HORWICH Hockey Club’s ladies’ first team were winners over local rivals Manto on Saturday.

An end-to-end game saw Zoe Bluer open the scoring with a strike from the top of the D.

Julie Bluer then made it two, doubling the advantage before half-time.

Manto reacted at the start of the second period and after a strong 10-minute period pulled a goal back.

Player of the match Zoe Dudley then pulled off a number of saves having also kept out a first-half penalty stroke.

That set the platform for Heather Glynn to add a third girl before Lisa Brew made a crucial goal-line clearance to ensure the game ended 3-1.

The men’s first team went down to a 3-2 defeat against Keswick.

The Cumbrians took the lead thanks to an early short corner but as the game ebbed and flowed, Horwich responded well through a Nathan Bolton drag flick.

David Whiteside was also on target but despite the best efforts of man of the match, Tom Mair, who helped his side pile on the pressure, a lack of a clinical edge in the final third proved costly.

The men’s second team went down 2-1 at Brooklands MMU.

The hosts made the strong start and deserved their lead at the interval with Graeme Kilshaw unlucky not to keep the shot out.

A couple of changes at the interval helped Horwich improve after the break, Phil Taylor and Daniyal Khan made some excellent tackles at the back as the team moved the ball around better.

It was the home side who got the game’s next goal though and went 2-0 up.

But the visitors kept coming and Adam Anwar slipped the ball to Ryan Brennan at the top of the D, who looped it high over the defence into the top of the goal to reduce the arrears.

Horwich pushed for a leveller with Anwar unlucky not to find an equaliser in the closing minutes.

The ladies’ seconds went down 3-0 at Bury in a game where they had just 11 players available. A young Bury side proved too good, Horwich having some joy in attack but unable to find the all-important goal. 

All the goals came in the first half with the visitors then defending well in the second half and unlucky not to register on the scoresheet.