WORCESTER'S firsts and seconds teams did the Midland Men's Hockey League double over Edgbaston.

The firsts travelled in a confident frame of mind despite the previous week’s close 2-1 home defeat to Bridgnorth in Midlands One.

Worcester, bolstered by the return of Alex Milton, went looking for the win and started strongly going 1-0 up through a Rees Bonham lob.

Matt Gardner thought he had scored the second from a penalty corner only to have his hopes dashed by the umpire.

But Worcester continued their onslaught and by half-time were 3-0 up via a second from Bonham and leading scorer Gardner’s fifth strike of the season.

Worcester started the second half slowly though and conceded two goals early on.

However, there was tireless running from the whole squad and especially Jack Townsend who kept battling away.

Townsend and Dom Sullivan both had shots cleared off the line and saves from keeper Tom Dalton kept Edgbaston at bay for the rest of the game.

Third-from-bottom Worcester came away from a potentially tricky game with a well-deserved 3-2 victory.

It took them within eight points of Edgbaston ahead of Saturday's home game with third-placed Rugby and East Warwickshire.

The seconds completed the double over Edgbaston in their home game at Nunnery Wood with a 4-3 win.

The visitors went ahead after just 20 seconds but Worcester fought back well from the early disappointment when Matt Hooper struck.

Then Jack Barnes scored on his debut for the team and Hooper bagged his second.

Worcester went 4-1 up just before half-time through Asher Johnson after a series of one-two passes with Barnes.

In the second half Worcester defended well, worked hard in midfield and kept their lead.

The visitors got two quick replies towards the end to make the last few minutes a bit nervy but Worcester held on.

Worcester thirds had a tough afternoon at Hampton-in-Arden with a 9-0 defeat but they were the only team to lose in a good weekend of results for the club.

The fourths beat Droitwich Spa 2-1 with goals from James Bullock and Max Batchelor.

In the same division the fifths had a big 5-0 win at Harborne.

Tom Howard had the best performance of the day with four goals and Adam Ball scored the other.

To complete the victories the sixth XI beat Hampton 2-1 with strikes from Terry Duffy and goalkeeper-turned-outfielder James Hurley.

The women’s firsts have not yet started their league programme after the festive break but the second XI led the way with a 2-1 victory at home to Tenbury despite going behind within the first five minutes.

Worcester fought back hard and equalised before half-time through Jo Baggs.

They took control of the second period as goals from Teyah Farmer and Clare Hayes saw them run out comfortable 3-2 winners.

The thirds lost 6-0 to a strong University of Birmingham side and the fourths fell 4-0 to Bromsgrove.

In the junior section the Pippins beat Bromsgrove 9-1 with four goals from Fin Goodman, a hat-trick from Harry Doorman and two from Will Barnes.