RICHARD LOVATT and Jimmy Swinden both bagged hat tricks as Huddersfield Dragons beat Leeds University II 9-2 for their third win from five games in the North II East League.

Huddersfield looked tentative as they came to terms with the bouncy pitch.

However it was Lovatt who opened the scoring with a reverse stick shot for a 1-0 half-time lead.

Leeds scored from a short corner after the re-start before Huddersfield took control, scoring three goals in five minutes to take a firm hold.

Swinden tapped in at the far post and Lovatt scored twice more to complete his hat trick, before Leeds briefly had a glimmer of hope as they got a second. Fine saves from Paul Howarth stopped them closing the gap further.

Swinden capped a man-of-the-match performance scoring three more second-half goals, two powerful shots from the edge of the D and the pick a solo run and a stunning shot.

Leeds were shell-shocked and Huddersfield took advantage as Martin Hirst scored from close range and Rob Kelly completed the scoring with a powerful reverse stick shot.

Team: Howarth, Beatson, Swinden (M), Hannam, Gregory, Buckley, Pemberton Courtney, Lovatt, Kelly, Swinden (J), Hirst, Keaveney.

LA Carnegie IV 4

Huddersfield Dragons III 4

HUDDERSFIELD took on a Leeds team surprisingly near the foot of the table but one of their bogey sides.

Huddersfield found themselves a goal down within five minutes and soon after conceded a second.

The visitors did not let their heads drop and they began to create some chances, with attacking moves involving Kullar, Beaumont and Connell. The breakthrough came as a penalty corner was well dispatched by Maddaford.

Confidence was now high and after some good saves from debutant Ash Kundi, Huddersfield levelled the scores through Beaumont and two further goals in quick succession from man-of-the-match Kullar and Sean Connell put them 4-2 up at half-time.

In the second half Leeds created further chances and poor defending allowed them to convert two.

Team: Kundi, Barker, Taylor, Haigh, Blackburn, Hindmarsh, Beaumont, Kullar, Abbey, Connell, Maddaford, Kelly.

Huddersfield Dragons IV 1

Ben Rhydding IV 5

DRAGONS came out strongly and took an early lead through Gary Clarke after some good passing between man-of-the-match Elliott Dodson and Luke Kelly in midfield.

However, Ben Rhydding then proved why they are top of Division V, drawing level soon after and then taking a lead they would not relinquish, scoring three times in the first half and twice in the second.

Leeds VI 1 Huddersfield Dragons V 1

THIS was a real battle.

In the first 20 minutes Dragons Šheld off three short corners and a strongŠLeedsŠattack.

But eventually they slipped Šthough the defence and scored.

Huddersfield’s attack pushed as hard as they could for the rest of the first half but without luck.

Dragons were more determined than ever from the re-start and after 10 minutes, Ali belted a back stick shot through the keeper’s legs to level the game.

Huddersfield Dragons VI 2

Ben Rhydding VI 1

DRAGONSŠwere determined to get consecutive victories and the first half started brightly with Foo making several inch-perfect aerial passes to the forward lineŠ of Dwyer,ŠAlexander and Cooke, leading to two penalty corners.

The first saw Cooke deliver the ball to Foo who slipped it left for Lees to flick it past the diving keeper.

The second saw Foo receive the ball and dribble Šaround two defenders before striking a low hard shot against the backboard for a 2-0 lead.

The second half started with the home side missing a great chance through Bebb, after fine work by Brown and Cooke.

Rhydding got a consolation goal in the final two minutes.

Team: Canham, Moorhouse, Turner, Barker, Brown, Brennan, Lees, Foo, Dwyer, Cooke A, Alexander, Bebb.

Kendal Ladies 2

Huddersfield Dragons Ladies 2

DRAGONS’ first team were involved in a roller-coaster of a match with the home team opening the scoring in the first few minutes.

And as the first half continued, it was fraught with umpire warnings, tempers and tough play, all of which contributed to the scoreline remaining 1-0.

In the second half, Dragons seemed to regain their spirit and Kelly Fillingham scored their first goal with a quick reaction on a short corner rebound.

The defence worked hard at the back to put down the breaks when they came, and eventually Amanda Sowerby had the chance to drive into the D and reverse flick an unbelievable goal into the net, which also brought her the player-of-the-match award.

It wasn’t quite enough, however, as a few minutes later Kendal equalised from a short corner.

Dragons now have a week off before a tough away fixture at league leaders Lancaster on November 7.