HELENSBURGH Hockey Club’s first XI continued their fine start to the new year with an excellent 4-1 win away to Strathclyde University on Saturday.

Gavin Mackenzie scored twice while Barry Cox capped his 250th appearance for Helensburgh with a fine goal before Callum Sumsion rounded off the scoring to make it three wins from three in 2022 for the on-form Burgh side.

Helensburgh were on top from the start on a wild and windy day and Cox gave the visitors the perfect start, rifling home the opening goal after excellent work by Harry Green to beat two defenders and pick out his experienced team-mate inside the D.

A second soon followed, with Mark Ormsby picking out Ian Bowyer, who found Mackenzie in space to score at the second attempt.

Green, Cox and Mackenzie were all involved in the third, midway through the half, with Mackenzie coolly lifting the ball over the outstretched arm of the Strathclyde keeper to leave Helensburgh well in control at the break.

The hosts changed tack in the second half and Helensburgh struggled at times with the new Strathclyde approach; Mark Findlay was called into action several times before a shot from a short corner eventually eluded him to make it 3-1.

A second Strathclyde goal would have made for a really tense finish but instead it was Helensburgh who finished the scoring, making the win safe when a short corner, won after more good work by Greene, found Sumsion and them Ormsby – whose shot, which he claimed was a pass, in turn picked out Sumsion at the back post to slot home.

The win sees the 1st XI remain within touching distance of the West District men’s division one league title, a trophy they have never won – with seven games to play, they sit in fourth place, only four points off top spot.

Helensburgh team: Mark Findlay; Gavin McWilliam; Rob Heywood; Callum Sumsion (1); Ian Bowyer; Harry Green (MoM); Gordon Black (c); Mark Ormsby; Sean Caulfield; Gavin Mackenzie (2); Barry Cox(1); Nick Groves; David McGregor; Thomas Harris. Thanks to John Friel for umpiring.

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Sadly Helensburgh’s third XI didn’t fare quite so well on Saturday, with Paul Moore’s well-workd goal all they had to show for their efforts against a very experienced Clydesdale team; Burgh struggled to compete with their very physical visitors, who ended up winning 4-1.

Helensburgh team: James Pettit (c); Gavin Gettings; Gordon Caulfield; Leo Caulfield; Paul Moore (1); Yannick Cowey; Elijah Brown; Ed Hall; David O’Donnell; Alan Bowman. Thanks to Richard Schooling for umpiring.

Helensburgh’s indoor team finished their league season on Sunday with two very disciplined displays, beating Glasgow Univeristy 2-0 thanks to an Alex Jarvis double before a 9-2 hammering of Clydesdale, Jarvis bagging another seven goals with the remaining two netted by Thomas Harris.

Thanks to John Friel, Richard Schooling and Rob Heywood for umpiring the weekend’s fixtures.

This Saturday, February 12, Burgh’s first team have a free week. The club’s second XI travel to Giffnock while the third XI host Ayr at Hermitage Academy. Pushback is at 12.15pm so please come along and support the team.

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