East Premier A Harleston Magpies 5 Letchworth 5 Harleston Magpies entertained Letchworth, a side sitting two places below them in mid-table.

Magpies started brighter, maintaining possession and creating several early openings.

Shortly into the first half the bright start paid dividends with Magpies earning a penalty stroke, which was duly converted by Ben Wright.

Letchworth hit back after a run down their right-hand side culminated in a cut back, which was slotted past keeper John Livings.

Magpies responded well, with two goals to extend their lead to 3-1 – Wright from a second penalty flick and Archie Winter on his return to the side following a period of absence due to school commitments.

The team were not able to build on this lead though and gain the three-goal cushion required, and after some Letchworth pressure a pass found its way through to a lurking Letchworth player who slotted it in under the keeper.

Just before half-time, Magpies again hit back to extend their lead to 4-2 at the interval.

Skipper Leigh Sitch took advantage of a wide injection from a penalty corner, to place a clean strike in the bottom right of the Letchworth goal.

The two goal lead at half-time felt like just rewards for the home side.

The second half was a more even game. Letchworth were the first to strike, pulling two goals back to level at 4-4, the equaliser being an unfortunate own goal.

Magpies again responded through man-of-the-match Winter to take the lead with seven minutes to go.

However, a few minutes from full-time Letchworth again equalised, converting a penalty stroke to round off a 5-5 draw and a pulsating game.

Magpies will be disappointed not to have closed out the game, after leading numerous times. The result leaves Harleston sitting fourth in the table on 27 points from 15 games.

Old Loughts lead the league with 43 points from 17 games.

This week the team travel to Dereham in a re-arranged fixture.

For more information about the Magpies, visit www.magpies-hockey.co.uk.