Royston III 8 Welwyn Garden City 0 LANGUISHING at the bottom of NE14 Hockey East League Division Seven table, Welwyn came to Royston and were given a hiding. Once again Royston were in control throughout, creating chances at will, with goals coming from

Royston III 8 Welwyn Garden City 0

LANGUISHING at the bottom of NE14 Hockey East League Division Seven table, Welwyn came to Royston and were given a hiding.

Once again Royston were in control throughout, creating chances at will, with goals coming from Nicholas Broadley (2), Nicholas Freeman (2), Andrew Simmons (2), Clive Biddlecombe (1) and Arnold Whittaker (1).

Royston's first three goals came from well engineered short corners as Freeman worked his magic in the opposition D.

As Welwyn's legs began to tire, gaps appeared, allowing the front three to explore and create which produced a further goal from open play before half-time.

In the second half four more goals followed, with Simmons, Broadley, Biddlecombe and Freeman all on target.

With only five more league games to play, ­Royston remain on top and are improving each week.

Skipper Nick Broadley said: "I am so impressed with our youngsters, because every week they learn and deliver.

"They're now hungry for the win and show it with increased determination in each game."

Hertford III 1 Royston IV 7

THERE were also plenty of goals for Royston IV as they hammered seven past helpless Hertford III.

Having lost to Harpenden last week, The Crows bounced back and added to their increasing fire power as the league's second-highest scorers.

Despite having the bare 11 players, Royston impressed throughout, with goals coming from all over the field, including from captain Matt Brunt.

However, it was man-of-the-match Chris Watson who ran the show, covering every inch of the pitch and holding together the sometimes fragile ­Royston defence.

The visitors cruised into a 4-0 lead by half-time, with keeper Craig Jackson having very little to do, after Watson had opened the scoring with a well-taken finish.

Early in the second half, the hosts hit Royston with their own well-worked strike that had Jackson beaten at his right post.

However, Colin Bateman finished calmly to put Royston further in front, before Brunt added a sixth, reacting quickest to a rebound.

Alongside Watson, Tim Yow was controlling the midfield, with Chris Berry also enjoying an impressive game.

Then from a set -piece the visitors completed the rout when Colin Smith's deflected shot found the advancing Bateman who smashed the ball high into the Hertford net with a superb half-volley.

Berkhamsted & Hemel Ladies 0 Royston Ladies 3

ROYSTON Ladies came away from their trip to Berkhamsted with another great win. Sophie Gathercole opened the score with a superb early strike, and Sarah Buckerfield fired in a second following a short corner. Midway through the second half Royston were rewarded with a third when Julie Fuller slotted home a confident strike.

Royston Ladies III 0 Harpenden Ladies 2

PLAYING top-of-the-table Harpenden was always going to be tough for Royston, with two early strikes sinking their hopes of an upset.

Forced to defend for most of the first half, ­Royston shipped the early goals, despite fine defending from Di Hassen, Teresa Smith, player-of-the-match Jo Pearce, and keeper Tash Ball.

Royston played much better after the interval and were unlucky not to pull back a goal after some determined attacking hockey, with both Sarah Warren and Caroline Yarrow going close.