After suffering defeat against City of Bristol on day one, Welsh Wanderers bounced back with an 8-6 victory over Sheffield in men’s Championship 1 at East Manchester today.

Wanderers built a 3-0 lead in the first period, improved to 6-2 in the second. That sparked a Sheffield recovery which saw them pull level at 6-6 in the third quarter – only for Dan Laxton to edge Wanderers ahead again within half a minute. Ceri Griffiths added another Welsh goal three seconds from the end.

Bristol led Caledonia 5-4 after two periods, but the Scots then countered with seven goals in the third, including three by Dominique Zahra (Photo: Trevor Hyde). Caledonia eventually won 14-8.

Sutton & Cheam and Wanderers are already guaranteed top three spots in Championship 1 and a move to Division 1 at the start of next season. The title - and other promotion place - are still very much up for grabs so there will be much to play for when the final games are staged at Haberdashers on 25/26 March.

Portobello easily maintained their 100 per cent record in men’s Championship 2, beating Cheltenham Spartans 16-6. Six goals in the opening period – including an Axel Pasquier hat-trick – set the tone.

After beating Caledonia 17-12 in their first match, Welsh Wanderers came unstuck in game two, crashing to their first defeat of the men’s Championship 1 campaign at East Manchester – 16-13 to City of Bristol.

The game was effectively decided in the second period as Bristol charged from 4-3 up to 11-5, including four goals by Nathan Brown.

It was Wanderers who staged a remarkable finish against Caledonia, starting the final quarter trailing 12-10 but then scoring seven without reply.
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Undefeated Portobello lead men’s Championship 2, defeating Manchester Hawks 15-7, then beating Hucknall 13-6. The Scots took control in the third period, scoring five times through Ben Scott (2), Yalin Gulen, Neilson Rutherford and Axel Pasquier. 

Exeter left it late to claim their first win in men’s Championship 1 at Haberdashers today. They beat Watford 11-10, but only after Watford had twice held useful leads – 5-2 early in the second period and 9-7 at the start of the last.

The final quarter saw Exeter in complete control, scoring four quick goals through Adrian Carrieri, James Coleman, Kameron Powell and Cody Plumridge. Andy Holt’s fourth strike of the game for Watford came too late to rescue his side.

Sutton & Cheam head the table after beating Invicta 12-9 to complete a hat-trick of victories during the weekend. They were always ahead after building a 4-1 lead in the first quarter with goals by Stephen Bayles, Alasdair Wakeling, Dicken MacLean and Ryan Symington.

In men’s Championship 2, Southampton and Rotherham Metro drew 9-9. That was the score with five minutes left – and it stayed that way despite a rash of time-outs and exclusions. Otter’s 14-7 victory over Castleford featured four goals by Nikos Zavitsanos.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Watford goalkeeper Peter Pickford under pressure at Haberdashers. 

Watford staged a superb final quarter recovery to defeat Invicta 10-7 in men’s Championship 1 at Haberdashers today and claim their first points of the campaign.

Invicta had led 4-0 after the first quarter and were 6-4 ahead at the start of the last when Will Liddle converted a man-up chance. Josh Barrett then took over for Watford, scoring three times to put his side ahead for the first time at 7-6. Further goals followed from Andy Holt, Finlay Parnell and Jared Baker.

Stephen Bayles and Ashley Castle both scored four as Sutton & Cheam beat Exeter 17-11. Later, Sutton completed a second win to maintain an unbeaten record - 10-8 against Watford. The sides were level at 7-7 in the final quarter before goals by Ashley Castle, Caleb Hughes and Ryan Symington earned the points. 

In men's Championship 2, Southampton defeated Castleford 10-7 to complete their second victory of the day. Charles Roberts (4) and Jackson Mullins (3) led the scoring. Otter beat Rotherham Metro 15-13 featuring hat-tricks by Nick Carjon, Omiros Pantazi and Guillrmo Blanco. 

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Josh Barrett (blue cap) on the attack aginst Invicta at Haberdashers today.

City of Manchester girls opened up a three-point lead at the top of the women's Super 5s by defeating nearest rivals Otter 14-11 at Ponds Forge today.

At 13-10 to Manchester after three periods, Otter were still in the match. But once Manchester goalkeeper Sophie Jackson saved a penalty, the reigning champions maintained control, Rosie Huck adding her third goal. Lucy Blenkinship and Liv Henderson also contributed hat-tricks for Manchester.

Hucknall continued their excellent progress in the Super 5s, picking up their second win of the weekend - 11-7 against Coventry. Emma Fraser scored three.

In women's Championship 1, Tyldesley beat Exeter 12-9, breaking clear from 6-6 towards the end of the third period with goals by Kelsy Evans, Katherine Teasdale, Holly Toone and Honor Grimes (Photo: Trevor Hyde).

