Holcombe beat Hampstead & Westminster in the Men’s English Premier Division but the women’s team lose to Barnes in Vitality Women’s Division 1 South

Holcombe made it nine wins from a possible 11 in Phase One of the Premier Division with a statement 5-1 success over Hampstead & Westminster.

Saturday’s victory, which left Holcs third in the table, came courtesy of goals from Tim Guise-Brown (2), Nick Bandurak, Phil Roper and Tom Russell.

Reports by Lucas Ball

The London hosts started well, forcing an early save from FIH goalkeeper-of-the-year nominee Ollie Payne at a penalty corner but it was Barry Middleton’s side who opened the scoring in the first quarter.

Holcombe saw a penalty corner of their own stopped illegally on the line, giving top-scorer Bandurak the chance to add to his tally from the penalty spot. The England and Great Britain international made no mistake.

Three successive penalty corners followed soon after for Holcombe, the third finding its way into the goal courtesy of Guise-Brown against his brother’s, Matt Guise-Brown's, team.

Payne was again forced into action early in the second quarter before Guise-Brown scored again from a penalty corner after a neatly-worked variation.

Hampstead started to claw their way back into the game and saw another penalty corner effort saved by Payne before the rebound was stopped illegally on the line for another penalty stroke.

There was no mistake from the spot as Payne was denied a fifth clean sheet of the campaign.

Roper almost added an incredible solo goal following a mazy run down the left but the hosts’ goalkeeper was in the way once more.

The former Wimbledon man was not to be denied five minutes later, however, beating a number of defenders again before pushing home for Holcombe’s fourth.

The Londoners should have had a second early in the final period but Payne was in superb form once more to deny them