HELENSBURGH Hockey Club’s three teams enjoyed mixed fortunes in their latest fixtures, with the first and third teams losing to Western while the second XI defeated Hillhead.

Helensburgh’s first team squad was full of young talent for their trip to Milngavie, but the visitors seemed a little awestruck as Western scored early on and soon added a simple second.

Burgh got back into the match when Jonathon Cox scored after good link-up play by McWilliam, Black and Caulfield and a fine ball in by Bowyer, but Western were far more clinical and reached the break 4-1 up.

Helensburgh looked sharper in the second half, but were caught napping as Western broke through for a fifth.

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Robert Whittick capped a fine game with his first goal for the Helensburgh first team after a goalmouth scramble, and Cox’s second to make it 5-3 was arguably the best goal of the game, latching on to a clearance before dribbling towards the baseline and shooting home from a ridiculous angle.

Helensburgh kept digging, but Western’s strength in depth proved crucial as the hosts eventually won 7-3.

Team: C. Keith; G. McWilliam (capt.) (MoM); D. McGregor; I. Bowyer; C. Sumsion; G. Black; G. Caulfield; H. Green; G. MacKenzie; J. Cox; B. Cox; R. Whittick; C. Ross. Thanks to John Friel for umpiring.

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* Helensburgh’s second XI beat Hillhead 2-0 at home in their first game of the new season, with a much changed team from last season creating plenty of chances.

James Caulfield got the first goal before the break, and son Sean followed suit in the second half; further chances fell to L. Caulfield, R. Hynes and B. Kennedy but alas, the team were kept out. It finished 2-0.

Team: M. Findlay; M. Payne (capt.); R. Park; G. McCallion; I. Richardson; B. Kennedy; A. Watson; R. Hynes; S. Stewart; J. Caulfield; S. Caulfield; L. Caulfield; A. Bowman. Thanks to Andy Richardson for umpiring.

* Helensburgh’s third XI could only muster nine players for their game against Western’s fifth XI, but gave it their all, and might have won if they’d had 11 players; instead they lost 4-2,with Western’s third and fourth coming in the final 10 minutes.

Team: L. Peddie-Temple; J. Steel; D. Lemay; I. Richardson; S. Stewart; M. Findlay; A. Richardson; E. McCartney; S. Boultby. Thanks to Dick Schooling for umpiring.

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If you’d like to get involved with hockey, Helensburgh would love to have you. Juniors train on a Monday night from 6-8pm at Hermitage Academy, while senior team training is on a Wednesday from 8-9.30pm, and all are welcome.You can also find and like the club’s page on Facebook.