Helensburgh Hockey Club’s season is nearing its end and the penultimate round of games were successful for the Burgh side.

The 1s were at home to table toppers Hillhead, while the 2nd XI travelled to Anchor. The 3s entertained Giffnock.

The 1st XI were buoyed after a good run of results had propelled them up the table. But last week’s 4-2 loss against Ayr was a blow and saw them slip down a place to again flirt with relegation.

Helensburgh got off to the perfect start. Gumbrell found Barton who knocked it past a couple of defenders and released a deathly reverse stick shot that hit the net in under a minute of play.

Barton almost got his second with another reverse stick shot, but the Hillhead goalkeeper saved it but Dye was there to tap it in.

A Burgh short corner was later played in by Kennedy, and the slip to Stuart was well struck. Hillhead’s keeper went for a wild hit away and scuffed the ball completely, knocking it onto the post and Kennedy was there to poach in his first goal of the season.

A fourth was soon to follow as Rosie scored after a fine run saw him through on the keeper.

A fifth goal came in the second half from Barton, who found himself unmarked to strike home. The game finished comfortably for Helensburgh with a 5-0 win.

Helensburgh: Black, McWilliam, Stuart, Caulfield, Caulfield, Kennedy, Barton (MoM), Rosie, Gumbrell, Cox, Dye, McGregor, McKenzie.

The 2nd XI were away at Anchor. Helensburgh won the game 4-2 with Fairbairn getting all four goals. This confirms the 2nds’ position, finishing in fourth spot.

The 3rd XI continued their push for the title against Giffnock.

Helensburgh got the first goal with a cracking shot from Harris.

But Giffnock scored either side of half time to give them the lead.

But Helensburgh scored with the last hit of the game. Z.Petit netting his sixth of the season as it finished 2-2.

Helensburgh: M.Findlay; G.Black; A.Dixon; E.Howie; L.Evans; A.Richardson; D.O’Donnell; A.Petit; N.McKend; T.Harris; Z.Petit; B.Cox. Thanks to Dayle Hartopp and Brian Kennedy for umpiring.

Next week is the season’s last official weekend, with the 1st XI away at Uddingston; the 2nd XI take on Kelburne at home, with the 3s away at Hillhead.