LEAMINGTON Ladies got their Warwickshire Hockey League promotion bid off to the best possible start after opening their league campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Edgbaston on Saturday.
Despite a somewhat nervy start, the hosts held off an early onslaught from Edgbaston and slowly grew into the game, before powering into a two-goal half time lead.
Ella Bromley opened the scoring for Leamington after finishing off a well-worked penalty corner routine and Dani Black doubled their lead just before the break with a powerful finish into the top corner.
England mixed international Kerry Luckett wrapped up the points in the second half after applying the finish to a fine team goal, while a defence marshalled by player-of-the-match Emma Nobes held firm to claim a clean sheet.
Elsewhere, Leamington ladies’ second team came from behind to make it two wins out of two thanks to a 2-1 victory at Solihull Blossomfield.
Leamington fell behind midway through the first half thanks to a cruel deflection from Olivia Williams’ stick, following a Solihull penalty corner.
But the visitors rallied and were level before half-time through Sarah Gambling before after the break a succession of passing between defence and midfield allowed Laura McTernan to skillyfully slot home the winning shot from the edge of the box,
The club’s fourth team slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Shipston which was their second consecutive defeat but it was an improvement on last week’s 7-1 hammering at home to Berkswell.
In the Midland Region Hockey Association Women’s League (MRHAWL) Divison Two, Warwick women got their season off to a positive start thanks to a 2-0 home victory over Kettering.
Warwick began strongly and created several goal attempts in the opening ten minutes before Alex Fillmore hit a ball into the ‘D’ which Kirstin Bryce touched home for the first goal.
Warwick continued going forward winning several short corners which despite Sally Rankin’s accurate and powerful drag flicks were saved by the keeper.
Kettering applied pressure but were unable to penetrate the Warwick defence and after the break they made a strong start with a series of well-worked attacks.
However the visitors were unable to produce any goals and after some small changes to their line-up Izzy Hurst scored a well-placed goal to secure a much deserved 2-0 win.
