Men’s Premier Division
Reigning champions Hampstead & Westminster were 4-3 winners at Beeston with Matt Guise-Brown scoring a hat-trick, while Hywel Jones also scored for the London side.
Chris Proctor scored twice and Adam Dixon added another for the hosts, but it wasn’t enough.
Elsewhere in the men’s Premier Division, hat-tricks from Ben Boon and Luke Taylor helped Surbiton make an emphatic start to the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division with a 10-1 victory over Reading on Saturday.
Taylor scored twice and Boon once as Surbiton led 3-1 at half time. Reading’s goal came from Andrew Oxburgh.
But the second half was all Surbiton, with both Boon and Taylor completing hat-tricks while other goals came from Rob Farrington (2), Alan Forsyth and Arjan Drayton-Chana.
Old Georgians fired five goals past visitors the University of Exeter as they made a great start to life in the top flight.
Tom Carson and James Tindall scored two each for the hosts, while Exeter’s only goal came from Tom Brooks.
Holcombe ran out 5-3 winners over East Grinstead. Goals from Robert Field and Chris Griffiths ensured it was 1-1 at half time, before the game sprang to life after the break.
Holcombe scored further through Barry Middleton, Jeremy Edwards, Tom O’Keefe and Nick Bandurak, while East Grinstead’s goals came from Simon Faulkner and Liam Ansell.
Wimbledon also secured a good away win, beating Brooklands MU 3-1 with goals from Ben Arnold, Jack Waller and Jonny Codling. Andrew Jackson scored the home side’s only goal.
* Statistics, full scores and table from the Men’s Hockey League are available by clicking here.
Ladies’ Investec Premier Division
Newcomers Hampstead & Westminster made a great start to life in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division, beating hosts Beeston 4-1 on the opening day of the season.
After being promoted from the Conference East last season, Kate Richardson-Walsh’s side have added significantly to their squad including international ace Grace Balsdon who opened the scoring with a sixth minute penalty corner.
Sarah Robertson put the promoted side 2-0 up before Rosy Stephens cut the deficit just before the half. Robertson doubled her tally in the 43rd minute before Joyce Esser added another only two minutes later as the London-based side went top of the table.
Elsewhere, reigning champions Surbiton faced another newly-promoted team in Loughborough Students and ran out 3-2 winners.
Georgie Twigg and Alice Sharp scored in the first quarter, but two quick goals from new addition Izzy Petter and Beth Peers got Loughborough back on level terms at half time. But Emily Defroand’s 40th minute goal for Surbiton proved to be the difference for the reigning champions.
After reaching the play-offs last season, Buckingham were looking to maintain their impressive form into their opening fixture, hosting Clifton Robinsons.
Phoebe Richards pegged back her former team with a goal in the third minute but Clifton Robinsons found it tough from then on as the hosts put four past them before a reply from Clifton’s Izzy Webb.
Buckingham’s goals came from Katrina Nicholson (2), Lottie Porter and Natasha James as the game ended 4-2.
Holcombe snatched a win over East Grinstead with around ten minutes to spare thanks to a 61st minute penalty corner from Lorna Cruickshank.
The University of Birmingham settled for a 2-2 draw with Bowdon Hightown.
Aine Curran scored two goals to help the visitors escape with a point while Delyth Thomas and Millie Giglio put the University of Birmingham ahead twice.
