There was also an even split of results on a mixed day for Stevenage Hockey Club in the East League.

Two of the men's team won, while the other two lost, and there were three draws for the ladies, two defeats just beating the one win.

Those winners were the second team who thumped Royston 5-0 away in Division Three South West, leaving them fifth in the table.

The firsts lead the draws, 2-2 away to St Albans.

Chloe Jones put them in front on nine minutes with a reverse stick finish and she got her second before half-time, Liz Phoenix setting her up with a perfect and quick free-hit.

However, Saints pulled one back with 15 minutes to go and equalised with five left to leave the spoils shared.

The fourths had a 0-0 draw away to Blueharts fives, Laura O'Donnell picking up the player of the match award after a very good overall team performance.

The fifths finished 1-1 at home to Hertford but the fifths lost to them 3-2.

The women's over 35 team lost 9-0 at Bedford in the East Hockey Women’s Masters Championships group stage.

The two winners for the men were the thirds and fourths.

The threes beat Hertford 4-1 after coming from behind.

Nick Umney equalised just before half-time and Stevenage were much more expansive in the second period, leading to goals from Umney again and Tim Brewer (two).

The fourths won 1-0 at Broxbourne to pick up their first win of the season.

And they got the only goal of the game when Martin Swarbrick was having a 10-minute sit down after a yellow card.

On the stroke of half-time, a penalty corner was injected by Josh Lake and eventually found the stick of Simon Russell who fired the ball home.

Ian Noble also made his league debut for the fourths.

The firsts lost 3-2 to St Albans, Niall Trimble getting them both, while the seconds went down 5-4 at Shefford & Sandy.

Richard Brendish opened the scoring after four minutes but Shefford were 4-3 up by half-time and made it five before Stevenage pulled another back.

Both first teams at Blueharts picked up impressive 4-0 wins.

The ladies got in front in the first minute, Harriet Marsh on target against Colchester, and although they dominated for long periods, they had to wait until the second period to add more goals.

Liv Byford, Lucy Nissen and Jay Livermore ensured a good day's work.

The men meanwhile got their success over Saffron Walden.

Ben Apperley scored with two penalty strokes with Alex Krekis and Ethan Gaunt also on target.

Standout defensive efforts from Alex Krekis and man-of-the-match goalkeeper Alex Ford brought a clean sheet too.

The thirds stay ahead of the fourths on goal difference as they sit second and third in the Division Three South West standings.

Goals from Ashley and Ben Hammond, plus one from Scott Cromack, saw the threes ease past past Hertford while Noah Tingle got two and Rory Williams one as the fourths beat Southgate Adelaide 3-0.

Paul Krishman scored his customary goal for the sixths as they drew 1-1 with Bedford and the sevenths won 3-0 at West Herts.

Alec Gadsden, Ian Baxter and Gavin Bidgood got the goals there.

It looked as though the last remaining unbeaten record at the club this season could fall when the eighths trailed to MBDA.

But goals from Barry Smith, Max Bond and James Moore swung the match round and despite a late MBDA goal, they took the win.

Back in the ladies' section, the seconds drew 0-0 with Saffron Walden, Grace Thomson pulling off some outstanding saves, but Walden got the nod when they beat the sixths 3-2, Teah Richardson getting both the Blueharts goals.

The prolific Niamh Krishman was among the scorers again for the fourths in their 3-2 win at Berkhamsted & Hemel Hemsptead but the sevenths went down 4-1 to St Albans.