Men’s 1st’s (0) vs. (3) Sheffield University Bankers 2nd’s
Slazenger Mens 1s made the trip to league leaders Sheffield University Bankers on Saturday, fully aware of the challenge that awaited them against the division’s most in-form side.
From the opening whistle, Sheffield demonstrated the energy and athleticism that has propelled them to the top of the table. Their youthful squad constantly rotated and moved off the ball, dragging Slazenger’s midfield and defence from side to side with relentless runs. At times the movement seemed excessive, but it forced Slaz to work hard to maintain their shape.
Despite the early pressure, Slazenger showed the value of experience whenever they managed to gain possession. Moving the ball calmly through the lines, they built several promising attacks and forced a number of short corners. However, in what has unfortunately become a familiar theme, they were unable to make their set-piece opportunities count.
Sheffield, by contrast, were ruthlessly efficient. After regaining possession they quickly launched a long ball into the Slazenger half, earning their first short corner of the game. The resulting drag flick was struck with pace and precision, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance and giving the hosts a 1–0 lead heading into the break.
The second half highlighted exactly why Sheffield sit top of the league. As Slazenger’s legs began to tire, the home side remained relentless. Forced to sit deeper to conserve energy, Slaz allowed Sheffield extended spells of possession. The pressure eventually told, with the hosts winning two further short corners and converting both to extend their lead.
Despite battling throughout, Slazenger were unable to find a way back into the contest and the match finished 3–0 to Sheffield University Bankers.
Slazenger will regroup, lick their wounds, and return to the training ground knowing there is work to be done—particularly in both attacking and defending short corners—before next week’s home fixture against Chapeltown.
Men’s 2nd’s (6) vs. (1) Chesterfield 2nd’s
Slazengers Men’s 2nds returned to Chesterfield for the second time in a matter of weeks, this time taking on their second team in the same league — and left with considerably more breathing room than the narrow 5–4 victory over their firsts a fortnight prior.
The game opened as a tense affair, with Chesterfield matching Slazengers early on and the scores level at 1–1 after an early Slazengers goal, only for the hosts to equalise. From that point, however, Slazengers took firm control and never looked back, pressing well and producing some slick combination play that repeatedly cut through a tiring Chesterfield defence.
A hat-trick from Richard Tuddenham — completed early in the second half — along with goals from Jimmy Swinden, Jack Sumner, and Aleks Thompson sealed a convincing 6–1 victory.
Men’s 3rd’s (8) vs. (5) Selby 1st’s
The men’s 3s launched their campaign into orbit with an intergalactic 8–5 victory over Selby 1s — their first points of 2026 and a match that had more twists than a trip through an asteroid field.
From the first whistle, Slazenger looked ready for lift-off. With Sammy guarding the goal like a planetary shield and a defensive ring of Dodge, Simon, Josh, Harry, and Mark forming the outer atmosphere, the side quickly established control of the galaxy.
The early exploration paid off when Seth, Slazenger’s star striker, fired the first rocket past the Selby keeper. It wouldn’t be his last mission success. Slazenger continued their cosmic assault, with Dodge launching a thunderbolt from defence and John navigating through traffic to add another. By the time the halftime siren echoed through the vacuum, Slazenger held a commanding 4–2 lead.
The midfield engine room of Jack, Aidy, Jez, and Dan kept the spaceship humming, while Scott and Seth streaked down the wings like comets, stretching Selby’s defence across the solar system.
Early in the second half, Slazenger extended their lead to 5–2 thanks to Jack, and the chance came for Dodge to hammer home a penalty flick and push the visitors further into deep space. Unfortunately, the shot drifted just wide of the target — a second misfire from the Slazenger launchpad for the defender in recent weeks.
Selby seized the moment and mounted a counterattack worthy of a sci-fi thriller. Despite Slazenger reaching 6–3, the visitors surged back through the cosmic chaos, clawing their way to 6–5 and threatening to pull Slazenger into a black hole of nerves.
But when the stars mattered most, John stepped forward like a true space commander. The Slazenger talisman completed a stunning four-goal haul, restoring order to the universe and sealing the match, while Dodge redeemed himself with a second goal from a short corner.
Two late Slazenger rockets put the game beyond Selby’s gravitational pull, confirming a thrilling 8–5 victory. Man of the Match: John — four goals and a performance that shone brighter than a supernova.
