West Herts Hockey Club brought their first season in the NOW: Pensions Men’s Conference East to a close by demonstrating how far they have come in an 8-4 loss to champions Holcombe.

The Stags were trounced 11-0 at Holcombe earlier in the season and the Kent side, which included Great Britain captain Barry Middleton, goalkeeper George Pinner and a host of other internationals, have gone unbeaten the entire season. However, West Herts were far from disgraced.

The visitors struck first, capitalising on a sloppy clearance to score. Pete Corbridge drew the home side level with an unorthodox finish.

Holcombe soon went back in front but were pegged back virtually immediately as Dan Webster darted along the baseline before cutting back for Joe Warren to strike.

Parity was short-lived though, with Holcombe once again going in front before adding two further strikes before half time to take a commanding 5-2 lead into the break.

Five second-half minutes had elapsed when the Stags again fought back; Matt Grinham picking out Shea O’Sullivan to wrong-foot Pinner and net for 5-3.

But, like the first half, the Stags could never quite get within striking distance of their illustrious opponents and despite Middleton’s fortuitous finish, the Stags were always kept at arm’s length after the break.

The ladies fared better in the East Premier, cruising to a 5-0 victory at Saffron Walden in their penultimate league fixture.

West Herts took a two-goal lead inside the opening eight minutes on a poor surface, the first arriving when Jen Black manufactured enough space to fire home.

A second soon followed when Becky Perry reacted quickest to her blocked penalty corner, demonstrating great composure to tuck home number two.

The Stags doubled their lead before the break, with Rachel Findlay tapping home at the far post and Perry converting from a penalty corner.

It was a more subdued affair in the second half, with Louise Smith scoring the final goal of the game after Black’s reverse stick shot was blocked.

West Herts Seconds returned to winning ways against bottom-of-the-table Letchworth and thrashed the winless visitors 4-1. It was a hollow victory for Stags though, as promotion from Division Two South has already passed them by.

The Thirds were 2-1 winners at Bishop’s Stortford Seconds in Division Three South West, whilst the Fourths crushed Potters Bar 6-1 in Division Five.

In Division Six, St Albans Fourths got the better of West Herts Fifths 2-1, while in Division Seven, the Sixths were battered 5-0 by Blueharts.

It was a similarly disappointing story for the Sevenths, who lost out 4-1 to Bishop’s Stortford at home in Division Nine.

West Herts ladies’ Seconds emphatically showed why they are the league leaders on Saturday, as with a depleted squad, they crushed the previously unbeaten Luton 5-0 in the Five Counties Premier.

Elsewhere, the Fourths were beaten 2-1 at Broxbourne Thirds in Five Counties Division Two.