SWINDON maintained their unbeaten start to the season and moved to the top of the West Premier 2A division after securing a 1-1 draw with Team Bath 2nds.

Both teams were well organised and keen to play expansive hockey but neither were able to get the winning goal.

The opening encounters were even with both teams forcing penalty corners and some solid saves from the Swindon keeper Sarah Newman kept the score even.

It was Swindon who created the best chances of the half with Vic Stokes and Gemma Scrase combining to create two chances that were not converted, bringing to an end a goalless first half.

The second half immediately saw Bath take the ascendancy and they were rewarded after seven minutes when they converted a penalty corner.

Even though Bath continued to press, it was Swindon who scored the equaliser after 16 minutes.

Adrianna Boullosa was quickest to react after the first shot of a penalty corner was saved by the Bath goalie and used her experience to calmly slot the equaliser into the net.

Swindon began to tire late in the second half, but strong performances from Rachel King and Claire Sage kept the score at 1-1.

Player of the match Sage said: “This was a real test for the team.

“We feel great that we gained a point from one of closest rivals at the top of the table.’’