Скачать или смотреть SIX goals for Sam Ward in first weekend back

Full highlights from the England Hockey Men's Premier Division:

Old Georgians began the defence of their Premier Division title in the East Midlands as the University of Nottingham opened their campaign at home for the first time since they played in the Conference North in 2017-18. As tough as an opening fixture could be for the University side, Old Georgians took just 2 minutes before James Albery opened the scoring, on the way to a dominant 1-8 thrashing. A five-goal first quarter saw Old Georgians take a 1-4 advantage into the break. A double from Sam Ward (FG5, PC10), and a penalty corner goal from James Carson (PC13), gave the reigning Champions a four-goal advantage before Louis Tipper (FG16) scored the University of Nottingham's first ever Premier Division goal.

The second half continued in the same fashion as Sam Ward tormented the Nottingham defence by adding three more to his tally (PC39 FG49, FG53) to score a double hattrick and give Old Georgians their highest-ever National League opening day win.

Simon Faulkner (PC22 PC32 PC65) was the man of the moment in West Sussex, scoring a hattrick as East Grinstead twice came from behind. The University of Exeter were the quickest team in the league off the mark, with Louis Ridge scoring inside the first minute to stun the hosts into life. Ollie Drummond (PC27) gave the visitors a 1-2 lead before Faulkner ensured his side took all three points and continued their undefeated run against Exeter University in the last seven matches.

In a repeat of last season's opening day fixture, Surbiton and Holcombe met again; this time, Surbiton travelled to Holcombe Park looking for a repeat of their 6-4 victory from last season. Holcombe, however, were convincing winners last March when they ran out 3-0 victors over Surbiton at home. Hayden Phillips (FG12) opened the scoring, giving Holcombe a lead they would hold for just six minutes before last season's top goal scorer, Luke Taylor, fired home a trademark penalty corner to level the scores going into the halftime break. Surbiton started the second half on the front foot with Alex Williams (FG37) scoring from open play, before Phil Roper (PC59), on his debut for Holcombe after a successful season in the Netherlands, equalised from a penalty corner. Brothers Gareth and Rhodri Furlong faced each other for the second successive league match, having been on opposite sides when Surbiton played Hampstead & Westminster in the final game of last season.

Hampstead & Westminster, having won their last six opening fixtures since they started the 2015-16 campaign, had to stop a Wimbledon side aiming for their third successive away win at Paddington Recreation Ground. Ben Francis gave Wimbledon the lead, with an open play goal, in the 4th minute of the game before Stephen Kelly (PC18) and Samuel French (PC19) put Hampstead & Westminster into the lead with two goals in two minutes. Shortly before halftime Rory Patterson (PC29) levelled the game for the visitors. In the second half, Wimbledon took the initiative adding two more goals through Duncan Scott (FG53) and Ben Francis (FG61) to give Wimbledon their fourth consecutive win away at Hampstead.

Beeston, who had gone three opening day fixtures without a win, travelled to an Oxted side looking for the sixth victory in the last seven opening fixtures. Beeston were the fastest out of the blocks, with Olivier Ashdown (FG3) opening the scoring in the third minute. Oxted were pegged back before two goals either side of halftime from Jonathan Lankfer (FG32) and Chris Webster (FG45) gave the home side the victory.

Another six-goal thriller was played out at Sonning Lane as Reading and Brooklands Manchester University restoked their Premier Division rivalry that goes back to 1998-99. Tom Minall (FG22, FG64) and Fred Newbold (PC34, FG42) produced the firepower to give Reading a 4-2 victory over their visitors from the North, with Nick Hale (PC41) and Andrew Jackson (FG65) scoring for Brooklands Manchester University. Highlights from this game were not available unfortunately.