After a rollercoaster journey through the hockey cosmos, Slazenger 3s finally planted their flag on their first win of 2026 — and if this match is anything to go by, their season might just be heading for the stars.
Men’s 4th’s (2) vs. (5) Chesterfield 4th’s
Slazenger 4s made the trip to Chesterfield looking to build momentum, but faced a tough challenge against an organised Chesterfield 4s side who proved clinical in front of goal. The hosts started brightly and took the lead in the early on, capitalising on sustained pressure to find the back of the net from open play. Chesterfield continued to press and doubled their advantage again finishing neatly after working the ball through the Slazenger defence.
Slazenger responded well and began to settle into the game, moving the ball with more confidence through midfield. Their persistence paid off in the 28th minute, when a well-worked move resulted in a Slazenger forward finding space in the circle and slotting home to pull one back. However, the momentum was short-lived as Chesterfield struck again before halftime , restoring their two-goal cushion. Just after halftime the home side added another in the 40th minute, leaving Slazenger with a mountain to climb going after the break.
The second half saw Slazenger trying to push higher up the pitch in search of a way back into the game, but Chesterfield were able to punish the gaps left behind, adding their fifth goal in the 50th minute.
To their credit, Slazenger continued to battle and refused to let their heads drop. Their efforts were rewarded late on when they grabbed a second goal in the 70th minute, finishing off a positive attacking move to give the travelling side something to build on. Despite the final score line not going Slazenger’s’ way, the team showed resilience throughout and will take the positives from their attacking play and determination as they look ahead to their next fixture.
Ladies 1st’s (0) vs. (3) Leeds 4th’s
📋 Umpires: Steve Wood • Keith Stevenson
Spring had officially sprung, the sun was pretending it might stay out for more than seven minutes, and Slazenger arrived ready for a tough afternoon against Leeds. We knew this was going to be a challenge, so preparations began in the most professional way possible: blasting absolute bangers in the changing room. However, it quickly became clear just how young this Slaz side is. Several players looked at the playlist with the same expression you’d give to ancient cave drawings. The classics were met with confused stares, polite nods, and at least one “What song is this?”—a sentence that should frankly be illegal when absolute bangers are involved. Once the generational music debate subsided, the warm-up began—and it was intense. Players looked sharp, focused, and fully up for the game. When the match started, that same energy carried straight onto the pitch.
Slaz began with clear instructions and three simple targets: mark players closely, communicate loudly and precisely, and work relentlessly for the ball. For large parts of the opening spell, this was exactly what we saw. Slaz communicated well and worked hard to stay organised. Unfortunately, Leeds proved why they’re a strong side. As concentration dipped slightly in a few areas, Leeds were quick to capitalise—sneaking in a couple of tap-in goals that felt like the sporting equivalent of someone quietly stealing the last biscuit when no one’s looking. Behind it all, Ami in goal was outstanding. She stood strong and repeatedly battered back the Leeds attack, pulling off saves and keeping Slaz in the fight. In front of her, Emma and Eliz worked tirelessly in defence, forcing Leeds into mistakes and doing their best to move the ball up field. Despite the effort, the first half finished 3–0 to Leeds.
The second half, however, told a very different story. Slaz came out firing and dominated possession—holding the ball for around 70% of the half. The only thing missing was the finishing touch. Chance after chance built up, but the goal just refused to arrive, as if the net had decided it was taking the afternoon off. Millie worked relentlessly off the ball, constantly making runs and stretching the Leeds defence. Amelia—officially the smallest player on the pitch—was also one of the most formidable. She challenged every Leeds player physically and then added a layer of skill that seemed to leave opponents both confused and slightly offended.
Frankie, battling through a cold, put in a determined performance. Not only did she keep going, but she did so despite being taken out at one point and picking up a hefty whack to the leg. Clearly the cold had not affected her commitment—just possibly her patience. Marisa stepped up the communication in the second half, constantly making calls and boosting team morale. The energy lifted across the team and the pressure on Leeds grew.
In the end, the second half finished 0–0. The final score remained 3–0 to Leeds, but Slaz certainly deserved a goal for their efforts. While it wasn’t the result we wanted, there’s a lot to take away from the match: strong spells of possession, excellent individual efforts, and a clear demonstration of what the team can do when communication and work rate stay high. Plenty to build on—and next time we might even educate the squad on what counts as a proper changing-room banger.
