Spalding 1st battled out a 4-4 draw with neighbours Bourne/Deeping 1st in their East Men’s Hockey League Premier B opener on Saturday.
Relegated last season, Spalding will have been happy enough with the share of the spoils in the away fixture ahead of this Saturday’s home opener against Blueharts (1.30pm).
A new-look Spalding 2nd went down 3-1 at home to Long Sutton 2nd, though, with Richard McKenna getting their late consolation in the Division 4NW derby.
In the same division, Spalding 3rd romped to a 5-0 victory at Bourne Deeping 3rd.
Also victorious were Spalding 4th in Division 5NW, as they put Bourne Deeping 4th to the sword 2-1 at Glen Park.
Spalding 5th grabbed an opening day victory too as they prevailed 2-0 at City of Peterborough 8th in Division 6NW (N).
Second-half strikes from Tom Bland and Ollie Smith got the job done.
In the East Women’s League, Spalding Poachers picked up a 2-2 draw with St Ives 1st in Division 2N.
Spalding were down 2-0 at half time against a side that were relegated last season, but started the second half strongly and managed to pull it back with a double from new signing Lyn Sullivan.
In Division 3NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd won 4-3 at Ely City 3rd, with Meg Moore, Grace Hodgett and Amy Naylor (2) netting.
Spalding Poachers 3rd were awarded a 5-0 walkover victory over Louth 2nd in Division 4NW (N).
- Long Sutton 1st suffered a 3-0 home reverse against Cambridge South 1st in their first East Men’s League Division 2N game of the season.
Keeper Brad Whitmore was their star man in what was a committed team performance.
Sutton 2nd, meanwhile, kicked off with a fine 3-1 victory at rivals Spalding 2nd in Division 4NW.
Will White (2) and Tyler Hagan netted for Sutton, with Ben Smith the player of the match.
Also impressing were Sutton’s 3rd side, who walloped Bourne Deeping 6th 7-1 at the Peele Leisure Centre.
Their goals came from Adam Pack (2), Dan Oldfield, Jack Smith, McKenzie East, Ian White and man-of-the-match Josh Woodrow.
Meanwhile, both of Sutton’s ladies’ teams suffered opening day defeats.
The ladies’ 1st team, fielding five under-15 players, slipped to a 1-0 loss at Cambridge South 1st in East Women’s League Division 2NW.
Connie Gittins and Jo Bland shared the player of the match award in that one.
Down in Division 4NW (N), Sutton 2nd went down 2-1 at home to Bourne Deeping 2nd despite Lisa Baker’s goal and a player-of-the-match show from Lucy Smith.
