West Herts Hockey Club enjoyed a weekend of celebration as they took up residence in their new £1.2 million clubhouse at the New Field.

Built by Watford Grammar School for Boys, the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund and Sport England each contributed £500,000 to fund the project.

The clubhouse is to be dedicated to the memory of Ernest Scott-Household, a former pupil of Watford Boys, who was killed during the First World War. A formal opening ceremony will take place in March.

West Herts have been nomads since leaving their old Park Avenue home some 14 years ago and have been ‘lodgers’ at Sun Sports Club ever since.

The weekend provided the chance to run a bar – though a full licence has yet to be approved – and use the kitchen to iron out any problems.

On the field, the Stags contrived to blow a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Old Loughtonians in the East Conference on Sunday.

Herts nearly took the lead straight away as a break by Terry Kynaston saw a pass deflected goal-wards by Iain Gordon, only for the Loughts goalkeeper to make a smart save.

They were not to be denied for long though. Following a melee in the opposition’s ‘D’, Adam Johnson stepped in to net his first national league goal for the club.

A second goal was not far behind. A pass down the line by Alex Hodgkinson was deftly flicked over an oncoming defender by Shea O’Sullivan before he powered down the line to hit another inch-perfect pass for Kynaston, who made no mistake.

After all of the Stags’ good work, a lapse at the back gifted the visitors a goal just before the break.

And in the second period a quick breakaway from Old Loughts earned them a short corner from which they drew level.

West Herts ladies also took on Loughts and emerged 4-2 winners over the Essex outfit on Saturday.

Jen Black opened the scoring for the Stags with the first of her two goals, picking up a ball across the ‘D’ and slotting home.

Loughts drew level after 26 minutes but it took West Herts next to no time to go back in front, Becky Perry flicking in from a short corner.

Black snatched her second after the break and a three-goal cushion was achieved when Louise Smith redirected Perry’s pass into the net.

Old Loughtonians did score again but it proved too little, too late.

The men’s Seconds were beaten 2-0 at Upminster but the Thirds strengthened their position atop Division Three South West with a 3-0 success against Shefford and Sandy.

Winchmore Hill were dispatched 4-2 by the Fourths but the Fifths were overturned 4-2 by Harpenden.

The Sevenths were also beaten by Winchmore Hill, 5-1 on this occasion.

Stevenage were swept aside 3-0 by the ladies’ Seconds, who ended their dry spell in fine fashion.

The Fourths were beaten 2-1 by Harpenden, whilst the Fifths drew 3-3 with Rickmansworth Seconds.