Verde Recreo Men’s League
Championship
Taunton Vale 4, Swindon 2

TAUNTON Vale men’s 1sts closed the gap at the top of the Championship to just two points after a 4-2 home win over sixth-placed Swindon on Saturday.

Second-placed Vale are breathing down the necks of table-toppers Cardiff & Met A, although the Welsh side do have two games in hand.

The top two meet in Cardiff on March 9, but Vale’s next assignment is another home match, this time against eighth-placed Plymouth Marjon A, on Saturday (noon start).

The next day (Sunday), they travel to Cardiff & Met B, who are bottom of the table (start time tbc).

Southern 1
PGSOB A 4, Taunton Vale A 8

THE men’s 2nds came out on top of a 12-goal encounter away to their Plympton Grammar School Old Boys counterparts.

If they were expected to cruise past the team rooted to the bottom of the league, it didn’t turn out that way, but still the visitors picked up the three points.

Top of the table by one point from Sidmouth & Ottery, Vale go to Truro A, who sit eighth, this Saturday (11am).

Central 1
Westbury & UB A 5, Taunton Vale B 1

VALE B remain uncomfortably close to the dropzone after a heavy defeat to third-placed Westbury & UB A at the weekend.

The Taunton side are in 10th, one point ahead of second-bottom Team Bath Buccs C.

Bath Buccs visit Gipsy Lane this Saturday for what looks to be a pivotal match (1.30pm).

South East 1
Taunton Vale C 4, West Dorset 3

THE 4th XI consolidated their top-half position with a narrow win over the team immediately above them, West Dorset.

The three points see them lie sixth in the table, ahead of this Saturday’s trip to 10th-placed East Devon C (1pm).

South East 2
Sidmouth & Ottery B 2, Taunton Vale D 1

THE men’s 5ths suffered a disappointing away loss to lowly opposition, which sees them slip further away from the promotion battle.

Now sixth, seven points off second (albeit with a game in hand), Vale are at home to Chard B, who are currently eighth, on Saturday (3pm).

South East 3
Taunton Vale E 2, Bridgwater D 1

VALE E took another step towards the South East 3 title at the weekend, with a hard-fought win over third-placed neighbours Bridgwater.

The result leaves them four points ahead of Minehead B, with a game in hand – Bridgwater are 13 points off the top two.

Vale are without a match this weekend, returning to action away to East Devon D on February 24.

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TAUNTON Civil Service men’s 1sts enjoyed an emphatic 5-0 win over East Devon C in the Verde Recreo Men’s Hockey League South East 1 on Saturday.

They stay second, three points adrift of leaders ECV Hornets A, and travel to Yeovil & Sherborne A on Saturday.

Civil Service A had a busy weekend, taking four points from their two matches.

They drew 3-3 in an entertaining match at West Dorset A on Saturday and there were no signs of fatigue on Sunday as they cruised past Isca E 7-0 in South East 2.

Civil Service A welcomed Bridgwater 2nds last night and host league leaders North Devon A at Bishop Fox’s on Saturday.

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TAUNTON Vale Ladies shared the spoils with Isca 2nds on Saturday.

The sides drew 2-2 in the West Clubs Women’s League Premier Division 1.

Vale stay ninth and now have 13 points from 15 matches - they are without a match on Saturday.

The only two other Vale ladies teams in action over the weekend were the 5ths and 6ths, but both lost their Sedgemoor 2 matches.

The 5ths were beaten 3-1 at home by Taw Valley 2nds and the 6ths went down 6-0 at Sidmouth & Ottery 2nds.

The 5ths’ defeat saw them slip to fourth in the table, while the 6ths remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Both are back in action on Saturday, with the 6ths at ECVH 2nds and the 5ths hosting Bridgwater 2nds.

In Sedgemoor 1, Vale ladies 4ths host ECVH 1sts - who lost 4-2 at Taunton Civil Service 2nds last Saturday.

Civil Service 1sts return to action when they welcome Clifton Robinsons 3rds to Bishop Fox’s on Saturday.