Canterbury’s men remain mired at the foot of NOW: Pensions National Premier Division after allowing a lead to slip to a home defeat against Hampstead & Westminster on Sunday afternoon.

New signing, former Australian international hitman Craig Boynes struck the opener just 10 minutes in at Polo Farm, and the lead stood until three minutes into the second half when, despite marshalling Kiwi short-corner specialist Andy Hayward, the city club defence could not prevent South African Matthew Botha from firing the equaliser from a penalty corner.

The scores were tied until three minutes from time when Botha fired his second to break Canterbury hearts and leave the hosts seven points behind second-bottom Brooklands and eight adrift of Southgate with six games remaining.

Canterbury Ladies kept up with the pace as Investec Premier Division action resumed with a 4-1 win at struggling Buckingham on Saturday.

PLayer-coach Jen WIlson fired the visitors ahead from a penalty corner after eight minutes, and although GB international Zoe Shipperley levelled from a set-piece after 15 minutes, four minutes later Susannah Townsend had restored the city club lead.

Townsend made it 3-1 with her second six minutes into the second half and Hayley Turner sealed the points with a fourth 18 minutes from time.

Canterbury are third, six points adrift of leaders Surbiton with six games to play, but with a nine-point lead in the race for the Championship play-off places.

Holcombe lost ground in the race for the top-four after a 4-2 humbling at Bowdow Hightown, who began the day second-bottom.

Lisa-Emma Crewe’s penalty corner strike and a Tina Cullen double in a two minute burst made it 3-0 to the hosts at the break and though Nicole White pulled one back from a penalty stroke on 53 minutes and then grabbed her second nine minutes from time, Holly Hunt ended the comeback with a fourth two minutes later.

Holcs are sixth, 10 points behind Canterbury and two adrift of fourth-placed University of Birmingham who occupy the final play-off place.