Basingstoke Hockey Club enjoyed an action-packed first full weekend of the season, with teams across all ages and sections putting in strong performances at home and away.

The Men’s 1s battled hard but fell 6-3 to Staines 1s in a high-scoring encounter, Pett, Hiscock and Delves finding the back of the net.

The Men’s 2s secured an impressive 4-2 victory over Winchester 2s with goals coming from Liam Cave, Dave Stones, Dave Easto and Phil Stewart, while the Men’s 3s suffered a 4-1 defeat against a dominant Salisbury 3s side, Oli Miles getting a single.

The Men’s 4s continued their winning streak, narrowly edging Trojans 6s with a 1-0 victory thanks to a clinical penalty corner from Chris Townend.

In a thrilling encounter, the Men’s 5s were edged out 5-3 by Trojans 5s, with Cal Saint, Mark Hornsby and Ben Worgan all scoring. The Men’s 6s played out a fiercely competitive 2-2 draw against Petersfield 3s, with both goals coming from Ross Cavalier in a match that showcased plenty of early-season intensity.

The Men’s 7s worked hard but were outplayed by Hamble 2s, losing 4-1, Josh Wheddon managing to at least get one on the scoresheet.

The Ladies’ 1s sponsored by KJ Smith put on a commanding display to secure a 5-0 win against Salisbury 1s thanks to braces from Claire Bowman and Heidi LLoyd and a single from Rachel 'Bobby' Roberts, while the Ladies’ 2s faced a tough challenge and were defeated 4-0 by Southampton 1s.

A gritty performance by the Ladies’ 3s saw Janine White's goal earn a 1-0 victory against Waterside 1s.

The Ladies’ 4s were outgunned by Winchester 2s, losing 8-0, while goals from Emily 'Spicy' Spicer and Charlotte 'Nutty' Hazlewood helped the Ladies’ 5s deliver a strong 2-0 win over Chichester Centurions 1s. The Ladies’ 6s fought hard but ultimately fell 3-0 to Hamble 2s.

Basingstoke’s junior squads also shone over the weekend in their first tournaments for the season.

The Boys U12s travelled to Aldershot and Farnham, with their Blue team losing 4-2 to Aldershot after a hard-fought 2-2 draw against their Red team. The Red team went on to secure an impressive 4-0 win over Yateley. The U8s and U10s took part in their first festivals at Alton, fielding two teams each who impressed against organised opposition from Alton and Andover teams.

Their skill and determination were on full display, leaving their coaches excited for the season ahead.