The return of fixtures after the Christmas break brought happiness for Stevenage Hockey Club - and especially the ladies in their third team.

The 2-1 away to Blueharts fourths means they stay top of East League Division Four South West, by virtue of having scored one more goal than Welwyn Garden City who beat Harpenden 4-2.

Elmarie Gunther and Julie Rhodes got the goals while Bronya Brown was the player of the match.

Two other Stevenage sides weren't so lucky though against Blueharts.

The firsts lost 3-0 to their Hitchin counterparts, the leaders of Division One South, while the fourths went down 2-0 in Division Six South West.

Rachel Davies and Melanie Retberg won the respective star player awards.

The seconds meanwhile drew 2-2 at home to Rickmansworth with a brace from Hannah Collard.

There were only two games in the men's section and the seconds had a day to forget after losing 7-1 at Southgate Adelaide, Tom Woolley getting a last-minute consolation.

The thirds though were at the other end of the spectrum with a thumping 5-0 success at home to Luton Town in Division Five South West.

Harry Burrett hit a hat-trick with Jonathan Swarbrick and Simon Russell completing the rout.