Third-placed Holcombe narrowed the gap at the top of the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division to just one point with a hard-fought 3-2 win over top flight newcomers the University of Exeter.

Nicholas Bandurak scored a brace and Robert Field scored one to secure the points for Holcombe against the University of Exeter.

Ben Cooke and James Ferguson both scored for the visitors, but it was in vain as the newly-promoted side are still looking for their first win of the campaign.

The game between Sevenoaks and Reading ended in a draw, the full-time score being 0-0.

Meanwhile, Canterbury fell to Teddington 4-3 to dent their title hopes in a game that racked up three braces in the Men’s Conference East.

RESULTS

Men’s Hockey League

Premier Division: Brooklands Manchester University 3, East Grinstead 3; Holcombe 3, University of Exeter 2; Sevenoaks 0, Reading 0; Surbiton 2, Hampstead & Westminster 2; Wimbledon 2, Beeston 2.

Conference East: Brighton & Hove 1-6 Old Georgians; Cambridge City 2-3 Old Loughtonians; Canterbury 3-4 Teddington; Oxted 2-0 City of Peterborough; Southgate 2-2 Richmond.