Huddersfield Dragons men’s first team are facing a long hard fight to avoid relegation from the North Hockey League’s Division II East this season.
They were left still hunting a first win after being beaten 9-3 on their home track by Stockton and are now next to bottom, having taken just one point from five games.
Huddersfield were looking to build on their previous result, a 4-4 draw with Marton Furness, but slumped with a poor second-half performance.
Stockton dominated throughout and they hit three quick goals in the first half, but the Dragons battled back to make it 3-1 at half time.
Huddersfield maintained their momentum and made a good start to the second half, but they faded dramatically as Stockton regained control.
The Dragons next test is away at Richmond on Saturday, which promises to be a another difficult test against a team in the top half of the table.
Dragons Ladies Firsts remain top of the North League Division II South East, but by just a point after losing their first game of the campaign.
After four straight wins they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Rotherham.
The Dragons were missing striker Hester Longstaff, but coach Kelly Pryde-Fillingham asked for an aggressive high-intensity start and that’s just what Huddersfield did.
In the first 10 minutes there was some great play from defence into midfield and all that was missing was a goal.
Unfortunately the Dragons were unable to make the breakthrough and Rotherham started to gain more of a hold in the game and some poor work from Huddersfield let the home side take the lead.
Despite some good play down the right from player of the match Hannah Shires, the Dragons were unable to make any impact on the opposition and started the second half a goal down.
Huddersfield found a way back into the game with a well-worked short corner and should have gone on to build a lead, but some lacklustre play was again punished and Rotherham regained the lead.
With the Dragons struggling with a small squad and injuries during the game to influential players Liz Pryde-Fillingham and Becky Jessop, the visitors pushed for an equaliser in the last 10 minutes of the game, but left it too late to make an impact on a resolute Rotherham defence.
The league leaders now face a tough challenge at home against second in the table Ben Rhydding on Saturday.
Huddersfield Dragons: Creedon, Durrans, K Pryde-Fillingham, L Pryde-Fillingham, Parker, Bryan, Graham, Bacon, Jessop, Holmes, Shires. Substitutes: Bower, Dunne
The Dragons Ladies Thirds battled through for a 2-1 derby away win over Wakefield Ladies Fifths in Yorkshire League Division VI North.
There was another strong performance from player of the match Heather Wilshaw in midfield, which helped Amelia Sierant score both goals in the victory.
