Ladies get revenge against University

The Newark Hockey Club ladies 1sts maintained their progress at the top of the Notts Premier League as they laid to rest the ghosts of last season’s game against Nottingham University 3rd XI.

Newark created a string of first half opportunities, but when half-time arrived with game still goalless, the players’ thoughts turned to last season when they had outplayed the same team only to lose 3-2.

But they managed to turn their possession into goals after the break and ran out 3-1 winners thanks to strikes from Emma Wilson, Megan Beard and Hannah Coe.

Coach Paul Halfpenny said: “It’s a good feeling to come through this encounter with three points, putting last year’s result to bed.”

The Newark side face their toughest challenge of the season to date tomorrow when they take on third-placed Beeston at Highfields.

Newark ladies’ 2nds went into their game at West Bridgford Monarchs knowing that it was a fixture that could determine their season, and it ended in disappointment with a 3-0 defeat despite a bright start to the game.

Coach Arran Coggan said: “The team played well, but again we have come away with nothing. There’s plenty of the season left, but we must start to take the opportunities that are presented to us.”

Both the Newark men’s 1st and 2nd XIs suffered 5-1 defeats.

The men’s 1st XI lost 5-1 at third-placed Leicester, going two goals down before Jules Williams notched his fifth goal of the campaign, but the home side snuffed out any hopes of a fightback.

The men’s 2nd XI suffered their mauling at home to Kettering, conceding a penalty flick as early as the second minute, and it didn’t really get any better, apart from when man of the match Scott Robinson set up Sam Smith for the consolation effort.