THE girls of Huddersfield Dragons Second team need to win both their final matches to seal promotion after a 1-1 derby draw at Colne Valley.

It was a hard-fought match, especially with Colne Valley needing to win to avoid relegation, and the result did neither team many favours.

Valley started strongly and had the Dragons defence pinned back, but a hit out by Anna DiNapoli found Nicci Bagshaw up front and she held the ball well for Michelle Dexter to make a superb run and finish.

Despite putting constant pressure on the Valley defence Dragons were unable to find the back of the net again and went into the break with just the one goal advantage.

That cost them as Valley equalised from a penalty corner which had keeper Townend well and truly beaten.

Play then swung from end to end and Colne Valley had the opportunity to take the lead when a Dragons defender stopped the ball on the line with her foot to concede a penalty flick.

Fortunately for the visitors, the Valley player placed the ball straight at the keeper and Townend stood her ground to keep it out.

Dragons realised the importance of putting away a final goal and had their chance when awarded a penalty corner themselves on the final whistle, but it wasn’t to be, as Walters struck the ball high and the goal was disallowed.

Team: Townend, DiNapoli, Stacey, Monchuk, McEwan, Smeaton, Hargreaves, Middleton, Walters, Bagshaw, Dexter, Fielding

Huddersfield Dragons III 0

City of York IV 2

DRAGONS Thirds were feeling confident after their tremendous previous win and were fielding a strong side, so from the start they played some impressive passing hockey which seemed destined to lead to a win.

Unfortunately the goals just didn’t come and despite having 95% of possession the Dragons couldn’t score. In fact it was York who, against the run of play, had a break and put themselves ahead just before half-time.

In the second half Dragons continued to push and once again played some great hockey, but despite a number of penalty corners couldn’t find the net and, with time running out, they were caught on the break for York to add a second.

Team: Townend, McCallum, Hamer, Bailey, Moorhouse, Roberts, Carter, Gowing, Mallinson, Fielding, Bates, Thomas, Bland.

Huddersfield Dragons I 2 Kendal I 4

AS in the previous three games, the struggling Ladies first team started strongly by taking the game to the visitors.

Unfortunately Kendal began to fight back and really pushed the Dragons and, despite some outstanding keeping by Creedon, Kendal found the back of the net three times before the break.

Dragons lifted their game from the re-start and played some decent hockey, and a perfectly executed short corner gave them a much deserved goal before a Longstaff strike into the roof of the net put them back in the game.

But as they chased an equaliser Kendal broke through and were awarded a controversial penalty flick, which gave them a 4-2 win.

Team: Creedon, Gerrard, Higginbottom, Benson, Dobson, Smeaton, Longstaff, Fillingham, Durrans, Thomas, Hough, Maddaford

MEN’S RESULTS

Huddersfield Dragons 3 LA Carnegie 3

THIS was typical end of season stuff with neither side having anything to play for.

Jimmy Swinden opened the scoring with a trademark bursting run into the area and reverse stick shot wrong-footing the keeper, before Carnegie drew level.

David Pemberton made it 2 -1 after a pass from Simon Courtney, but they couldn’t hold the lead as Leeds hit back with a tap-in after Huddersfield failed to clear the ball.

It stayed this way until Andy Jackson smashed a long ball off an opposition knee to Fletcher, and he picked out Swinden to bag the lead with his 35th goal of the season, but again Leeds turned the tables to score again and take a share of the points.

Team: Howarth, Peachey, Swinden (M), Buckley, Gregory, Austerberry, Courtney, Swinden (J), Pemberton, Hirst, Fletcher, Jackson, Hales, Barker, Haigh (E)

Rotherham IV 3

Huddersfield Dragons IV 2

THE scoreline flattered Rotherham, who scored from a penalty corner five minutes before half-time. Despite the Dragons best efforts Rotherham scored twice quickly after the break and thinking they had put the game beyond doubt sat back on their lead.

The Dragons at this point decided to finally play some good hockey and two periods of slick passing led to goals for Luke Kelly and Sam Dunn.

Gary Clarke very nearly gained a draw for the boys in purple with a reverse stick shot hitting a post, but time ran out.

Huddersfield Dragons IV 4

City of York VII 1

A good win for the Dragons as they beat York to put to bed any doubts about relegation and to set up a chance for a mid-table finish.

Ben Foo produced a neat drag-flick into the bottom left from a short-corner, then Chris Burnip produced a neat lay-off for Luke Kelly to flick into an open net.

Burnip then scored himself, neatly slotting the ball behind the keeper from the baseline with less than 20 minutes gone in the game.

York got one back on the stroke of half-time, but George Pritchard deflected a shot off a York defender’s chest into the net to cap off a comfortable win.

Huddersfield Dragons V 2

Bingley Bees I 5

HUDDERSFIELD were back to their competitive best for captain Andrew Reed’s last game in charge, but Bingley were in good form and went 2-0 up.

Pogson converted for Dragons but Bingley scored a third before Dales made it 3-2.

Sensing an upset, Huddersfield pushed for an equaliser leaving themselves a little exposed and Bingley scored another two.