Holcombe Men have taken their goal tally to 28 in three Premier Division games – but they were outscored by the women’s team last weekend.

A third straight win for Holcombe Men’s 1sts came against Cardiff & Met on Saturday evening, winning 6-0, while the Ladies beat Kent rivals Canterbury 7-1.

Reports by Lucas Ball

Goals from Alex Pendle (2), Phil Roper (2), Hayden Phillips and Tom Russell gave Holcombe their first ever win against the Welsh side, who are in their debut top-flight season.

Pendle was on hand to finish from close range less than five minutes in after a ball came loose in the circle, the score remaining 1-0 until after half-time.

Holcombe, among the top scorers in the division, were in control of the match but couldn’t force enough clear-cut chances to score a second goal, though Ollie Payne did also have to make a triple save before half-time to keep the hosts’ lead and clean sheet intact.

Pendle’s second - and seventh in four matches - came following a good move down the right-hand-side, leading to a cutback and an easy finish for the forward.

Just four minutes later, New Zealand international Phillips was on hand to score his second of the season after more good work down the right.

Holcombe’s press paid dividends just two minutes later as they won the ball back high up the pitch, feeding Russell who was fouled heavily as he released Great Britain man Roper, the former Wimbledon man making no mistake as he pushed the ball into the top corner past the onrushing goalkeeper.

Two more goals came in the final quarter - first Russell rounded the goalkeeper and finished on his reverse to make it five with his 10th goal of the season before Roper scored a drag-flick with just over a minute remaining in the contest.

Barry Middleton’s men remain three points behind the top-two, with one game to play in Phase One - Holcombe travelling to Paddington Recreational to face Hampstead & Westminster, currently three points further back in fifth, on Saturday (6pm).

Holcombe Ladies made it six matches unbeaten and five wins in six as they beat Kent rivals Canterbury 7-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Leisa Randall (2), Deanna Ritchie (2), Jade van der Zwan, Catherine Ledesma and Lottie Bingham led Nick Bandurak’s side to a dominant victory as they returned to winning ways following last weekend’s 4-4 draw with Team Bath Buccaneers.

The tone of the game was set early on as Holcombe controlled possession from pushback, stepping forward superbly against their rivals in a first competitive meeting since Canterbury’s relegation from the Premier Division.

It took less than ten minutes for the hosts to take the lead as Leisa Randall deflected in from close range at a penalty corner from Marian Ledesma’s hit for her first league goal of the season and second in all competitions.

Bingham forced former Holcombe ‘keeper Aurora Mears into action minutes later before van der Zwan deflected Emma Bandurak’s slap in at another penalty corner for her second goal in as many matches.

Mears twice denied Phoebe Steele in quick succession early in the second quarter before two goals in a minute for Deanna Ritchie took Holcombe out of sight.

van der Zwan hit the post before half-time as Holcombe looked for another, but they went into the break four goals to the good.

Randall added her second midway through the third period as she spun in the circle and powerfully fired past the impressive Mears.

Catherine Ledesma added a sixth from close range with her first goal of the season with 10 minutes to play, though two minutes later Canterbury had a consolation. Tilly Woodhead saved the initial penalty corner effort but the rebound was put in.

Steele - searching for her third in as many matches - was once again denied by Mears with just over five minutes remaining, before Bingham scored in the last minute to make it 7-1.

Holcombe stay second in the Vitality Division One South table and are on the road this weekend against Barnes (12pm).