GOING into the mid-season break Stourport men's thirds, fourths, fifths and sixths are all well placed in the title chase for the top divisions of their respective hockey leagues.

The first team have also had their positives, attracting Pakistani international Imran Yousaf who has scored 17 goals already in his first season.

Dan Packwood, only 17 years old, has started the last five National League games, and has looked accomplished. Andy Pocknall has also made the step up to first team hockey.

STOUPORT 3rds 9 EDGBASTON 0

With the first and second teams without a fixture the thirds took top billing at home to Edgbaston.

Stourport took control of the midfield area and supplied chances for Phil Baldwin and David Knott from the start. Baldwin converted with his first two touches, the second a superb reverse stick shot.

Within ten minutes Knott doubled the score, taking his chances well after good running from Scott Dimmock and Marcus Hyde-Fynn entering the line at pace from right half.

After half time Stourport were equally dominant and apart from a handful of short corners which were dealt with by Danny Baldwin in goal, it was one-way traffic.

Knott completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after he was flattened by the advancing keeper.

With the game effectively won Mark McKinnon was given the freedom to show his dribbling skills and scored the goal of the game, beating three defenders, spinning on the edge of the circle and blasting home with an unstoppable shot. Baldwin and Knott collected another goal each before Steve Ellis wrapped up the game from close range from Scott Dimmock's simple pass.

BELPER 1 STOURPORT 2nds 7

The fourths were in devastating form and their strength in depth was outlined by five different scorers.

Such was the dominance that skipper Mike Taylor was able to open his account for the season from his midfield holding role. Andy Pocknall also had a fine game and made the best use of the extra time on the ball to bring Steve Taylor and the front three into the game.

Andy Watson's presence was yet again the telling factor up front, and his two goals along with Pochnall's brace were complimented by single strikes from the industrious Steve Odell and Godfrey Lamb.

STOURPORT 5ths 6 BOURNVILLE 4ths 4

Gareth Pritchard opened the scoring after ten minutes with a neatly taken finish, but saw his strike cancelled out midway through the half.

With five minutes until the break Bournville scored from a short corner and began to take some control of the game. The vital goal came seconds before half time when Robin Conway converted a short corner.

Stourport took the lead when Neil Stone unleashed an unstoppable shot as the home side piled on the pressure, and in-form Dave Bedford extended the lead when his tremendous stick work left the keeper stranded and he drilled into an empty net from the top of the circle.

Bournville rallied and pulled a goal back before Adrian Moulam's range of passing brought dominance back to the blues. Robin Conway notched two more from short corner variations and although the visitors scored again the two goal lead was sufficient.

STRATFORD 4ths 2 STOURPORT 6ths 4

Andy Martin made his huge presence felt right from the first whistle and belied his 60 years. However, with the absence of Stourport's three usual defenders Stratford struck first with a good goal.

Stourport equalised and soon extended the lead to 3-1 thanks to Martin, Gareth Whale and Alastair McIntyre.

Stratford pulled a goal back but due to some excellent defending by Scott Nelson making his debut for the team there was no way back for the home side.

Martin ensured a Stourport victory with a mazy dribble and an assured strike into the roof of the net.