Cronkbourne Bacchanalians smashed eight goals past Keswick 1st XI in round one of England Hockey’s Men’s Tier 2 competition on Sunday.

The visitors probably started as marginal favourites as they currently lie fifth in North West Division Two.

The first stages of the game saw Keswick show a better first touch on the ball and generally more time and space, especially down the right where they often had an overload.

But it took until the 20th minute for the first real chance of the game. Craig Leece for Ramsey Crookall-sponsored Bacchas found space on the penalty spot but his effort was well saved.

Keswick forced the first short corner on 24 minutes but the advantage was lost by a poor routine.

Bacchas had a corner four minutes later and Andy Whiting’s low flick was too powerful for the Keswick keeper.

It looked like Bacchas were going to go into the interval with an unlikely lead but Keswick forced a corner on half-time and their low flick found the corner to leave it 1-1.

Bacchas came out of the blocks swiftly in the second half, forcing a corner in the opening minute - again rifled home by Whiting.

After four minutes, centre back Will Hassall dribbled his way past up to four players in the Keswick half before realising where he was playing.

One minute later a great interplay down the left between Jonny Callow and Whiting split the defence to find Karl Moore unmarked a yard out to make it 3-1.

Bacchas were now controlling the game and, on 14 minutes, a lovely slip by Elliot Reid found Whiting who rounded the keeper to complete his hat-trick.

Keswick were reeling even more after losing their influential defensive midfielder with a knee injury, and Shae Christiansen fired a great low, reverse-stick shot from the edge of the ’D’ to make it 5-1

While Bacchas controlled the game, Keswick continued to press for a consolation but it was Bacchas that scored next after a lovely one-two between Moore and Callow, enabling the latter to score from close range.

The game was now end-to-end and Keswick forced a short corner with five minutes remaining that they were unable to convert.

With two minutes left on the clock a quick break and deft lay-off by Tony Bentley-Roberts gave Moore the time to fire in from the edge of the D to make it 7-1.

But the scoring wasn’t finished as Bacchas captain Jamie Brown deservedly got on the sheet after a great team goal involving half-a-dozen players. The game finished Bacchas 8, Keswick1.

It was well controlled by umpires Jon Whiting and Peter Foxton.

Canaccord Genuity Vikings Men’s A travelled to Kendal to take on a side some had described as dangerous. In truth they provided very little resistance to a truly dominant display from the All Blacks.

Vikings very quickly gained control of the game and dominated the ball, quickly scoring via a well-taken Steven Crowe short corner. By half-time they were enjoying a 3-0 lead.

The second half was much the same and although the opposition did manage to register two shots on goal late on they failed to convert their only opportunities of the game.

Ramsey Men’s A didn’t know what to expect when they took on Keswick Men’s second team, but with the brilliant Antonio Ferreira part of the squad the northerners held high hopes of success.

Indeed Ramsey were able to dominate the game and once they had taken the lead never surrendered it, winning quite convincingly.

A girls’ under-18 composite side travelled to Neston in Cheshire to take on a team that they had previously lost to.

This time round Sienna Miller proved to be the star of the show, scoring an impressive hat-trick. The side was ecstatic after the match and are already looking forward to their next game.

Congratulations to all sides playing in the UK competitions this season. There are high hopes for the other teams competing over the next few weeks.

tim leeming/sam spooner