Ladies hockey LETCHWORTH Ladies showed all their fighting qualities to take a well-earned point against Chelmsford 2nds. They started strongly and had the better of the play in the opening exchanges against the team third in the East Premier League. With

Ladies' hockey

LETCHWORTH Ladies showed all their fighting qualities to take a well-earned point against Chelmsford 2nds.

They started strongly and had the better of the play in the opening exchanges against the team third in the East Premier League.

With few clear chances created at either end in the first half, Letchworth went into the new half confident that they could take something from the game.

But it was the Essex side who struck first, with a well-taken goal five minutes into the half. And Letchworth suffered more misfortune with the loss of central defender Jenny Thomas following a nasty blow in the face.

Letchworth never let their heads drop though with Lizzie White having a storming game in place of the injured Thomas.

An equaliser always looked on the cards with Sarah Parkhouse increasingly dominating the midfield and youngsters Justine Lucas, Sam Berry and Rachel Williams influential up front.

It came 12 minutes from time with a trademark goal from last season's top scorer, Amanda Wood - playing just her second game this season - roofing a loose ball into the Chelmsford net. Letchworth continued to press and looked more likely to score until the closing seconds, when two penalty corners to the opposition on the stroke of full-time tested the nerves.

The ladies face more tough fixtures this weekend with back-to-back trips to the league's top two teams, Canterbury (Saturday) and Sevenoaks (Sunday).

The seconds lost 4-1 to local rivals Shefford and Sandy despite a goal from Haidee Castle.

Stevenage Ladies lost 4-2 at home to league leaders Holcombe.

They can take heart from a strong performance with the goalkeeper and defence, including player of the match Jo Biggs, holding firm at the start. But Stevenage were left reeling as Holcombe hit them with three quick goals before half time.

Stevenage took the game to Holcombe after the break, coming close on several occasions, before a quick break from the visitors saw them go four goals up.

As Stevenage kept pressing forward, they got their reward with a fine goal, Holly Mould finding Lucy Harvey in the D who slotted home after some neat stick work.

This spurred them on and they won a couple of late short corners. The last of these was fired home by Harvey for her second after a great routine to give the scoreline a respectable look.

A depleted second team went down 2-1 to Leighton Buzzard 2nds, skipper Amanda Pollard scoring. The thirds lost 1-0 to Bishop's Stortford and the fifth team were beaten 2-0 by Hertford 4ths.

Blueharts Ladies made it four wins in a row with victory over South Herts.

They dominated the possession and shots on goal with a determined display against another team above them in the Five Counties League Premier who they had lost to in the first half of this season.

Fantastic play between Carol Lamey and Jo O'Flaherty in midfield, with Claire Bennett and Heather Abbiss back on the right, saw Blueharts.

The whole team kept control of the ball, passed accurately and looked faster and fitter then the opposition.

Lamey narrowly missed two one-on-one chances with the keeper.

The first goal saw Abbiss take advantage of a goalmouth scramble as she had her stick in the right place to open the scoring before half time.

Unfortunately Lamey suffered an ankle injury midway through the half, and had to leave the field, but once the team had regrouped normal service was resumed.

The second half saw South Herts equalise from a short corner but this seemed against the run of play.

Harts concentrated on their passing and saw outstanding link play between Sarah Ince, O'Flaherty and Kerry Moss.

The tireless Sam Vaughan was rewarded for her efforts throughout with a great winner in the last quarter of the game.