Olympic medallist Sally returns to Bowdon Hightown (From Messenger Newspapers)

Olympic medallist Sally returns to Bowdon Hightown

12:50pm Monday 1st October 2012 in Sport

OLYMPIC heroine Sally Walton made her first start for Bowdon Hightown since winning a bronze medal with Team GB - and they finally produced what their early season form had promised.

The were emphatic 4-0 victors over England Hockey Investec Premier League side University of Birmingham.

Bowdon dominated the early exchanges and could have scored twice in the opening minutes before a lengthy injury stoppage after Sally Walton had a shot saved off the line courtesy of a Birmingham forehead.

A period of scrappy hockey followed before Nat Wray broke the deadlock on 23 minutes with a well taken goal.

The second half saw Bowdon stretch the opposition with some very fluid attacking play. Charlotte Hartley, Tina Cullen and Clare Parkhill all scored in the second period. Tina Cullen also had a penalty stroke well saved.

Bowdon Hightown travel to league leaders Surbiton on Saturday. Bowdon will be eager to keep themselves in the mix in the top half of the table in the Saturday afternoon clash at their London based opponents, who despite being promoted to the top division have won all three of their opening fixtures.

Bowdon men travelled to Warwickshire to face Khalsa in the Northern Conference. Dave Egerton marked his return to the side after a shoulder injury with a goal in the ninth minute. The away side lacked concentration conceding just a minute later in a lacklustre first half performance. Concentration was lacking again straight after the restart with Khalsa taking the lead. This was the catalyst to spur on Bowdon who went onto dominate the second half. A battering of offensive play saw Bowdon equalise in the final ten minutes from an own goal. Bowdon were thankful for the point having come from behind, but left frustrated with some big learning points to take into next week's home game against Doncaster on October 7, 2pm.

Bowdon Men ran out winners on Sunday in the England Hockey Cup beating Yorkshire rivals Leeds Gryphons 3-1.