the Investec men’s league representative said: ‘The whole idea was to spread first team players across all club teams.
It means that teams like Thornbacks, now with first team players among them, are doing much better.
The changes have certainly made for more better games for all the teams.
Heelis said that the changes have also encouraged Hautlieu – who topped Division II for a few years – to take the option of promotion.
‘There was too big a gap between first and second division before, but Hautlieu made the jump this season and have won some matches and are developing their standard.
But the new system can never be completely even.
The Hockey Club and OV club sides have the advantage with more members available to play.
But overall I think the changes are working well.’ Just two Division I games were played at the weekend.
OV Convicts 7, OV Victims 3: Convicts had the best possible start, scoring seconds after the start of play, with Tom Davies deflection past Victims’ goalkeeper Andy Brown.
Victims were not discouraged, and looked dangerous as they came forward, with Mike James, Sean O’Flaherty and Robin Le Quesne breaking from midfield.
James equalised for Victims after the ball broke to him in the D, but Victims regained the lead a few minutes later when O’Flaherty was on hand to convert a rebound off Convicts’ goalie Garret O’Brien.
Convicts equalised again moments later after Tom Minty turned defence into attack with a superb 50-yard pass to Tom Davies, on the edge of the D.
He nut-megged the last defender and slotted the ball home.
Convicts got another before half-time, when a penalty corner resulted in the ball falling to Minty who finished well for his first goal for almost five years.
Convicts assumed control after the break and several penalty corners were awarded.
Mark Dicker converted two, with drag flicks high into goal.
Gordon Hunt continued his recent form, adding another from open play.
Dicker hit the post from a penalty flick, but went on to complete his hat-trick from open play moments later.
Victims battled hard, and gained a consolation after Nick Cawley was fouled in the D.
Jon Cartmell converted the resulting penalty stroke.
JHC Ormers 2, JHC Gobis 2: Ormers’ Ali Hall missied a clear chance before Gobis scored against the run of play, through Stuart Ramskill.
Ormers continued to push forward and Alex Frost scored the equaliser just before half-time.
Gobis rallied after the break, Jon Ireson scoring 15 minutes in.
A third strike followed but the effort was disallowed.
Both teams squandered a number of good chances but Ormers crept back and were awarded a contentious short corner in the dying minute from which Alex Frost converted to make it 2-2.
Ormers can count themselves lucky to have taken a point from the game as Gobis were the better team on the day.
Hautlieu HC 4, Crusaders 5: This was a friendly, between Crusaders and Hautlieu HC.
As is always the case between these old rivals, the match was hard-fought and there was plenty of good, open play.
Hautlieu scored first, after 12 minutes, but Crusaders equalised quickly – and the pattern was set, with Hautlieu going ahead and Crusaders playing catch-up until they got to 3-3.
Then Crusaders went ahead, and Hautlieu equalised but Tim Kearsey was on hand to produce the winner for the Division II side.
Scorers: HHC: Adam Smith (three), Richard Brooks.
Crusaders: Peter Titterington (two), Simon Garton, Matt Taylor, Tim Kearsey.
