Royston Men I 3 Blueharts II 2 A SOLID performance with three excellent short corners saw Royston take a well earned win away from their match against Blueharts on Saturday. The hosts began the match the stronger, but soon found themselves on the back foo

Royston Men I 3 Blueharts II 2

A SOLID performance with three excellent short corners saw Royston take a well earned win away from their match against Blueharts on Saturday.

The hosts began the match the stronger, but soon found themselves on the back foot as Blueharts pushed hard for the opener.

It was, however, Royston who took the lead as they caught the visitors on the break with Nick Hurd slotting in a penalty corner.

Throughout the match few chances in open play were created by either side, with set pieces looking the most likely route past the 'keepers.

Blueharts eventually equalised, and the scores remained level until half time.

The second period saw dogged play by both teams but once again it was Royston who took the lead and this time it was a another Nick, Ross, who applied a quality finish.

After a long spell of scrappy play, the home side put the game out of reach for Blueharts when they sealed the victory through Hurd. Blueharts scored a second shortly afterwards but it was in vain as Royston walked away with all three points.

Royston II 1 Berkhampstead II 0

ROYSTON put in a solid team performance against Berkhampstead by battling hard, defending resolutely and failing to give up on chasing the victory.

The winner of this close contest came midway through the second half with Darren Hicks taking the goal and whooping with celebration.

Royston III 1

Winchmore Hill & Enfield III 5

WINCHMORE Hill & Enfield Thirds started this match strongly by scoring from a counterattack and a deflected short corner strike.

Royston thought they had one back when Paul Visagie flicked home only to discover that play had been stopped moments before to award them a short corner.

The resulting move went unconverted.

The north Londoners showed how it should be done with their next set piece to move three ahead, a lead they extended to four with a goal early in the second half which effectively killed the game.

Royston continued to try and play their hockey and were rewarded when Craig Jackson rode two heavy challenges to set up skipper Keith Markham to put his side on the board.

Straight from the restart Ed Hall's run and cross beat the defence and 'keeper, but Visagie, with the net gapping, was just unable to reach the ball despite diving full-length.

Winchmore Hill, who were as strong a side as Royston Thirds have faced this season, caught the hosts on the counterattack for their fifth goal.

Royston IV 3 Stevenage IV 4

ROYSTON never led this match and were punished by a late goal despite levelling things up with just five minutes remaining.

Royston were hampered by injuries going into the game and were left with just the bare bones as only eight fit men started the game.

This proved to be their undoing.

Stevenage scored late on to take the victory whereas a draw, despite the lack of numbers in the Royston ranks, would probably have been a fair result.

On the plus side, there was a second hat-trick in a week for Paul Bloomfield.

Royston V 6 Stevenage VI 4

ROYSTON'S Youth Development team played an outstanding attacking game of hockey to deservedly secure their first league win of the season.

Steve Gourd opened the scoring in the first five minutes after great approach play from Josh Hughes and Ed Weatherhead, but a deflected equaliser put Stevenage back in the game.

The leveller didn't last long, however, as John Gourd pounced on a rebound opportunity to see Royston in to the break a goal up.

Royston were punished for not marking tightly at the back and quickly found themselves 3-2 down as the second half opened up.

The Crows came to life with Toby Hall setting up Steve Gourd with a simple tap in opportunity and he completed his hat-trick with a well taken shot only a few minutes later.

John Gourd scored his second of the game with a great first time sweep shot from a pin point cross from Hughes before Simon Hughes rounded off Royston's scoring after he was also set up perfectly by Hughes.