A spirited display was not enough for Wapping Hockey Club’s Men’s Firsts as they suffered a slender 3-2 defeat to National Conference East pace setters Southgate.

Title chasing Southgate came into the match without dropping a point all season.

Regardless, Wapping approached the game in an attacking manner and goals from Will Cairns and Dave McLean almost led to an upset.

They started brightly and new recruit Bobby Watson forced an early corner which drew a goal line save and ultimately resulted in a penalty stroke.

Cairns stepped up and calmly converted to give his side an early advantage with his fourth goal of the season.

The go ahead strike drew Southgate out more and they were soon applying pressure to the Wapping goal and creating a host of chances.

They were powerless to resist Southgate’s attacking fluidity and three goals in the space of 10 minutes put their opponents firmly in control at half-time.

Changes during the interval allowed Wapping to regain their composure at the start of the second period and they showed greater movement going forward.

A moment of individual class from Dominic Graham gave them a route back into the game as the ex-wales international burst forward down the left.

After covering nearly the entire length of the pitch, Graham offloaded and McLean turned home at the second time of asking.

With 15 minutes left to play Wapping were in with a shout of taking something from the game, but couldn’t force the issue as Southgate stood firm.

It was a better weekend for the Ladies Firsts as they continued their fine form with a 2-0 win over Wisbech Town.

Stand in coach Katie Radford implemented a patient approach in her side which saw them retain possession and frustrate Town.

The strategy soon paid dividends as Wapping moved the ball slickly through the lines before Louise Song swept home.

They doubled their lead five minutes later after Jade White picked out Kate O’Sullivan who easily beat the Wisbech keeper after eluding two players in the D.

With a solid lead to defend, Wapping sat back in the second half and were forced to weather a second half storm but came through unscathed.

The Men’s Seconds gained scant reward for their 100-mile journey to face Bourne Deeping after going down to a 4-2 defeat.

A slow start undermined any hope Wapping had of making an early impression on proceedings and they went behind inside 10 minutes.

Matters worsened five minutes later as the Bourne captain raced through and doubled the host’s advantage.

Wapping woke up late in the half but failed to make the most of a penalty corner as they went in two behind at the break.

They came out fighting in the second half and Charley Wright started and finished a good team move to reduce the arrears.

Wapping were now well in the ascendency and thought they had levelled the scores when Nick McLaren converted a penalty corner, only for his effort to be ruled out.

The disappointment of being denied an equaliser was compounded further when Bourne scored a penalty corner of their own to extend their lead.

A fourth goal ended the game as a contest before Michael Bolle grabbed a consolation for Wapping.

Elsewhere, Old Lougtonians Firsts faced a testing encounter with Dereham in the East Premier Division A.

Keen to keep their title challenge alive, Loughts pushed from the outset and were ahead through Harry Kempe’s powerful strike.

Dereham responded to going behind in the best way possible and drew level after making the most of a goalmouth scramble.

The second half was largely a story of Loughts pushing forward and Dereham’s defence holding firm.

Their resilience was eventually broken by Rory Coltham’s neat back post finish which gave his side a lead they would refuse to relinquish.

Crostyx Firsts were involved in an entertaining clash in the East Men’s League Division Two South as they drew 5-5 with Broxbourne Firsts.

A 3-2 defeat in the East Women’s League Division One South made for a frustrating Saturday for Crostyx Ladies Firsts.

Alys Rowland gave them the lead with a smashed finish before Folkestone hit back twice to lead at half-time.

The desire to draw level came back to bite Crostyx and they were left with a mountain to climb when Folkestone extended their lead.

Vicki Berrill’s composed finish from a short corner got her side back into the game, but it was too little too late for Crostyx.