There were some good victories for the hockey clubs of Stevenage and Blueharts.
The ladies' first team drew 2-2 at home to St Albans with goals from Lucy Harvey and Zoe Haddow, although the hosts felt they should have done better considering the amount of possession and chances in their favour.
Stevenage ladies' first team drew with St Albans. Picture: PAUL MANNING (Image: Paul Manning)
The seconds won 2-0 away to Royston with player of the match Holly Portingale and Chloe Jones on target.
They did have a few players missing and did have to dig deep but the second half performance brought their reward.
Daisy Mould slipped a long ball through the middle to Portingale who in turn found Jones in the middle for the opener.
The second came from a short corner won by Claire Weston.
That was played short to Portingale whose shot ricocheted off the back board.
The thirds also won 2-0, at home to Welwyn Garden City.
The two sides had been rivals last season in a titanic title tussle which ended with both teams promoted to Division Three South West.
This game was just as competitive as ever but Stevenage were ahead early with a goal from Evelyn Taylor at the near post.
Number two arrived shortly after half-time after Genna Telfer manoeuvred and held the ball around a number of defenders in the D before reverse flicking the ball up into the net.
However, the fourths and fifths both lost, 6-1 to Broxbourne with Nicki Reynolds the lone scorer, and 6-0 to St Albans.
Stevenage men's second team. Picture: RICHARD ELLIS (Image: Richard Ellis)
Aiden Parker kept up his amazing goal scoring record but that was one of the very few positives for the men's first team as they lost 7-1 away to Royston in Division Two South West.
They were minus six regulars though so will be hoping this is just a blip. First test if that is true comes on Saturday against St Albans.
The thirds also conceded seven, this time to Bishop's Stortford in Division Five, but this time they were unable to score.
The seconds though were in sparkling form as the dominated the middle portion of their game at home to Broxbourne in Division Four to win 5-3.
The visitors had taken the lead in the first half but by the time they got two and three, the game was won by Stevenage for whom Kieran Nowopolski and John Mould stood out.
They are now fourth in the table.
The fourths were given a 5-0 walkover against Southgate Adelaide in Division Eight.
The ladies' third team at Blueharts Hockey Club. Picture: BHC (Image: Blueharts Hockey Club)
The ladies' third team at Blueharts consolidated their position at the top of East Division Three South West with a comfortable 2-0 win at bottom side St Albans.
A sweeping move between Izzy Rutter and Tamzin Wright ended with Josie Layton scoring the first for the Hitchin side.
And with Blueharts remaining disciplined at the back, they nabbed a second thanks to Lizzie Bayley's work rate, Rutter getting the final touch.
They face nearest rivals Bedford on Saturday with a win sending them five points clear.
The men's second team are also table toppers in Division Two after a thumping 7-0 win at Hertford.
A brilliant hat-trick from Tom Russell provided the centrepiece of their win, with two goals each from Adam Wells and Jamie Williams completing the rout.
James Sandford and Sam Rees got the goals as the firsts lost 3-2 to Cambridge University.
The thirds drew 3-3 with Potters Bar with goals from Brandon Mahrra, Chris Batchelor and Will Hammond, Ben Keegan the man of the match, while the fourths beat Bedford 2-1.
Ollie Wright helped himself to a debut goal there with Daniel Harvey also scoring.
And it was a family affair for the Hammonds in the fifths.
Ben got two, brother Ashley got one and Ashley's son, Oscar, all scored in the 5-0 win against Shefford & Sandy.
Pete Mitchell scored the other goal.
Back in the ladies' section, the first team's match at Harleston was cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch and the seconds were beaten 3-1 at Saffron Walden.
Nic Baxter stepped in as emergency goalkeeper for the fourths, also against Walden, but she was powerless to prevent a 6-1 defeat,
The Ladies 5s battled hard against St Albans but went down 2-0, despite an outstanding performance from last-minute stand-in keeper Tia Peek.
Emily Bill scored twice and Katharine Carlyle once for the Ladies 6s in an excellent team performance, but they went down 6-3 against Saffron Walden 5s.
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