HOCKEY: Kidderminster's DTZ League Midlands One struggle continued as they missed four regulars in a 9-1 defeat at Hampton-in-Arden.

The town's local derby at home to Old Halesonians on Saturday is vital if they are to move off the bottom of the table.

They made a strong start last weekend and created chances only to be denied by the Hampton keeper before the home side took control.

The Warwickshire side converted two easy goals and added another four in a frenzied 10 minutes.

Kidderminster regained composure for the rest of the half and then benefited from a constructive half-time team-talk by captain Chris Pocknell.

The visitors scored from a well-worked move straight from the re-start, resulting in a fifth league goal for Paul Grummitt.

An injury to sweeper Phil Williams forced a positional re-shuffle which hindered Kidderminster's flow and Hampton scored two more goals.

But the town fought until the end with youngsters Chris Brazier, Rob Sorrell and Neil Jackson impressing.

Kidderminster 2nds 2 Wolverhampton 2

A first success of the season was nearly achieved by the seconds in their latest DTZ League game in a good team effort.

After conceding an early goal, the defence, marshalled by Richard Maw, stuck to their guns and a fine display kept Wolverhampton at bay.

The second half saw Wolverhampton trying for a second goal but Paul Rhodes grabbed an equaliser.

Rhodes burst from the halfway line midway through the period and beat the keeper at the second attempt as the opposition backed off.

An encouraged Kidderminster showed extra spirit and Rhodes again opened up the visitors to score from the top of the D.

Wolverhampton tried to pull the game back but Maw rallied his defence and it looked like a first win of the season.

But the visitors equalised with a penalty corner in the dying seconds as their striker for once eluded Jimmy Thorpe's challenge to beat the unsighted keeper.

Leamington 8 Kidderminster 3rds 0

Fixtures, Saturday: Kidderminster 1sts v Old Halesonians, Leamington v 2nds, 3rds v Barford Tigers (friendly), Solihull Blossomfield v 4ths, Ladies v Stourport 3rds.