Ladies 1st’s (1) vs. (0) City of York 2nd’s
Crufts Canine Classic: Slazengers Show Their Pedigree at York
Sunday morning arrived with a mixture of weary limbs and determined spirits. Some of the players had played the day before, some were delicately managing hangovers, others were nursing various aches and strains—while a few had somehow arrived fresh as a daisy and ready to enter the arena. Either way, the team assembled and travelled to face City of York Hockey Club in what felt less like a routine league match and more like stepping into the ring at Crufts.
This twice-rearranged fixture required such a reshuffle of talent that an entirely new WhatsApp kennel—sorry, team chat—had to be created just to keep the pack organised.
With players drawn from the Ladies 1s, 2s and 3s, Slazengers fielded a proud and experienced pack for the early Sunday outing. This week’s average age sat comfortably in the early thirties—seasoned competitors very much in their pedigree prime. York, by comparison, looked more like the puppy class, with perhaps only one player appearing to have reached veteran status.
Standing firm between the posts like a loyal show champion was Ami in goal. In front of her, Eliz, Bella, Lisa, Sarah, Emma, and Nat formed a defensive unit as dependable and disciplined as a pack of well-trained sheepdogs—alert to every movement and quick to herd away any danger that wandered too close to the circle.
In midfield, Frankie, Zoe, Amelia and Rebecca worked tirelessly, darting about like enthusiastic agility competitors—sniffing out space, chasing every loose ball, and keeping York on their heels.
York moved the ball well early on, setting up in a three-quarter press with a tendency to collapse around the player in possession. But much like a pack of overexcited terriers chasing the same toy, this approach left space elsewhere on the pitch—something Slazengers were quick to exploit with sharp passing and well-timed breakaways.
The breakthrough came around ten minutes in. A free hit inside the York 22 presented an opportunity for Slazengers to display their best-in-show routine. The ball was played back to Emma in the middle, who unleashed a perfectly weighted crash ball into the D. Waiting there like a poised champion in the ring was Caro, forward extraordinaire. With her very first touch of the match, she produced a deft deflection past the York keeper to give Slazengers a deserved 1–0 lead.
Up front, Ellie, Justine and goal-scorer Caro led the attacking line with blistering pace, making speedy runs reminiscent of the lightning-fast dashes seen in Flyball—charging forward at every opportunity and keeping the York defence constantly on the back paw.
Despite York’s persistent advances, they simply couldn’t find a way through the Slazengers back line. Time and again their attacks were sniffed out, chased down, and firmly sent packing—like a determined guard dog protecting its territory. Every attempted break was met with calm composure and a wag-of-the-tail confidence from the defence, ensuring Ami’s goal remained securely guarded.
All in all, it was a performance worthy of a rosette: experience, teamwork, and a clinical finish that separated the pedigree performers from the pups.
Best in Show: Caro
Who pooped in the arena (aka Tart of the day): Frankie — for being green carded after making a proper dog’s dinner of a tackle with the back stick.
Slazengers proved that while York may have had youth on their side, sometimes experience—and a well-trained pack—wins the day.
Ladies 2nd’s (7) vs. (1) Hull Hawks 1st’s
📋 Umpires: Keith Stevenson • Paul Houghton
Slazenger Ladies 2s delivered a confident all-round performance to secure a convincing victory over Hull Hawks.
The first half saw Slazenger settle quickly, playing calm, composed hockey and linking up well with plenty of accurate passing to move the ball up the pitch. The early pressure paid off when Maisie opened the scoring, driving strongly into the D and finishing well to give Slaz the lead. The second goal came after a determined one-on-one battle with the keeper – Nicci showing great persistence to come out on top and slot the ball home. Slaz continued to dominate, creating chances including a flick that was well saved, before Ella extended the lead from a well-worked penalty corner. At half time, Slazenger were firmly in control at 3–0.
Hull Hawks pushed harder in the second half, but Slazenger’s defence held strong and continued to move the ball effectively. Lou added a fourth with a powerful strike from the top of the D, leaving the keeper with no chance. Hull managed to pull one back with a fortunate effort from a penalty corner, but Slazenger quickly regained control. Maisie grabbed her second of the game with a slow but effective effort that trickled over the line. Soon after, Slaz won a penalty stroke and Lou stepped up confidently to convert. To cap off a brilliant team performance, Mia sealed the result with a superb deflection that flew into the top corner.
