A FINE hat-trick by man of the match Mark Alcock helped St Helens Hockey Club to a 5-4 victory at Manchester University.

The success means they remain second in the table.

However, the students struck first in this game, but St Helens hit back immediately through Alcock.

Minutes later Paul Horton made it 2-1 with a 12-yard piledriver - his 27th goal of the season.

Alcock then fired in his second before completing his hat-trick from a short corner.

The goal feast continued as the student fought back to 4-3.

Then the Travis brothers linked for Phil to rifle in a shot from the edge of the D.

But the University refused to lie down and could have drawn level had Tony Chafer not cleared off the line at the death.

St Helens meet Ulverston at Ruskin Drive this Saturday (1.30).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.