Sheffield Uni Bankers 3

Ben Rhydding Firsts 5

BEN Rhydding First XI faced rivals Sheffield Universitys Bankers in their Northern Premier League fixture on Saturday and it was to be the game of the day.

Coming off their outstanding performance a week earlier against runaway leaders Bowdon, Rhydding were playing to go level with their opponents in second place. An away win was crucial.

Rhydding settled into the game very early with midfielder Brad King and Craig Smith controlling the pace of the game. It wasn't long before the combination of King and striker Kelly found a gap in the Sheffield defence as it has in countless games this season.

An outstanding long distance pass from King found Kelly one-on-one with the Sheffield 'keeper. Kelly had no trouble eliminating the 'keeper and launching a reverse stick shot into the net for Rhydding's first goal.

Sheffield hit back quickly with a superb individual effort to make it 1-1. However, Rhydding responded in fine style. Midfielder Neil Sugden crossed to the top of the area where Kelly again struck a reverse stick shot past the defence for a 2-1 lead.

Rhydding secured a third goal shortly after when Kelly again got a shot on target and when saved by the 'keeper King's reflex shot put Rhydding in a commanding 3-1 lead.

Unfortunately for Rhydding a late first-half goal was conceded and they went in at half-time with a 3-2 advantage looking to maintain control.

Rhydding came out firing in the second-half, not allowing Sheffield to play their style of hockey and this began to frustrate the home side. With Rhydding dominating the play a fourth goal was needed to put this game beyond reach for Sheffield and it wasn't long until the fourth was on the scoresheet.

Playing the ball from deep in their defence down the right-hand side of the pitch, Smith combined with striker Andrew Parkes, who crossed for Kelly to net a diving goal to complete his hat-trick.

Rhydding continued to attack, looking for a 5-1 lead, and the pressure eventually was too much for the struggling home defence.

Smith found Kelly in space and he returned the favour to Parkes setting him up in front of the goal and finishing off with a rewarding goal.

With the game drawing to a close Sheffield got one goal back but had left their run too late. A very rewarding away win for Ben Rhydding and three points. Man-of-the-Match was Dan Kelly.

l Ben Rhydding host Warrington on Saturday (1.30pm) and hope to continue their current winning form.

Under-10 Boys on top

Another morning of victorious hockey saw Ben Rhydding under-10 A team firmly establish themselves at the top of the Yorkshire Youth League. Unbeaten this season they thrilled the appreciative crowd with some outstanding hockey.

A top-of-the-league clash with Adel saw a tightly fought game end in a 2-1 win thanks to heroic defending from Stuart Raw and electrifying forward play from Patrick Smith.

Harrogate proved just as difficult to beat but few players are able to find a reply to the power of Harry Appleby or the pacy skill of Struan Connor and they sealed a 2-1 victory.

Brave play from a less than well Samuel French against York meant a tight left hand side and James Snook was able to exhibit his versatility in coming through to score a superb goal after great creative play from Connor Dowley.

This opened the floodgates for a 4-1 win. The dogged, disciplined Joe Drakard was rewarded with the last goal of the day against Rotherham to close with a 5-2 success.

Under-16 girls

THE fourth round of the Yorkshire Youth Hockey League (Girls U-16) took place on Sunday. Ben Rhydding welcomed back sweeper Lucinda Tullie who sustained an injury at the start of the season.

Laura Beardsmore returned to her preferred position of centre defence. Through all three league games the defence of Lucinda, Laura, Ellie Banks, Leah Fisher and Hayley Zillessen, played with discipline and determination to keep a clean sheet. Goalkeeper Jenna Appleby did not have many opportunities to show her skills but was accurate and decisive.

The first game against Sheffield was a keenly fought match resulting in a well deserved 2-0 victory. Lucy Denison was in fine form at right wing, firing in numerous crosses and scoring a hard-hit goal from the top of the circle. With only seconds to spare the second goal was scored by Karina Kilner whose versatility is a great asset to the side. Elisa Powell ran tirelessly making Sheffield's defence pay for their errors.

Ben Rhydding were hoping to improve on their 0-0 draw against Driffield at the start of the season. They had several good attacking spells, Amy Rawson playing well.

Unfortunately this was not the team's best performance of the day and a 0-0 draw was a fair result.

The final game against York was the best with Ben Rhydding very much in command.

Excellent play by Beth Pawson, Sally Coates and Anna Fardell put the York defence under constant pressure.

Raine Ellis played with great determination linking well with the forward line but the goals did not materialise and the team had to be content with a goalless draw.

Ben Rhydding picked up five valuable league points but with only two more rounds to play it is still a battle for a place in the top eight and a chance to play in the League Finals.

TEAMS

BEN RHYDDING (home to Warrington, 1.30pm) from: Weaver, Oakes, Sugden, Smith, Schofield, Parkes, W Musgrave, J Laxton, King, D Kelly, Harmer, Hannath, Gledhill, Foster, Cutter, Bull, Beckford.

Seconds (at Huddersfield, 1.30pm): TBA, H Lambert, N Horsman, I Cussons, Locke, Hatfield, Jolly, TBA, TBA, TBA,TBA.

Thirds (home to Hull, 1.30pm, on grass): Parapia, Bevington, Logan, Vernon, Skinner, Priestley, Baker, Hansell, Sutherland, S Laxton, A Musgrave, Gooch.

Fourths (at Huddersfield, 4.30pm): Pratt, Roughton, Pawson, Hudson, Charters, R Gibson, T Zillesen, J Hutton, Chin, Birkenshaw, C Borrett.

Fifths (home to Harrogate, noon, on grass): Funnel, A Woodhead, Blackburn, Lowe, C Charlesworth, M Timperley, Hatton, Hughes, R Dawson, Till, Hornby, A Mounsey.

Sixths (at Wakefield, 1.30pm): Dickens, G Briggs, Whitworth, B Dawson, A Packett, A Charlesworth, D Martin, Massey, Harlen, S Mounsey, Perfitt, Hart.

Sevenths (home to Harrogate, 4.30pm): Garrity, Jackson, Birtwhistle, Birdsall, S Timperley, G Forbes, N Borrett, Heaton, O Hall, Murgatroyd, K Borrett, S Forbes.

Eighths (at Airedale, 1.30pm): A Martin, Meredith, Ashdown, St John, Hockin, A Cussons, A Kelly, S Woodhead, D'Abundo, Latham, Grant, Pantelli.