HAT-TRICK hero Nicki Siarbawa was unable to guide Rugby & East Warwickshire to maximum points in their 3-3 draw with Khalsa Leamington on Saturday.
The result keeps Rugby in fourth, while KL stay second and in contention for the Midlands Women’s Premier title.
Siarbawa netted a penalty stroke for her first, finished off a fine team move for her second, and then was clinical in sweeping home from a penalty corner in clinching her hat-trick.
In Division One of the Warwickshire Women’s League, the Seconds edged second-bottom Atherstone by a single goal at Queen Elizabeth School and Sports College.
Jess Naylor was the player to provide it, deflecting goalwards from a short corner to win a game that remained a tight affair throughout.
Rugby & EW remain sixth.
A promotion push remains in sight for the Thirds, who were 2-1 winners against Sutton Coldfield Sixths in Division Three.
Third-placed REWHC (38pts) keep the pace with Old Silhillians Seconds (43 pts) and leaders Warwick Thirds (46pts) as a result.
Defeat was suffered by the club’s Fourths, falling 2-0 to Coventry & North Warwick Seconds in Division Four.
The scoreline would have made more difficult reading for Rugby however, had it not been for Chrissie Chater’s penalty save against the league leaders.
Rugby stay seventh.
A Tom Robson strike was the difference in the 1-0 win for the first team against Warwick in Midlands Division One.
It keeps Rugby’s title as ‘best of the rest’ intact, sitting second on 28 points behind runaway leaders University of Nottingham Seconds on 41 points.
Robson finished accurately after great link-up play with Adam Hewitt, while a resolute defensive effort from the home defence ensured no way back for Warwick.
Chesterfield’s first XI put the second string to the sword in a 7-1 thrashing in Division Two.
Alex Hammant’s goal to try and inspire a fightback was in vain against the rampant hosts, who stay second a point behind Olton & West Warwick Seconds in the search for promotion.
In contrast, Rugby remain second bottom.
Similar struggles have been encountered by the Thirds in East Midlands Premier this season, a trend which remains following a 2-1 defeat to Stratford Seconds.
Second-bottom Rugby controlled the game at 0-0, but fell away despite going in front through Owen Armstrong’s deflected strike.
Rugby Fourths fought back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against respectable opposition in Northampton Saints’ third XI.
The high-flying hosts, who find themselves up in second, looked certain to earn a 12th win this term, until Rob Hedderwick’s penalty stroke and Richard Cook’s equaliser rescued a point for Rugby – who stay sixth.
There appears to be no end to the enthralling inter-club battle between the Fifths and Sixths for second place in Division Two.
The second-placed fifth XI brushed aside bottom-side Coalville 3-0, while Charlie Darbyshire, Aden Noorullah, Will Antrobus, Richard Hardy and Nick Dowling helped the Sixths, who remain third, to a 5-1 demolition of Ashby Thirds.
