The start of the new East Hockey League season was warmly received by the ladies of Welwyn Garden City and Potters Bar.

WGC recorded a 4-1 victory at home to Shefford & Sandy, the perfect response after a relegation-threatened campaign last time out.

They stayed in Division Two South West and despite the loss of five players to university and travels, Welwyn stormed out of the blocks, taking the lead in two minutes through Amelia Brown's brilliant open-play goal.

New girl Mel Evans and junior Ruby Sanderson linked well throughout and it wasn't long before Anna Geaves made it 2-0.

And Brown completed a stellar first period with her second and WGC's third before the break.

Shefford came back stronger in the second half, scoring an early goal, but they were prevented from any more with strong saves from goalkeeper Nat Granger.

And WGC sealed the win with a fourth in a goalmouth scramble, Davina Miller claiming the first ball across the line with Sanderson making sure.

Potters Bar's first team meanwhile had a splendid 6-0 victory over Bishop's Stortford.

Erin James got two goals with Lee-Jane Yates, Zara Guppy, Robyn Purcell-Still and Paula Williams getting the others.

The men's first team had taken a two-goal lead into half-time against Waltham Forest but with just 11 players, they fell off the pace and lost 4-3.

James Brooking got two and Mark Turpin one.

The seconds slammed eight past Cheshunt with new skipper Warren Edmondson leading by example with six of them. Ajay Patel and Josh Becker completed the rout.

The thirds also won, beating Rickmansworth 2-0 with both goals scored by Nani Reddy, but the fourths lost 1-0 against Welwyn Garden City thirds.

Welwyn's first team had a horrific start as injury and illness left them short of nine regulars.

They lost 8-0 away to Luton Town and were forced to play a number of players out of position, as well as calling up some second team players.

Luton on the other hand had a full squad of 16 and used it to full effect, going into the break 4-0 up and showing no let up in the second half.

There were still positives for Welwyn though.

Nate McIntyre showed plenty of energy on his debut, and was unlucky on a few occasions in the D, and he was well supported by Teddy May closing down the opposition high up the pitch.

The Welwyn back four of Peter Mullens, Rob Sansom, Stuart Stephen and Simon Walker were kept busy by the movement and high positions from Luton while the Welwyn midfield of Dan White, Paul Marchant, Bryn Evans, Will Proctor and Matt O'Connell continued to try valiantly to close down the spaces.

They were often overrun though by the fresher opposition who could substitute players at will. 

Dan Klinger in the Welwyn goal made a number of good saves too and there will be hope that with better availability, they can get closer to Luton and the other hotly fancied teams in the division.