HUDDERSFIELD were given short shrift on their visit to the coast where Whitley Bay and Tynemouth romped to a 9-2 victory.
In fairness, Dragons had to make this most difficult of away trips without six of their first XI squad, allowing Oli Clarke, Ed Haigh, Neil Harris and Chris Parkes to step up from the seconds.
Whitley Bay are one of the form teams in the league and were soon showing why they were pushing for promotion this season as they attacked from the off and scored a well taken goal after neat passing all the way into the goal.
This was a fairly good sign of things to come as Whitley Bay attacked on mass in wave after wave and were soon 3-0 up before Huddersfield had even begun to find their feet.
The visitors did create several chances and even won two short corners, but they could not find the finishing until Kelly stole the ball off the midfield and passed to Hirst in the D who slipped it under the keeper for Haigh to finish in an open net and make it 3-1.
However, Whitley Bay added another goal from a short corner despite their main short corner specialist being off the pitch with an injury.
In the second half Huddersfield pushed on a little more in an attempt to get back in the game, but Whitley Bay continued to win short corners and it was not long before they scored their fifth and sixth to ensure the victory.
Huddersfield were still creating half chances and did get a second through Parkes, but the Tynesiders put another three goals away to complete the rout.
Team: McCallum, Peachey, Harris, Parkes, Buckley, Clarke, Kelly, Gregory, Pemberton, Hirst, Haigh. Sub: Austerberry
Ladies Hockey
Huddersfield Dragons Ladies I 3
Driffield Ladies 1
HUDDERSFIELD were looking to continue their winning streak this week, and they got off to a great start.
Hester Longstaff deflected the ball into the roof of the net, after a great penalty corner strike from Liz Maddaford ten minutes in.
Helen Hough stretched the Huddersfield lead going into half time, after the keeper saved another strike from Maddaford, but Hough was there ready to pick up the rebound.
Driffield shortened the Huddersfield lead, but the Dragons were not going to settle for just a one-goal lead, and captain Kelly Fillingham slotted home another to secure the win for the home team.
Vice-captain Maddaford was honoured with player-of the-match after her great strikes.
Once again the Dragons are looking like a force to be reckoned with.
Team: Creedon, Thomas, Benson, Higginbotttom, Dobson, Durrans, Fillingham, Maddaford, Longstaff, Hough, McEwan, Bagshaw
