Men's 3rds are pick of the bunch in a top weekend for BHHHC hockey

The Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead Hockey Club mens third team preserved their league status after a tight 4-3 victory over West Herts.

The highlight was seeing the men’s third team triumph over West Herts in a must-win clash in their last game of the season on Saturday.

The tight 4-3 victory in a very even game saw the side avoid relegation – on goal difference.

Berko’s goals came from a Gareth Gainer brace, Steve Redman and Ben Moorhouse.

Also on Saturday, the ladies’ 3rds had a stunning 5-0 win against Welwyn after goals from Annamarie Wagner, Charlotte Holland, Kate Hedge and Andrea Bettridge (two).

The only negative was a bad leg injury to Liz Holderness who had to be taken to hospital.

The ladies’ third team were in action just 24 hours later when they drew 1-1 at Saffron Walden, their goal coming from player-of-the-match Sophie Lawrance.

With one game remaining, it means the ladies’ 3rds will finish in a creditable third place in the league –only just outside the promotion places in a really good season.

The men’s fourth team won their last game of the season 4-0 away at a sunny West Herts on Saturday.

The goals came from Paul Dubenski (two), Paul Whitby and David Wells. The team had a consolidating league campaign, finishing in fifth place in the table after being promoted the season before.

The ladies’ second team had a brilliant morning in the sun on Saturday after a fabulous 1-0 win against promotion-contenders Hertford.

A beautiful goal scored by Clare was the decisive factor and her side showed some amazing skills and ball control throughout the clash.

On Sunday a rather stiff and achy ladies’ 2nds were at it again, this time against Harpenden, where some resilient defending meant Berko came away with a 0-0 draw.

The side finished the season in a solid fourth place in the league, which should stand them in good stead for a promotion challenge next season.

The men’s fifth team made the short journey to St Albans where they won a close contest 2-1 after goals from Alex Gilmore and David Sutcliffe.

It’s been a positive season overall this year for the side. They are now unlikely to threaten the higher reaches of the bottom league but they notched a number of decent victories and can just about argue that they deserved to finish in mid-table.

The ladies’ fourth team played out a pulsating 1-1 draw against promotion contenders St Albans.

In an end-to-end game that could have gone either way, Berko initially went 1-0 down but they managed to equalise in the second-period through Ellie Cella after an assist from Ophelia Love.