HUDDERSFIELD Dragons Ladies have made a storming start to the new season.

They already sit proudly at the top of the North West Hockey League Division I table, and they have now moved smoothly into the second round of the Trophy tournament with a comfortable 5-1 win over the University of Liverpool.

Nicci Bagshaw gave Dragons an early lead when she scored from a short corner and they remained in control with a big contribution from player-of-the-match Beth Crowther.

Laura Thomas made it 2-0 when she deflected in a great shot by Liz Maddaford and then Hester Longstaff slotted in the third to virtually take the game away from Liverpool.

The visitors did snatch a scrappy consolation strike, but immediately the Dragons roared back with a second goal from Bagshaw before Rebecca Brown completed the scoring.

Team: Creedon, Higginbottom, Thomas, Dobson, Crowther, Hudson, Fillingham, Maddaford, Brown, Hough, Bagshaw, Longstaff.

Huddersfield Dragons Ladies II 0

Leeds 5

This proved to be a tough battle for Dragons who, although starting well by pressing Leeds in their own half for the first 10 minutes, quickly found themselves 2-0 down.

Some excellent goalkeeping by new keeper Emma Livsey meant Leeds were unable to add to their tally during the first half.

But after the break Leeds applied more pressure and as Huddersfield attacked in order to chase goals, Leeds took advantage to score another three.

Team:Livsey, Dunne, Di Napoli, Walters, Hargreeves-Brown, Fielding, Smeaton, Stacey, Wells, Crowther, Hutson, Moncuck.

Dragons Ladies III 2

Legiolians 0

THE third team’s first home game was eagerly-awaited with Dragons third in the league and Legiolians fourth.

Dragons dominated the first half, going close through Bailey from a short corner before the breakthrough five minutes from the break.

Marland hit a great ball into the D and Bland was there for a tap in.

The second half started well with Bates making a great run and being in the perfect position to score from a great cross by Mallinson.

Although Dragons pushed for a third it was not to be, but a well deserved win makes it four wins out of five. Laura Bates was player-of-the-match.

Team:Todd, McCallum, Hamer, Morroll, Gowing, Tunbridge, Bailey, Marland, Bates, Mallinson, Hogley, Lawton, Bland.

MEN

Huddersfield Dragons I 10

Northumbria St George 5

SMARTING from defeat, Huddersfield turned on the power to bang in double figures.

An early goal from man-of-the-match Simon Courtney set the scene, confidently slotting home after some neat build-up play.

Minutes later Courtney burst through midfield using his lightning pace, leaving the Northumbria defence standing before drawing the keeper and then passing to Edward Haigh, who slotted into an empty net.

Huddersfield continued strongly with two further goals from captain Rob Kelly and Steve Durrans, before Northumbria managed to grab two quick goals after a lapse in concentration by the home team.

It was Craig Foster who put Huddersfield back on track with a confident goal and, just before the end of the first half, Kelly netted again with a well-struck shot from the top of the D, putting his side 6-2 ahead at the break.

In the second half Northumbria came out all guns blazing and briefly halted Huddersfield’s impressive attacking form, until Martin Hirst broke down their defence to leave the keeper isolated, at which point he slotted the ball home reverse stick.

By now everyone wanted to get their name on the scoresheet, but this left them vulnerable at the back and Northumbria scored a third goal on a quick break.

A Kelly shot was deflected into their own net by the visitors defence, the captain claiming the goal to complete his hat trick, and although Northumbria again replied with two more goals Dragons wrapped up the scoring with further strikes from David Pemberton and Durrans.

Team: McCallum, Swinden, Harris, Kaye, Buckley, Kelly, Pemberton, Durrans, Courtney, Hirst, Hannam, Haigh, Foster, Lee, Ben Wells

Dragons Men V 5

Thirsk II 1

HUDDERSFIELD are into the semi-finals of the League Cup.

When the season began there were mutterings that nobody wanted the competition, especially when the first-round draw produced an away tie at Lincoln, but it’s a different story now.

On paper the Dragons would have been expected to lose to Thirsk, but goals from Conrad Dales and Mike Pogson took them into an early 2-0 lead.

A slack pass out of defence gave Thirsk possession and eventually they scored with a superb deflection into the top corner from the centre forward.

After that, Mark Wood kept the same player under control for the rest of the game.

Two more goals for Huddersfield from Dales and Pogson put them 4-1 up at half time, a scoreline which exceeded all expectations – Pogson’s strike, in particular, being special as he took the ball up on the half-way line before breezing past several defenders and slamming the ball into the net from the top of the D.

The expected Thirsk onslaught in the second half was repelled and Dales sealed the game with his hat-trick goal to make it 5-1.

Pogson almost had to emulate Dales in buying a jug to celebrate his hat trick, but somehow miss-hit his shot in the final minute.

Team: Renfrey, Ridings, Bland, Wood, Donovan, Foo, Pogson, Greenberry, Laithwaite, Dales, Clarke, Reed, Dallas.