Royston Hockey Club round-up

ROYSTON Hockey Club Men’s IIs secured promotion to Division 4SW with a thrilling 3-2 win over West Herts IVs on Saturday.

Royston started fairly slowly but gradually found their feet as the half wore on but were dealt a blow when sweeper Nigel Gadsby was forced off with a hamstring injury.

Things got worse for Royston when they found themselves a goal down after a penalty corner.

Royston started the second half brightly as they set about getting back into the match but they were dealt another blow when West Herts went two goals up from another penalty corner.

The goal kicked some life into Royston and within a minute Darren Hicks had pulled one back. And they were soon level when Nick Freeman scrambled home the equaliser.

West Herts were shell-shocked and found it difficult to contain the resurgent Crows and unsurprisingly Royston went ahead when Freeman flicked home from a penalty corner. Within the space of five minutes they had gone from down and out, to winners, and with it a well-earned promotion.

Royston Men’s IIIs were unable to avoid relegation to Division 8SW following a 3-1 defeat to Southgate Adelaide IIs on Saturday.

It was probably unfortunate that the team Royston had to beat to stand any chance of avoiding the drop was a Southgate side who came into the match on the back of a 14-game winning streak, and with an outside shot of winning the league title.

Royston actually put in one of their best performances of the season and forced 10 short corners and plenty of chances throughout. However the visitors went two goals up before half time and then a third shortly after the break.

Jarryd Bassett turned home a Dan Smith Crows to give them the goal they deserved but in the end relegation was confirmed at the final whistle.

The Ladies’ Is beat Broxbourne 4-0 but, despite finishing in second place in the league, were unfortunately not promoted.

Player of the Match, Ruth Askham, put Royston ahead with a short corner before she went on to complete a hat-trick with two further goals in the second half. Wendy Holt added the other in what was a deserved victory.