Two late goals from new arrival Robbert Schenk helped to get Brighton and Hove HC off to a winning start to their Men's National League campaign at Teddington on Sunday.

Brighton came from behind at half-time to beat Teddington 4-3 in their Conference East opening fixture, with Joe Naughalty also scoring twice. Teddington converted three penalty corners in the first half of a game which saw the lead change hands. After going behind early on, Brighton hit back swiftly with a penalty corner from Naughalty and a goal from open play from the same player but Teddington struck twice more to lead 3-2 at the interval.

Schenk, who has joined the club from Oxted this season to add fire power to the attack, scored twice from open play in the closing stages to give Brighton an impressive three points.

Elsewhere in the division there were opening day wins for Old Loughtonians, Oxted, Canterbury and the new look Old Georgians side, for whom GB international Sam Ward scored four penalty corners in a 7-1 rout of City of Peterborough.

Below the men's first team only the 4s were able to register a victory in league matches on Saturday with a familiar name quick to make his mark in the 4-0 win over Middleton.

"A great start to the new league campaign against a robust Middleton 1s on a sticky and bouncy pitch which evoked a nervous start from the lads," reports captain Carlo.

"1-0 up against the run of play with Dermot getting altitude sickness and drifting into the D at full stretch to beat the keeper. Some fine saves at critical moments from Zach just before and after the goal were crucial and topped off by a great performance to keep a clean sheet.

"At this point the perennial goal machine picked out the appropriate clubs from his repertoire of striking prowess and scored his first hat-trick of the year - Doc on fire with a drag flick, open play goal and penalty flick."

Carlo praised the collective discipline and mental strength of the team at critical moments in the game and was happy to welcome some old faces back into the side.

While the men's 2s went down 3-0 at Sevenoaks, the 3s picked up a creditable 2-2 draw with relegated Crawley and were frustrated not to win.

"Crawley started on the front foot, their centre forward hitting a fierce reverse over the shoulder of debutant keeper Joe Elgar," reports skipper Andrew Bromley. "Brighton started to play their way into the game and soon drew level with a cracking drag flick from Dan Reid.

"Reid then scored his second after a melee in the Crawley D. Brighton looked set to take all three points; however five minutes from time Crawley managed to scramble a goal of their own. All in all a fair but frustrating result."

The 5s shared eight goals in a draw with Littlehampton 1s while goals from Ali and Tillman gave the 6s a 2-2 draw at Southwick 2s. The 7s went down 2-0 at home to Lewes 6s while the 8s, after a strong start having taken the lead through a splendid reverse stick from attacker Laurie, lost 3-1 at Crowborough 3s.