Every season has its curtain-raiser. The one where everyone is itching to get back on the pitch, eager to set the tone, eager to prove that all the hard yards in pre-season have been worth it. That moment arrived on Saturday as the Men’s 1s welcomed Worthing for the first league clash of the new campaign.

It was a bright, energetic start from the Hawks. They looked sharp in possession, quick in the press, and carved out the lion’s share of chances. Worthing, by contrast, sat back and probed on the counter. They never looked more dangerous, or presented more of a threat, but as chances went begging for the home side, the supporters on the sidelines must have been thinking that the home side may come to regret their lack of clinical edge when it mattered.

And as the story of hockey so often goes, it was the visitors who made the breakthrough. One short corner, one chance, one finish, and the scoreboard tilted against the Hawks. The Hawks pressed higher, moving the ball neatly through the lines, probing and stretching the Worthing defence. But for all their control and possession, that final decisive touch continued to elude them. Time and again, the ball fizzed across the D, or was scrambled away at the last second. It wasn’t a lack of intent, but that killer instinct was missing when it mattered most. Worthing, meanwhile, clung to their advantage, and the final whistle confirmed a frustrating 1–0 defeat for the Hawks in a game they had largely bossed.

After the game, Player of the Match Harry Martin was quick to draw positives, while keeping his feet on the ground. “We played some nice hockey in parts, distributing well from defence to midfield, and controlled large spells. The structure and press were solid, and at times we showed glimpses of real class hockey. But ultimately, in the final third, we just didn’t convert. It’s a tough one to take, but performances like this give us a foundation to build on.”

The result may sting, but the performance carried promise. The Hawks will look to sharpen their edge in front of goal and bounce back strongly when they line up for their next fixture away to Horsham.