COMPETITIVE men’s hockey is finally back in Helensburgh as the club’s second and third XIs took to the field last Saturday and Sunday respectively.

The first XI’s game against Ayr was called off late in the week which meant a training session for the team, however they stayed around to watch the club’s mix of youth and experience take on Giffnock at Hermitage Academy.

The third XI played some nice hockey early in the game with father and son duo of Gavin and Darragh Gettings combining well.

The heart of the midfield was being run by Callum Sumsion and Daniel Dooley, and the two created plenty of chances for the Gettings.

Things were kept tight at the back with the experience of Andy Richardson and Duncan Lemay keeping a check on things, while Elliot Howie impressed from right back, helping set up the hosts’ first goal with a ball down the wing to Dooley who had come wide, Dooley’s ball then found Sumsion in the D and the young midfielder slotted the ball home to open the scoring.

Young Tristan Somerville almost had a debut to remember, but slipped the ball agonisingly wide at the back post – but a second goal did eventually arrive when Mark Findlay rampaged up the pitch, exchanging passes with Sumsion and Yannick Cowey before finding the net.

Giffnock switched on after losing the second goal, but some excellent defending from Howie kept the sheet clean, while Findlay stopped the ball on the line a couple of times to save goalkeeper Gordon Black’s blushes.

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Giffnock did eventually pull one back, with their striker recovering well after Harry Green blocked his shot to set up a team-mate for a simple finish into the open goal, but the hosts were able to see out the game and secure the three points.

Team: Gordon Black, Mark Findlay (1), Duncan Lemay, Harry Green, Elliot Howie (MoM), Callum Sumsion (1), Daniel Dooley, Yannick Cowey, Darragh Gettings, Gavin Gettings, Tristan Somerville, Andy Richardson (capt). Thanks to Barry Cox for umpiring.

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A RELATIVELY new-look Helensburgh second XI started their league campaign away to Clydesdale last Sunday, and found themselves under the cosh early on, with some smart goalkeeping from Craig Keith and alert defending by Gordon Caulfield, Ben Hogg and Harry Green keeping Helensburgh in it early on.

Helensburgh struggled to get out of their own territory for much of the first half, but the match turned from the moment the visitors won a short corner from which David O’Donnell found Gordon Black, who returned the favour to set up the midfielder for an easy finish.

Jamie Caulfield’s nice close-range finish gave Helensburgh a 2-0 lead at half time, and the visitors took control in the second half, holding possession much better and looking in much better shape going forward.

Sean Caulfield cut inside to set up Jamie Caulfield for the visitors’ third, and the continuing Helensburgh pressure paid off as Callum Sumsion’s nicely-timed finish made it four before Jamie Caulfield completed his hat-trick after another short corner was deflected in off a Black shot.

Two more goals from Jamie Caulfield and Sumsion took the final score to 7-0, with Black, Leo Caulfield and Sean Caulfield all having chances to add to their tally as the team made an impressive start to their league campaign.

Team: Craig Keith, Gordon Caulfield, Ben Hogg, Harry Green, Ian Bowyer, Sean Caulfield (MoM), Gordon Black, David O’Donnell (1), Callum Sumsion (2), Jamie Caulfield (capt) (4), Leo Caulfield, Ross Hynes. Thanks to Andy Richardson for umpiring.