A scrappy clash with Old Loughtonians saw West Herts men’s Firsts get their National Hockey League East Conference campaign off to a losing start on Saturday.

Going down to a 2-1 defeat, the Stags were out-fought by Loughts as they made their return to the National League for the first time in four years.

A host of new faces were on show for the first game of the season as West Herts made a number of changes from the team which completed last season.

The loss of Dan Webster and Shea O’Sullivan, who combined to score more than 50 per cent of Herts’ goals last term, is likely to be particularly keenly felt.

The Stags will, therefore, be looking to come to terms with a much-changed squad over the next few weeks.

They will at least take heart from a debut goal for Luke Frey ahead of a meeting with newly-promoted Old Georgians in Surrey.

The Seconds were also on the losing side, beaten 4-0 by Wisbech in the East Premier B Division.

With only 11 players available for selection, it was always likely to be a testing afternoon and they never really came close to worrying their rivals.

They will hope for a better result when facing Waltham Forest tomorrow.

It was left to the Thirds to get the ball rolling for the Stags male teams as they took a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw with East London Seconds.

Craig Cobb and Dhillon Dhodia got the goals for West Herts in what was an end-to-end game full of chances for both sides.

The East Division Three South West saw West Herts Fourths produce an utterly dominant display as they scored at will in a 5-1 win over Bishop’s Stortford Seconds.

It was an impressive start to the season in an attacking display spearheaded by Jack Bowsher. He bagged a brace to add to goals from Chris Currie, Morne Hoffman and Tom Watts.

There was also a goal glut in the Fifths’ clash, but unfortunately form a Stags perspective all six went to Luton Town in a crushing loss.

An East Division Six South West match with Stevenage Thirds yielded a win for the Sixes as they won 4-2.

The result came after a gritty performance which saw Herts come back from 2-0 down after a torrid start to the match.

Suraj Kukaidia scored a hat-trick and Owen Stephenson added a fourth to seal the win.

The Sevens were the last of Herts’ men’s teams to be involved in action as they held Bishop’s Stortford Fifths to a 2-2 draw.

Debutant Cem Harwood opened the scoring before Stortford hit back to go 2-1 ahead.

A goalbound shot hit a Stortford player to earn Herts a penalty, which was calmly put away by Liam Nixon.

In the Ladies East Premier Division, Herts’ Firsts got off to the most commanding of winning starts as they cruised to a 5-0 victory over Maidstone.

After the struggles of last season, a win was the ideal way to start this term and did just that thanks to a quick start.

Becky Perry got the ball rolling with the first after some fine build-up play from Sally Bradley.

Julie Waring’s first for the club made it 2-0 and she went on to score a hat-trick with a quick-fire double after the break.

Perry grabbed her second to complete the rout for Herts who face Old Loughtonians tomorrow.

It was a different story for the Ladies Seconds as they were hammered 7-0 by Saffron Walden in the East Division Two C.

The Thirds faired better in their Five Counties Premier Division clash, but they were still on the losing side after being beaten 3-1 by Welwyn Garden City.

Samantha Hill took a personal highlight from the game as she scored a consolation for Herts.

In Division One of the Five Counties, West Herts Fourths were humbled 7-0.

Division Four side West Herts Fifths were in excellent touch and smashed Bedford 5-1.

Jenny Staines was the star with a hat-trick to add to Abbie Poole and Jess Sands strikes.