The East Hockey League is officially on its winter break now as clubs mopped up some outstanding fixtures.

There were two wins and three losses in the games played by Stevenage Hockey Club, the victories coming for the women's first team and the men's thirds.

The L1's were one of two teams to play Harpenden this week and they notched up their fourth win of the season with a 3-0 win sending them fourth in Division Two South West.

The fifth team also played Harpenden but were not so lucky as they went down 5-0 at the Nobel School.

The other victors, the men's third team, struck gold when they beat Letchworth fourth 2-0.

It was a much needed win as they sit in 10th place out of 12 in Division Five South West.

The men's first team followed what is now a familiar pattern with their forward line coming up trumps but as on several occasions this season the defence failed to contain the opposition.

On this occasion they scored four but conceded eight to St Albans.

Their high scoring has meant five victories along the way and they are in fifth place in Division Two South West going into the Christmas break with a 5-1-6 record.

The final match saw the men's fourths travel to Bedford but lose 2-0.

 

The Hammond brothers continued their prolific season as each scored a hat-trick as the men's fifth team at Blueharts continued their revival.

Ashley and Ben Hammond collected a treble apiece in their side’s 6-2 win at Harpenden 3s which sent the Hitchin side up to the top four of the East Division 4 South West.

But young goalkeeper Joshua Partridge was also a key figure with a string of outstanding saves which earned him the man of the match award.

The Ladies fifths were also winners on Saturday as goals from Dani Flood, Millie Winton and Niamh Krishman gave them a 3-2 victory at Royston.

But they were the only ladies winners as the twos were beaten 2-0 against Bishops Stortford despite a fine performance from player-of-the-match Isla Watts in midfield.

The sevenths were beaten 6-3 by Saffron Walden but had the consolation of two goals from Claudia Taylor and one from Elsie Burston.

Ben Apperly and Graham Burr were on target twice each as the men's first-team drew 4-4 against Cambridge City in the East Premier Division.

They went ahead with a goal from Burr but needed to rescue a 4-1 deficit with 15 minutes to go.

The seconds' unbeaten run came to an end at Bishops Stortford when they went down 6-0 to a powerful home side.

Paul Buckland scored twice in the fourths in a 3-3 draw against a skilful Vauxhall side, Sean Storey scoring the other one with Oliver Brigginshaw outstanding for Blueharts.

The sixths were beaten 5-3 at Royston, Mark Russell on target twice and Paul Krishman once for Blueharts.

And there was defeat for the sevenths against second in the table Hertford.

they had gone 4-0 down but did at least fight back with goals from Joe Grennell and Terry Salisbury and standout displays from Dan Kench and debutant Alec Gadsden.