Royston Hockey Club round-up

ROYSTON HOCKEY Club Men’s First Team went down 2-0 away at Welwyn Garden City on Saturday.

The home side took the lead midway through the first half when a speculative ball forward from defence was controlled well by the Welwyn player and calmly pushed past ‘keeper Chris Markham. Royston needed a reaction in order to gain a control of the game but it never came.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, with Royston on the back foot to a hard-working opposition.

Welwyn added to their lead following a miscontrolled run along the Royston baseline from a forward player, eliminating two of the visitors’ defenders before putting a misplaced pass into the Royston goal mouth to be slotted home by a Welwyn player.

Royston rallied late on but they were unable to find the net as Welwyn held on for the win.

The Men’s IIs suffered a 4-1 defeat to Broxbourne IIs in Division Four with Josh Hughes scoring a late consolation following a neat pass from Duncan Warner.

The Men’s IIIs endured an even heavier defeat against Harpenden Vs – going down 6-1.

They started well with Steve Gourd putting them a goal up but things soon deteriorated as Harpenden ran out convincing winners.

The Ladies’ First Team fared better in their friendly match against Shefford & Sandy as they won 5-1 with goals coming from Lucy Richardson, Vicki Bidwell, Wendy Holt, Sophie Gathercole and Denise Underwood, who was joint player of the match with Ruth Askham.

The Ladies’ IIIs overcame a spirited Hertford IVs 6-3 in their friendly match.

Julie Walsh scored twice to put Royston two-up before Hertford scored two themselves. And they later went 3-2 up before Walsh completed her hat-trick to level proceedings again.

And from then on it was all Royston who scored three more goals in the second half through Heidi Whittaker – who also helped herself to a hat-trick.