Berkhamsted hockey sides show plenty of pre-season promise

A successful day saw the Berkhamsted sides score 23 goals – setting them up nicely for the opening day of the new campaign on Saturday.

The ladies’ first team were up first at home and had a dominant 3-0 win, with player of the match Chloe Alecock having an outstanding game on debut.

The men’s first team put in a disappointing performance and crashed to a 6-2 defeat, but the men’s second XI followed up with a far more dominant display to win 3-0.

The men’s thirds then rolled over their Leighton Buzzard equivalent 6-0 in another dominant display, while the men’s fourth team continued the fine results with a convincing 4-0 win.

Goal of the day was scored by Oli Johnson, while there were welcome returns to the fold from Graeme Hart and Jim Carlile.

Back in Tring, the ladies’ second XI beat Leighton Buzzard 3-0 with Charlie Nash scoring on her debut. Becca Bowman also scored.

After that, a combined ladies’ third and fourth team had a pulsating game – winning 2-1. Goals came from Teri Payton and Alanah Ware, with an assist from Liz Holderness on her birthday.

Over at the Meadowcroft pitch, the men’s fifth squad had a bit of a mismatch against a stronger-than-planned Rickmansworth, losing 8-1.

The men’s firsts also played a midweek match against Amersham and Chalfont. A pulsating game resulted in a 3-3 draw, and the two teams will play a final friendly match on Thursday.