BLACKBURN Northern Hockey Club Ladies had a disappointing opening to their North League season when they lost narrowly to Sheffield at Witton Park.

Blackburn got off to a slow start and looked sluggish for the first quarter of an hour. Sheffield capitalised on Blackburn's lack of sharpness and scored early off a penalty corner.

The first half belonged mostly to Sheffield, but Blackburn scored on the stroke of half time with a superb touch by forward Sally Finnemore. The home team came out strong and determined in the second half and had most of the play. Sheffield got a few breakaways however, and scored again midway through the half. The last 15 minutes was a determined, if somewhat frenzied, effort by Blackburn to even the score and Sheffield rarely got the ball over the halfway line.

The much-wanted goal never came however, and the score ended 2-1 to Sheffield.

On Sunday, Blackburn travelled to Manchester to take on Didsbury Greys in the All England Cup.

The ladies wanted to prove themselves after the previous day's loss and came out strong. Chris Lysons scored twice for Blackburn in the first half.

Didsbury battled hard and scored once in the first half. After half time, Blackburn came out even stronger and earned many penalty corners, one of which resulted in a goal by Debbie Birkbeck.

Blackburn goalkeeper Karen Wells made several good saves late in the game and kept the scoreline at 3-1 to Blackburn.

The ladies travel to Don Valley next weekend to continue their North League campaign.

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