WEST HERTS HOCKEY CLUB are gearing up for the start of a new season which, with nine teams on their books, promises a lot of excitement, a lot of matches and a lot of hockey.

The Men's first team provided the club with a big boost last season after reclaiming their place in the Printwize Division Premier A for this campaign.

This is the second season under professional coach David Purchase and with the influx of several new players over the summer, consolidation in the division will be the very least the team will be looking for in the campaign.

The men's second team and men's third team will be looking for a more consistent performance in the Division Two South and Division Four South West respectively although the talented third team will have one eye on promotion.

Likewise, the men's fourth and fifth teams will also be happy to consolidate this year but the re-formed men's sixth team will just be glad to be back playing league hockey.

The ladies' first team will be looking to put last year's n

nightmare season behind them and a number of new faces and new coaching regime should ease any relegation worries.

The club is still on the lookout for new players though and holds it's trials day on Saturday, August 31, at the New Field Astroturf on Coningesby Drive in Watford. Men's trials start at 1pm while ladies' trials begin at 10.30am.

August 23, 2002 11:30