Holcombe emphatically returned to winning ways in the Men’s Premier Division on Saturday evening.

Nick Bandurak marked his return from injury with six goals in their 12-1 dismantling of the University of Nottingham, including a nine-minute hat-trick.

The result was Holcombe’s biggest-ever Premier Division win and means they have now scored 19 goals in their last two away matches, and 27 away goals in four matches on the road so far this campaign.

Holcombe Men are next in action at home this Saturday against Beeston (6pm), a side who have conceded 25 in their last three matches.

Along with Bandurak’s six goals at the Nottingham Hockey Centre, there were goals from Tom Russell (2), Alex Pendle (2), Phil Roper and Hayden Phillips, ensuring that the three points went the way of Barry Middleton’s side.

Holcombe were looking for a win to all but secure a place in the top-six for Phase Two of the Premier Division season, now needing only two points at most from their remaining three matches to secure their qualification.

The first 20 minutes against the division’s bottom side went by without a goal. It was a frenetic start to the match that saw a number of chances go begging.

The breakthrough goal finally came for Holcombe early in the second period.

The returning Bandurak – who missed the last three matches through injury – got the beating of the goalkeeper from a penalty corner to give Holcombe the lead and Middleton’s men never looked back.

With Holcombe 3-0 up, the hosts got a controversial goal back just before the half-hour mark. Middleton appeared to be fouled on the edge of Nottingham’s defensive quarter, the decision instead going the other way.

Nottingham quickly broke away and made use of the spare man, though there were question marks as to whether Dan Hunt touched the ball in front of Ollie Payne to deflect past the Great Britain goalkeeper.

Bandurak soon restored Holcombe’s three-goal advantage, completing a nine-minute hat-trick.

The hosts hit the bar in the second period but it was Holcombe who remained in control.

Payne kept out two penalty corners as the hosts enjoyed some of their best spells of possession late on but Holcombe’s goals kept coming.

Holcombe Ladies, meanwhile, progressed to the quarter-finals of the England Hockey Tier One Cup with a 5-2 victory over Trojans on Sunday afternoon.

Goals from Emma Bandurak (2), Deanna Ritchie, Leisa Randall and Phoebe Steele secured Holcombe’s spot in the last-eight.

Trojans struggled to cope with Holcombe’s attacking play for long spells of the match and would have conceded more were it not for an impressive goalkeeping display between the posts.

The lead came after Bandurak drilled a brilliant, direct ball into Jade van der Zwan. The Australian drove forward and released New Zealand international Ritchie, who took the ball around the goalkeeper and finished into an empty goal.

Trojans levelled early in the second quarter before Randall restored the advantage after a brilliant pass through from Catherine Ledesma.

Bandurak drag-flicked home on the stroke of half-time to deservedly extend Holcombe’s advantage.

In the third quarter Trojans scored their second but Steele made it 4-2 and a quick counter-attack led to the fifth goal, Bandurak making a brilliant tackle inside Holcombe’s circle to deny an almost-certain goal before running forward, the ball finding her in the circle as she finished for her second of the match.

Lottie Bingham, Sophie Eldred, Tilly Tillings and Hannah Bond were all denied as the home goalie excelled, before van der Zwan hit the sideboard and Bandurak missed out on a hat-trick following another late save.

Holcombe are back in Vitality Division One South action at home to Team Bath Buccaneers on Saturday at Holcombe Park (2pm). Entry is free to watch the match, with Holcombe’s Men’s Premier Division fixture against Beeston starting at 6pm.

Reports from Lucas Ball