Overall it was a cracking game from Slazenger, with strong teamwork, hard work across the pitch, and some excellent finishing securing a well-deserved win.
Ladies 3rd’s (0) vs. (0) Horsforth 1st’s
Slazenger Ladies 3’s travelled away to Horsforth this week for what proved to be a competitive and hard-fought encounter.
From the first whistle it was clear Horsforth possessed a strong and organised midfield. They frequently doubled up in tackles, meaning that even when Slazenger managed to beat one player, another was quickly there to apply pressure. As a result, much of the game was contested through the middle of the pitch, where both teams showed their strength.
For Slazenger, Lisa Minchella and Sian Glover were once again instrumental in the centre of the park, closing down play, making crucial tackles and distributing the ball effectively, helping to keep the team moving forward. Despite some good passages of play, Slazenger never quite seemed fully in sync this week, and the first half ended in a stalemate at 0–0.
Both sides pushed hard after the break in search of a winner. Slazenger arguably looked the more threatening going forward, creating the better opportunities. Evie Mollart found herself in the right place at the right time on a couple of occasions but was unlucky not to convert from close range.
At the other end, the defensive unit of Sarah Richey, Stacey Drake, Beth Buckley and Nicole Knox kept Horsforth at bay, ensuring no goals were conceded. Behind them, Player of the Match Lauren Hattersley was called into action when it mattered most, pulling off a couple of quick-footed saves to preserve her clean sheet.
In the end, neither side could find the breakthrough, and the match finished 0–0, with both teams taking a point.
Ladies 4th’s (1) vs. (5) City of York 6th’s
📋 Umpires: Louise Haigh • Erin Haigh
Going into the penultimate game of the season against strong opposition, Slazenger Ladies 4s were determined to improve on the scoreline from the away fixture against City of York 6s.
Slazenger battled hard throughout the first half, with the match remaining evenly contested and the outcome still uncertain at halftime. In midfield, Toni, May, and Julie worked tirelessly, supporting the defence while also driving attacks forward and maintaining pressure on the York side.
Up front, Mandy delivered an outstanding performance, demonstrating an excellent work rate and consistently challenging the opposition defence. However, City of York returned for the second half with renewed determination and managed to break through the Slazenger defence several times, eventually scoring five goals. Slazenger managed to respond with a single goal, converted from a straight strike during a short corner.
Despite the effort and determination shown by the Slazenger team, the match finished with a 5–1 victory for City of York 6s.
Final Score: Slazenger Ladies 4s 1 – 5 City of York 6s
Development’s (0) vs. (2) Wakefield
📋 Umpires: Amelia Sykes • Nichola Swinden
A tough match against Wakefield, despite the challenge, our players showed fantastic determination, teamwork and spirit throughout. The final score was 2–0 to Wakefield, but the team held their heads high and should be proud of their performance. In goal, Nikolai made some excellent saves and really kept us in the game, facing some very powerful shots from the older opposition.
At the back, Harry showed a calm head in defence with some great tackles, while Georgie timed tackles superbly and made some great passes up the pitch. Katie was a key player in defence all game and fully deserved her Player of the Match award.
Ollie moved into midfield and worked hard, helping link play across the pitch. Noah, despite being one of the youngest players, put in a fantastic shift and linked up really well with Addy, who was strong throughout – supporting the defence and pushing forward when needed. Out wide, Alistair led by example as Captain, working tirelessly on the wing. Further forward, Jess covered so much ground and worked incredibly hard both in attack and defence. Cerys also worked hard and kept pushing for the team. Ella, our tiniest player, showed great determination and battled hard throughout the game.
A big thank you to both Gemmas for supporting the kids, Amelia for managing the team today, and Nicci for stepping in to umpire at the last minute.
And finally… the Donut of the Day goes to Gemma S, who might need a quick refresher on counting to four! During a short corner we already had four players back defending, but she still called for another one to come back – a funny moment that gave everyone a laugh!
Great effort from the whole team today – lots to be proud of.
