HUDDERSFIELD made it three wins on the bounce with a fine 5-4 victory over Whitley Bay & Tynemouth, and in doing so lifted themselves from eighth to fifth in North Division II East.

This was the best win of the season so far as Whitley Bay started the day in second place and are part of the top four teams who are well ahead of the rest of the league, having hammered the Dragons 7-2 up in the North East.

The first 20 minutes Huddersfield were almost unplayable, they beat Whitley Bay to the ball, were strong in the tackle and distributed the ball quickly and accurately which led to them to create a number of chances, the first two goals coming from Richard Lovatt and a third from Rob Kelly.

Whitley Bay started to exert some control late in the half and pulled one back from the only defensive blemish.

In the second half Whitley Bay had more of a foothold in the game and were soon only 3-2 behind after a sustained period of pressure, but Huddersfield’s defence weathered the storm well with goalkeeper Howarth making some excellent saves and Swinden some outstanding tackles and distributing the ball superbly.

They were unlucky to concede a short corner when Howarth was left one-on-one and a goalbound flick hit a defenders foot, Whitley Bay dispatched the resulting penalty flick to level things up.

Rather than be deflated though Huddersfield raised their game with Jimmy Swinden grabbing the lead once more as Whitley Bay went down to ten men, Steve Durrans then grabbed the clinching goal after some good saves from the keeper, there was still time for a fourth from Whitley Bay to give Huddersfield a nervous last five minutes but they were not to be denied an excellent victory.

Team: Howarth, Beatson, Gregory, Swinden, Buckley, Keaveney, Pemberton, Lovatt, Kelly, Durrans, Fletcher, Swinden, Hannam

Huddersfield Dragons III 3 City of York V 1

HUDDERSFIELD managed to both dominate possession and chances without ever putting together the fast flowing hockey they had witnessed by the first team in what was a sluggish performance.

York worked hard without ever showing much threat, and were punished by Maddaford and Hindmarsh scoring from penalty corners in the first twenty minutes, while Ben Foo found the keeper exposed and drove it home having been set up by Elson to put Huddersfield in charge at the break.

In the second period, the game drifted with little cohesive play by either team, and far too much individual running and little creative hockey. York capitalised in the final minutes from some sloppy defending to score a consolation goal.

City of York VI 1 Huddersfield Dragons IV 2

TWO wins in two games for the Fourths as they travelled to face a City of York side just above them in the table at the start of the day.

The weather served up a perfect day for hockey, and yet despite playing imperfect hockey at times the young Dragons side frustrated York all game and were able to leave with the points to jump their opposition in the league.

York had two-thirds of the possession, but excellent keeping by Kundi, a solid defensive line and every other Dragon on the pitch putting in the effort in attack and defence to frustrate and prevent their opponents from scoring.

At half-time the score was 0-0, but after the break Dragons produced two brilliant pieces of counter attacking hockey which produced the two goals, the first from Matty Gardner who prodded it into the bottom corner, and then five minutes later Jonny Walker fired home.

LADIES RESULTS

Chapeltown II 3 Huddersfield Dragons III 2

DRAGONS were on fire in the first half of this game and were 2-0 up after just 15 minutes.

The first goal came as Bland netted the ball after it rebounded off the keeper as she saved a strike from Dexter and Bland also struck the second soon after as the Dragons attacked once again.

For the rest of the half the game was end to end with Dragons missing their fair share of chances to increase their lead and at the other end keeper and man of the match Martin, pulled off some superb saves to thwart the home side.

Things changes in the second half as Smith left the pitch through injury leaving the Dragons with only 10 players and facing a squad of 15 for the opposition.

Dragons found themselves pushed back into their own half and despite some solid defending in midfield and at the back the home side found the net. With fifteen minutes left Dragons tried to preserve their lead but Chapeltown levelled to make the score 2-2.

The visitors tried to recapture the lead but with five minutes on the clock Chapeltown scored again and Dragons had to accept defeat.

Team: Martin, Smith, Hamer, Moorhouse, Gowing, Morroll, Bates, Fielding, Dexter, Bland, McCallum