Bowdon opened the campaign in Division 1 North by taking a third successive victory against West Yorkshire-based Ben Rhydding. Bowdon took the lead through a Sophia Cawshay penalty corner in the second quarter before Jess Triffit equalised in the 44th minute for the home side. Rosie Bailey rounded off the scoring for Bowdon in the 60th minute to give the travelling side the victory.
Leicester City also left it to the 60th minute to secure their opening day win. Jose Fina Freaney scored a brace (4, 60) to hand the travelling Gloucester City an opening day defeat. Emma Done’s consolation goal in the 67th minute was too little too late.
Leeds were another side who had to hold on to a late surge from their visitors. Hannah Smith gave Leeds the lead in the 18th minute before Gabby Murray-Panayiotou extended the lead for Leeds in the 29th. Tor Hughes struck late for Brooklands-Poynton in the 65th.
Stourport and Sutton Coldfield closed the day with a delayed start to their evening match, eventually getting underway at 19:00. The fourth 2-1 result of the day went in the home side’s favour. Lucy Walton struck first, in the 16th minute, to give Stourport the half time. A rallying cry from the Sutton Coldfield coaches at the break took just two minutes into the 3rd quarter before they levelled the game through Emma McCabe’s open play goal. Five minutes later, Sarah Parkinson-Mills gave Stourport the lead again, a lead they would hold on to until the final whistle.
Sunday’s only match of Division 1 North was Swansea, making the 600-mile round trip to Durham University. Swansea, who came down from the Premier League last season, got their season off to a good start, with Bethan Wood scoring in the 22nd minute of the game, only for Katie Birch to snatch victory and a share of the points four minutes from time.
