A stunning third quarter onslaught - they scored five times without reply - set up Sheffield's exciting 8-7 victory over Invicta in men's Division 1 at Ponds Forge today.

It was Sheffield's second win of the weekend - and Invicta's second single-goal defeat.

Invicta dominated the early stages, leading 4-1 after two periods and 5-1 after three. Then the game changed completed as Joe Abbott (2), Chris Armstrong, Connor Carpenter and Finlay Parnell fired in goals that gave Sheffield a 6-5 lead. Further scores by Elliot Kelly and Ben Stephenson completed a fine Sheffield performance.

Manchester also won for the second time - 15-3 against Sutton & Cheam. Solihull drew 9-9 with Polytechnic, rescuing a point just three seconds from the end thanks to Ryan Padbury's fourth goal.

Cheltenham were involved in another storming match at the end of day two. They drew 10-10 with Lancaster, whose hero was goalkeeper Marc Robinson. He achieved a rare hat-trick early in the game - three penalty saves - which were to prove crucial later on.

Only teams with 100 per cent records after the first matches in Division 2 are the two Scottish sides. Caledonia outplayed Exeter 19-8 while Portobello beat Welsh Wanderers 14-8, including hat-tricks for Luca Pollock, Ed Grundy and Ben Scott.

In men's Division 5, leaders Chester dropped a point for the first time in a 4-4 draw with Newport. Invicta Marlins beat Watford Saxons 14-7.

Exeter notched another big win in women's Division 3, Ella-Louise Jones contributing nine in a 24-3 demolition of Manchester Comets. Cheltenham are top after defeating Watford 11-3.

​ ​Photo (Trevor Hyde): Ella-Louise, right, in action against Manchester.

Times have changed for Durham Palatinates. After finishing seventh in men's Division 1 last season, then fourth in Championship 1, they have a new-look team.

Today, they struggled - hammered 23-4 in Division 2 by Watford. To make things worse, it was one of their star players of the last campaign, American Zach White, who contributed to the Watford cause, scoring four goals.

In women's Division 3, Penguin Emperors claimed their second win - 9-5 against Liverpool Water Beatles. Fiona Greer scored a hat-trick.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Another goal for Zach White against Durham, whose goalkeeper is Jan Van de Velde.

A big Ponds Forge crowd watched men's champions City of Manchester open the new season with a 9-8 victory over Cheltenham. A match of quality - the best of the day.

Manchester were always ahead, scoring three without reply in the first period and moving to 6-3 in the second. But dogged Cheltenham simply refused to wilt, gradually clawing their way back into contention and, at the very end, coming close to salvaging a point.

Cheltenham's spirit showed itself with Manchester 6-4 ahead at the start of the third as goalkeeper Sam Legge saved a Manchester penalty and then Will Middleton scored - 6-5. Perhaps the turning point of the match came shortly afterwards. Manchester's Joe O'Regan took advantage of new rules to score direct from a corner; then a Mikey Patterson goal made it 8-5 to Manchester.

It went to 9-6 before Cheltenham rallied again, scoring twice in the last minute to make it a nervy end for the champions.

​In another Division 1 match, Sheffield beat Polytechnic 7-4, with Chris Armstrong and Tim Grieve both scoring twice.

Solihull started their men's Division 1 campaign with a 9-8 victory over Invicta at Ponds Forge today - but Invicta could well have grabbed a point in a frantic finale.

Four goals by left-hander Ryan Padbury had eased Solihull to a 9-5 lead. Then, in the last period, Invicta suddenly came to life, scoring twice through Sean King, followed by a Pat Baker goal. At that point, there were still more than two minutes to play, but neither side could produce a further score.

In men's Division 2, Portobello pulled off a 7-6 win over Watford when Ben Scott netted from a man-up chance with just 36 seconds remaining. The Scots went 4-1 up early on but Watford battled back and took a 6-5 lead when Andy Holt scored at the start of the last period. Luca Pollock equalised with 1.24 to go, followed by Scott's winner.

Worthing goalkeeper Marc Guimera had an outstanding match against Caledonia, saving two penalties. But, from 5-5 in the third period, Caledonia broke clear to win 10-6.

In men's Division 5, Charlie Exall and Simon Farrow notched hat-tricks in Invicta Marlins' 12-11 victory over Newport. Newcomers Exeter found it all too easy against women's Division 3 rivals Liverpool Water Beatles, winning 15-0.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Marc Guimera saves a penalty in Worthing's match against Caledonia.