U10 Boys
What a day for the Slaz U10s. Four matches, four wins, eleven goals scored and just one conceded. The squad of ten rotated well throughout and everyone played their part in a dominant tournament performance. P4 W4 L0 — 11 scored, 1 conceded
Match 1 vs York 3 — 5-0 (W)
A flying start. Matthew took a free hit himself, found Dom who pulled off some brilliant 3D skills and flicked past the keeper for the opening goal. Dom then made a big run up the wing and played a perfect pass to Matthew in the middle to finish for the second. Alfie dribbled into the D and fed Matthew for the third, then the pair linked up again with Alfie playing Matthew in for his hat-trick. Dylan capped things off with a good little run and finish for the fifth. Harry was solid defensively and produced a great mazey run, Jackson made a big save when called upon, and Max, Bryce and George all came on and contributed well. Dominant stuff.
Match 2 vs York 2 — 3-0 (W)
Dom opened the scoring with a sharp reverse slap. Alfie received out wide, looked up and flicked a nice ball to Matthew, and the whole team was moving the ball well. Matthew then scored twice from the top of the D — composed finishing both times. Edward was strong at the back with a great 16-yard hit and good movement off the ball. Bryce came on and impressed with some good tackling and a last-ditch save late on. George got a shot away from the top of the D, and Dylan and Max both put in good shifts when they came on. Lots of good running from everyone.
Match 3 vs Ben Rhydding — 2-1 (W)
The big one — Ben Rhydding came in as favourites and this was a proper test. Jackson was absolutely outstanding in goal, making save after save to keep them out. Matthew made a great run into the D and crossed for Dom to tap in for the first. Matthew then produced a brilliant dribble and a calm slot into the corner for the second. Ben Rhydding pulled one back to make it nervy, but the team dug in. Edward made a last-ditch challenge, George put in good pressure when he came on, Dylan played some nice passes up the wing, and Harry helped link the play through to Alfie and Matthew. Jackson finished it off with the splits to make a final save. A real squad effort to hold on against the strongest opposition.
Match 4 vs Wakefield — 1-0 (W)
A tighter affair but the team managed the game well. George put his body on the line early, and Alfie produced a great first touch and dribble into the D after a good pass from Harry. Bryce was impressive again with strong defending and good pressure. Edward played a great pass to Max and made a good interception. The goal came from a lovely move — Harry played it wide to Alfie, who found Dom first time, and Dom finished well. Dylan came on and made a good run, Matthew was tenacious throughout, and Harry drove the ball up the wing with a great hit. Jackson made another big save. Professional performance to close out a perfect day.
Player of the Tournament — Jackson
Fully deserved. Jackson was exceptional all day, but the performance against Ben Rhydding was something else — save after save, including doing the splits to keep the ball out late on. Distribution was good too. A real presence behind the team.
Brilliant tournament. Four wins from four, the whole squad contributing, and some really good hockey played. Well done to all ten of them.
U10 Girls
Slazenger Girls Under-10s A Team travelled to Wakefield for the League Cup Playoffs, a tournament featuring the top eight teams from the league competing in a group stage followed by classification matches. Facing some very strong opposition, the Slazenger girls produced a series of determined performances throughout the day.
Slazenger began the tournament with an exciting 3–3 draw against Ben Rhydding 1s. It was a lively and competitive match from the start, with Slazenger showing great attacking intent. Goals from Ella, Hattie, and Penny ensured the team earned a well-deserved point in a high-scoring contest.
The second group game proved to be a tougher test as Slazenger faced a strong York 1s side. Despite working hard across the pitch and creating some promising moments, Slazenger were unable to find the breakthrough and the match finished in a 2–0 defeat.
The third group match against Driffield 1s was another closely fought encounter. Slazenger battled well throughout and kept the game tight, but a single goal proved decisive as Driffield edged the match 1–0.
After finishing 4th in their group, Slazenger moved into the 7th place playoff, where they met York 2s. The girls delivered a determined performance to finish the tournament on a high, securing a 1–0 victory thanks to a well-taken goal from Hattie.
Across the tournament, the team worked hard against some very tough opposition. Frances was solid in goal, while player of the tournament Maia and Tilly provided a strong defensive partnership. Ella and Izzy shared the central midfield duties, helping link defence and attack effectively. Out wide, Penny, Sophie, and Ellie rotated on the flanks, providing energy and width. Up front, Hattie and Maci shared the forward role and worked tirelessly to pressure opposing defences.
Overall, it was a positive tournament for Slazenger, with the team showing resilience, teamwork, and great effort throughout the day, finishing with a well-earned win to secure 7th place. Next up for the A team is the Yorkshire & North East cup qualifying tournament in a couple of weeks time.
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