Blueharts ladies are still on course for promotion after maintaining their unbeaten record.

The Hitchin-based hockey club's first team drew 1-1 at struggling Basildon and are now one point ahead of St Albans in East League Division One South but having played a game less.

They have won 13 and drawn four of their 17 league games and new coach Steffan Taylor, formerly of Bedford, puts the success down to a "brave evolution", referring to the team's adoption of an entirely new formation early in the season.

The men's first team's season has been more of a mixed bag.

Finding themselves in the Premier Division relegation zone before Christmas, they have produced a strong run of results to climb up to seventh, 10 points above the bottom two.

Their latest result was a 2-0 win at home against second-placed Cambridge University, a side who had beaten them 8-0 earlier in the year.

The goals, on either side of half-time, came from Sam Rees and Graham Burr.

One result that did not go Blueharts way was their men's third team losing 8-1 to Stevenage firsts in Division Two South West.

The result keeps Stevenage second in the table, four points adrift of leaders Harpenden, while Blueharts remain bottom.

Aiden Parker put Stevenage ahead early and went on to score half of his side's goals.

Niall Trimble got two with Jack Scott and Andy Gardner finishing off the romp.

Stevenage's seconds lost 4-1 at Cheshunt to remain bottom of Division Three, Tom Woolley getting their only goal, while the thirds saw their ever-decreasing promotion hopes sink with a 4-2 loss at St Albans in Division Five.

Ian Jackson and John Mould had dragged them level after a poor start but they conceded another two to slip down to fifth, seven points behind West Herts in second.

They were much happier over in the ladies' section after a superb set of results.

The firsts arrived at their home game with Old Southendians in Division One South on the back of some great performances but disappointing results.

But they put it all together here, winning 3-0 thanks to a first-half goal from Nikki Greaves and two after the break from Charlotte Aldred and Liz Phoenix.

 

That leaves them eighth in the table.

The thirds remain second in Division Four but are still in the driving seat after a 3-0 win at Saffron Walden.

They are still just a point behind Welwyn Garden City but have a game in hand. Much though will depend on the outcome of next week's match against their also unbeaten rivals.

 

Julie Rhodes, Elmarie Gunther and Hilary Siddall got the goals in Walden.

The fourths drew 1-1 at Bedford, Liz Siddall the scorer, while the fifths were held 0-0 at Shefford & Sandy.

The player of the match was debutant Tania Makumire who "worked her socks off on the forward line".