Hockey round-up: Derby day delight for Blueharts' men

The men's first team needed to come from behind to do it as they won 2-1 away to the Whitethorn Lane-based club.

It was a third straight success for the Hitchin lads in the East Premier Division but they started slowly and Letchworth’s domination was rewarded with a goal from Dylan Parker.

This served as a wake-up call for Blueharts who equalised when man-of-the-match Matt Gardner fed Dan Fair who converted inside the D.

It was the cue for waves of Blueharts attacks, all repelled by the impressive Letchworth keeper.

The winner finally turned up with James Sandford on target and Blueharts then comfortably saw the game out.

There were two other games between the clubs with wins shared.

A first senior hat-trick for Charlie Moore was the centrepiece as the sixths won 4-1 win against Letchworth fourths, Paul Krishman continuing his prolific scoring form with the other goal.

Philip Britton was on target twice but the fifths were beaten 3-2 by Letchworth thirds.

There was also a clash between the two clubs in the ladies' divisions.

That went the way of Letchworth, their fourths beating Blueharts sevenths 6-0.  

Blueharts firsts headed to the National Stadium to take on Crostyx and fittingly played some of their best hockey of the season – albeit in a game in which they led a three-goal lead slip to draw 3-3.

Helen Clarke, Ellie Johnson and Harriet Marsh all scored to put Blueharts in control, with Lucy Nissen at the heart of their excellent play.

But the home side hit back with two quick goals and after pushing the Blueharts back, they completed the comeback in the dying seconds.

The seconds were beaten 4-0 by an impressive Broxbourne side, after going 3-0 down inside the first 20 minutes, but Fiona Hutchings led the way with all four goals as the thirds beat Royston 4-2.

The same score saw the fifths beaten by St Albans while the fourths went down 3-1 at Saffron Walden, despite a goal from Niamh Krishman.

Two goals from Hannah Ross though earned the sixths a 2-1 win against Hertford.

Back in the men's section, goals from Paul Buckland and Seb Walton-Adams earned the seconds a 2-1 win over Waltham Forest.

There was a real family affair for the threes as youngster Oscar Hammond was on target in their 6-0 victory over Cheshunt – along with dad Ashley and uncle Ben.

James Morris scored twice and there was also a goal for skipper Scott Cromack in the impressive win.

Goals from Dan Harvey, Joe Dalrymple and Gillan Ide saw the fourths to a straightforward 3-0 win over Rickmansworth, which keeps the side joint top of Division 3 South West.

The sevenths also won, beating Royston 3-0 at home with George Raynor, Charlie Streater and Bobby Bridges scoring, while the eighths maintained their unbeaten start to the season with two first-half goals from Thomas Flinn helping to see off St Albans.

That win also marked by some excellent second-half stops from keeper Connor Hager.

The ladies' first team at Stevenage. Picture: STEVENAGE HC (Image: Stevenage Hockey Club) Stevenage's only wins of the day came from the top two teams in the ladies section.

The firsts won 3-1 away to Bishop's Stortford in Division Two South West.

There were a lot of chances in the opening 30 minutes but no goals until Nikki Greaves picked the ball up just inside the Stortford half.

She turned her defender and sprinted to the goal, rounding the keeper and netting from a tight angle.

The home side equalised two minutes into the second half but Stevenage pressed on and a short corner played to Liz Phoenix was perfectly struck to make it 2-1.

Lara Gavillet wrapped things up in the closing minutes, Jude Seller providing the assist.

The seconds won 4-3 at home to Rickmansworth.

They took the lead after two minutes with Chloe Jones converting a Kate Mouncey cross and doubled that six minutes later through Alfie Gunther.

Bec McGrellis completed a superb first half with the third but they allowed the visitors to pull two back before McGrellis got her second with a penalty flick.

Rickmansworth did grab a third but Stevenage held on.

The thirds lost 2-0 at Letchworth seconds and the fourths lost 3-1 to Letchworth thirds, all after Nicki Reynolds put them in front.

The fifths lost 5-2 to St Albans.

Over in the men's section, the first team went down 7-2, also to Bishop's Stortford. Goals from Matthew Oliver after 20 minutes and Niall Trimble on 56 were unable to affect the result.

The thirds and fourths continued the tales of woe as well.

The threes went down 5-0 at Welwyn Garden City while the fourths were beaten 4-0 at home to Hertford.

The seconds had a bye week, as does the entire league on Saturday.