MANY of Fenland’s hockey sides began their season last weekend. Here is a round-up of how some of them fared.

East Women’s Hockey League - Division One North

Cambridge City II 0 Wisbech Ladies 2

Wisbech travelled away to Cambridge after having some extremely disappointing news in the week and wanted to go out all guns blazing. They began slowly but defended well and took the lead when Joey Gomm followed up a shot from Jane Peggs. Wisbech created lots of opportunities after the break and grabbed a deserved second when Claire Apted smashed the ball home. Player of the match - Steph Hanlon.

East Men’s Hockey League - Division Two North

Bourne II 2 March 5

March started brightly and took the game to Bourne from the first whistle but were shocked when Bourne took the lead from a deflected free hit. Jody Betts equalised before Matt Wallis, David Hodson and Rob Mitchell made March’s superiority count. Betts added a fifth with a fine solo goal to seal a fantastic victory. Ed Batt worked well in midfield but man of the match was given to Andy Wright who continued his fine form from last year. David Haselgrave made his first team debut. March line-up: Matt Lynn, Simon Coe, Andy Wright, James Mansfield, Ash Welland, Ed Batt, Jacob Fraser, David Hodson, Rob Mitchell, David Haselgrave, Jody Betts and Matt Wallis.

East Men’s Hockey League - Division Three North-West

Wisbech II 1 March III 0

Wisbech captain Dom Stannard fired a late goal to edge this derby encounter. Full match report on hockey section of the website: ‘Wisbech Thirds edge out March Seconds in opening day derby’

East Men’s Hockey League - Division Five North-West

March III 8 Rutland III 7

March raced into a 3-0 lead with goals from Matt Lakey (2) and Simon Laws before Rutland pulled two back. Dan Shirley made it 4-2 but Rutland scored again to make it 4-3 at half-time. The goal-fest continued after the break. Shirley made it 5-3 before Rutland scored their fourth. Brian Fox made it 6-4 to March, but Rutland pulled the game level with two goals. Brian Fox made it 7-6 before Rutland equalised again. With less than five minutes to go Toby Fox fired home a bullet winner to clinch this thriller.

East Men’s Hockey League - Division Six North-West

March IV 3 St Neots V 0 (March awarded match as St Neots unable to field side)

East Women’s Hockey League - Division Two North-West

Long Sutton 2 Bourne 0

Long Sutton played well in the first-half and passed the ball around with intent winning a number of penalty corners. Amy Kirkham smashed the ball home from one and Ali Hobson added the second after a goalmouth scramble. Lorraine Wallis was named player of the match for her amazing performance in goal and keeping her second consecutive clean sheet. Long Sutton: Lorraine Wallis, Rachael Gadsden, Sally Cade, Holly Naismith, Leanne Woodhead, Jess Hudson, Ali Hobson (Captain), Ali Drew, Melissa Ludlam, Amy Kirkham, Lachan Reed and Lisa Baker.

East Men’s Hockey League - Premier Division B

Wisbech 6 Long Sutton 2

Wisbech made an impressive start to their East Premier B campaign with a comforable win against neighbours Long Sutton. Wisbech took the game to Long Sutton right from the start and put their defence under enormous pressure. Sutton were unfortunate to have a player yellow carded for playing the ball above his head but Wisbech took advantage and took the lead from a Drew Harvey reverse stick shot from a short corner. Wisbech were rampant and Dan Martell and Bradley Apted were passing their way through the Sutton defence at will. One such move saw a goal from Apted, whilst Martell bagged a brace, an unstoppable shot into the top corner and a deflection at a short corner. The umpires proved a little card happy and both sides lost players for dissent before the break. Long Sutton gave themselves a brief glimmer of hope when they scored from a penalty corner to reduce the arrears. Wisbech’s second half performance wasn’t up to the standard of the first but they still proved to be too strong. Apted provided a deft finish to kill off any vain hopes Sutton had of salvaging the game. Matt Pooley scored his first goal for the first team as he ran into the circle and hammered the ball into the far corner. Wisbech then had Jon Shippey bizarrely yellow carded and Sutton took advantage of their numerical supremacy to grab a consolation. If it wasn’t for a number of fine saves from Sutton keeper Jake Loweth, Wisbech would easily have recorded double figures.

East Men’s Hockey League - Division Five North-West

Wisbech IV 1 Cambridge South 0

A new look Wisbech 4th team entertained Cambs South for the first league game of the season. The blend of youth and experience worked well as Wisebch passed the ball around and kept possession for large parts of the first half. This pressure led to a penalty corner which captain Howard Atkins slammed home. The score remained at 1-0 for the rest of the game despite Cambs South coming back strongly in the second half. It was down to the hard work in midfield by Will Greenwood and Ollie Brown that these attacks came to nothing.