There was no shortage of goals as the second Ponds Forge weekend of the season opened today. Welsh Wanderers defeated Durham Palatinates 18-5, Jo Jenkins-Delf leading the way for the winners with eight goals. For Durham, the chief marksmen were Travis Bruscaren (7) and Lovro Miocevic (6).

In men's Division 5, Leeds recovered from 8-4 adrift to draw 10-10 with Sheffield Dolphins, Connor Keeble's fourth goal for Leeds ensuring a point apiece with 1.24 to go.

Sutton & Cheam, back in the top flight after a lengthy absence, built a 6-3 lead against Lancaster. Then Lancaster, with Tom Curwen in commanding form, scored the next four goals, setting up an eventual 12-8 win.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Jenkins-Delf fires one of his eight goals past Durham goalkeeper Jon van de Velde, watched by defender Travis Bruscaren.

Three teams - City of Manchester, Sheffield Sharks and City of Coventry - comfortably negotiated the first weekend of women's Division 1 games at the Jason Kenny pool, Bolton, by completing winning doubles.

Champions Manchester beat Otter 13-7, including hat-tricks by Isobel Howe (Photo: Trevor Hyde) and Steph Whittaker, while Bernice Cowton netted five for Sheffield in their runaway 21-4 victory over City of Birmingham. Coventry defeated Caledonia 13-3, Sarah Kreiser on target again with four.

Early pacesetters in women's Division 2 are Tyldesley and Sheffield Stingrays, the only teams to win both their matches at Grantham. Fourteen-year-old Anna Motley followed up her four-goal effort against Bristol on day one with seven in a 13-9 success against Otter Lutra. Tyldesley beat Mid Sussex Marlins 17-14, despite a six-goal effort for Marlins by Liv Henderson.

Penguin eased to a second win in men's Division 3 at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, today - 15-9 against Birmingham.

Birmingham made the stronger start and it wasn't until midway through the second period that Penguin edged ahead for the first time at 5-4. The advantage quickly increased to 7-4, with Giampaolo de Rosa claiming two of his match tally of six goals.

Otter completed a highly successful weekend, beating Manchester Hawks 12-3 for their third victory. Later, Penguin won for the second time in the day, netting six in the last quarter in defeating Southampton 18-7. So old rivals Otter and Penguin finish level at the top after three matches - with the sides not due to meet before the final afternoon of Division 3 action at Haberdashers in Manchester on 17 November.

In Division 4, Josh Kirk netted five for York City in a 16-8 defeat of Tyldesley. Hucknall won for the third time - 14-13 against Bridgefield - and finished the first weekend as the only team with a 100 per cent record.

British League goalkeepers are beginning to enjoy the new rule that for the first time allows them to venture beyond half way - and score goals.

Surprise hero of Rotherham Metro's 14-13 win over Bridgefield in men's Division 4 was their keeper George Jackson. Bridgefield led 12-10 two minutes into the final period, but, in a nervy finish, Rotherham recovered to 13-13 - and then, with a mere four seconds to go, were awarded a penalty.

Who would take it? Rotherham were more than happy to hand the job to Jackson - and he made no mistake with the 5m shot.

He wasn't the only goalkeeper on target. In Division 3, Henry Redman (Photo: Trevor Hyde) slotted a late penalty for Cheltenham Spartans against Otter. But it didn't stop the London side winning for the second time in the day - 17-8.

Fielding virtually a full junior side, Manchester Hawks swept aside Cheltenham Spartans 24-11 in men's Division 3 at Ponds Forge today. Three Manchester players claimed four goals - Tom Simpson, David Teasdale and Ciaron Byrne.

Otter's strong finish earned an 11-7 victory over Croydon Amphibians. The game was even until Otter scored five in the final quarter. Penguin controlled the last period against Castleford, netting seven - through Giampaolo de Rosa (3), Lorenzo Cacciola (3) and Charles Kingsmill - to ensure a 17-10 win.

In men's Division 4, also at Ponds Forge, Iain Greig's five goals helped Hucknall beat Rotherham Metro 15-11. Bridgefield led Coventry 6-2 but were pegged back to 7-7 before goals in the third period by Jacob Graham, Harry Dunkerley and Peter Love secured Bridgefield's 12-10 win.

There was no difficult choosing a Man of the Match in Tyldesley's 18-10 defeat of Cambridge - Addison Brown scored TWELVE!