WELL, Watt a turn up! Reading, holders for the past two years, have been sensationally knocked out of the England Hockey Cup by a team led by one of their former stars, writes Dave Wright.

Andy Watts, heavily involved in previous cup triumphs as a player and coach, inspired Oxford Hawks to a memorable victory at Sonning Lane on Sunday.

The scores were level at 2-2 after 70 minutes before Hawks went on to win the penalty shoot-out 4-3 with Watts putting them on their way.

It looked promising for the Premier Division side when skipper Ciaran O'Connell fired them ahead inside the opening 20 seconds and Charlie Ellison made it 2-0 from a penalty corner midway through the half.

Blues, missing three international players, were left stunned as the Conference West side hit back to equalise before half-time with two goals in quick succession from Kit Cutter and Sam Chilvers, with Watts being involved in the build-up to the equaliser.

Reading never looked like regaining control in the second half with the Hawks, growing in confidence, defending solidly and giving their hosts very few scoring opportunities.

In the penalty shoot-out, Watts was first up for Oxford and his shot was stopped by keeper Chris Weaver, diving low to his left, only for the ball to trickle inches over the line.

With that bit of luck, the Hawks sensed it was going to be their day and it was completed when goalie Chris Price stuck out his stick to deny O'Connell.

This shock reverse means Reading can now concentrate on improving their league position. They are currently sixth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Holcombe, which leaves them with ground to make up if they are to reach the play-offs.

This Sunday (2.30pm) they are home to bottom club Sevenoaks, who have yet to win a league game this season.

Blues will again be without GB duo Liam Sanford and Lee Morton, but Owain Dolan Gray is back from Wales duty, having won his 100th cap in the 4-0 win over the USA during a tournament in Spain last weekend.

Gareth Furlong, who plays indoor hockey for Reading but not outdoors, was among the scorers.

Reading Under 18s are through to the quarter-finals of the national U18s Tier 1 Championship following their 4-2 home win over Havant last Sunday, their goals coming from Sam Welsh, Richard Mulvany, Oliver Clark and Fred Newbold.

They will be away to either Ashmoor or Cheltenham on February 17.

Reading Women, whose home fixture with Exe was a victim of the bad weather last Saturday, take on winless Oxford Hawks in a Conference West fixture at Sonning Lane this Saturday (4.30pm) with the sides lying third and second from bottom respectively.

With Amy Tennant on GB duty and Aurora Mears having joined Wimbledon, 15-year-old Holt School pupil Abigail Miller will make her league debut in goal, while Abbie Dixon has returned to the club after leaving university and there is also a return for fellow teenager India Shakespeare.

Player-coach Jo Ellis said confidence in the camp has been buoyed by performances in recent friendly matches which saw the young Blues beat Southgate 9-0 and Leeds 4-1 while drawing 1-1 with Wimbledon.