Amelie Perkins scored five for Cheltenham who resisted a late rally by Liverpool Liver Birds to win 12-11. Otter Lutra and Penguin Emperors drew 9-9, with Emma Gaffney scoring the final goal for Otter just two seconds from the end.

Sheffield Sharks are clear at the top after winning their derby clash with Rotherham Metro 16-5.

Polytechnic dropped their first points of the Super 5s campaign as London rivals Penguin triumphed 9-8 in another thrilling match at Ponds Forge today.

Penguin owed much to Mehmet Ali Arat, who proved so difficult to handle in the centre-forward position. He scored with three backhanders - and at key times of the game, too. 

His first brought his team back into the match after Poly had built a 4-2 lead at the start of the second period. Ali struck again to put Penguin ahead for the first time at 6-5 at the end of the third; and rounded off with a goal that increased the advantage to 8-5 on 5.24 in the last.
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Poly were soon back to 8-7 - a penalty converted by Liam Neill, then a sharp angled shot from a man-up by Sergio Schiaffano. The game was then more or less settled as Andrea Tulli scored for Penguin from a counterattack to make it 9-7. Left-hander Tim Rezelman cut it to 9-8 with 1.45 to go - but it was Penguin who celebrated victory in the end. 

Drama, drama all the way . . . has there ever been a more exciting or controversial men's Super 5s clash than the Ponds Forge meeting of Penguin and City of Manchester, which ended in a 13-13 draw?

Manchester appeared to have a slight edge in the first three periods, leading 7-4 and 11-7 before Tilemachos Pissas launched a Penguin recovery with a man-up rocket that made it 11-8 as the last quarter began. 

Pissas soon scored again - and again. Manchester were then rocking as Andrea Tulli produced two brilliant solo goals to cut the lead to 12-11. That was followed by an equaliser from Mehmet Ali Arat, who somehow managed to reach a high cross and nudge the ball into the net.

Then the fun started! 1.32 to go and Manchester's Joe O'Regan shrugged off heavy marking to put his side 13-12 up. 

Four seconds left and Penguin levelled, Ali Arat netting from the rebound after a Penguin shot hit the base of a post. Huge celebrations from Penguin - until, with one second left, the London club's coach was judged to have called a time-out with his team not in possession.
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Penalty! Now was the time for a Manchester hero to step forward. Penguin goalkeeper Elliot McHugh was that man, lunging to his right to save O'Regan's penalty. What a finish!

Photos (Alex Jenkins): Above - Penguin's Tilemachos Pissas in full flight against Manchester. He scored six goals. Below: Joe O'Regan blasts in the goal that, very briefly, put Manchester 13-12 up.

Polytecnic were far too strong for Cheltenham at Ponds Forge today, retaining a 100 per cent record with a 17-7 victory.
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Cheltenham were only 5-3 adrift after the first period, but they were outplayed in the second and third. Liam Niell led the Poly scoring with five; there were also valuable contributions from Jordan Rumbelow (4) and David Rom (3). 
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Earlier, Manchester easily defeated Lancaster, 13-2.

City of Manchester made a strong start to the women's Super 5s, beating Liverpool Lizards 11-4 at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.
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After starting slowing, powerful long shots by Harriet Dickens and Izzy Howe (Photo: Trevor Hyde) put Manchester ahead. 

Liverpool recovered from 5-0 down to trail 5-2 in the second period thanks to goals by Emily Bowater and Rachel Tibke. Lizards then missed a chance to cut the deficit further, failing to convert when Manchester had a player excluded. 

That error was costly. A fine save by goalkeeper Sophie Jackson sparked a Manchester counter which ended with left-hander Izzy Howe scoring a clever lobbed goal.  After that, Manchester dominated, Harriet Dickens finishing with four goals.

In women's Championship 1, Otter Lutra came from 6-3 down to take a 7-6 lead against Rotherham Metro with goals by Grace Turner, Peggy Etiebet, Roisin Cunningham and Emma Gaffney. But the lead lasted just 18 seconds - Fran Leighton levelled to leave the teams tied at 7-7 at the final whistle.

There was an even tighter finish as Tyldesley and Cheltenham drew 12-12. Cheltenham were 12-9 up early in the last period, including five goals by Amelie Perkins, but then conceded two goals by Katherine Teasdale, plus a penalty concerted by Holly Toone - with just two seconds remaining. 

Later, Liverpool Lizards lost for a second time - 11-9 to Hucknall, who led all the way through, with both Lucy Rodgers and India Wilkinson notching hat-tricks. Katie Hesketh scored six for Liverpool.

Photo (Alex Jenkins): Lucy Bullock shoots for Otter during her team's 16-7 victory over Coventry. The Coventry defender attempting a block is Vicki Hawkins. Toula Falvey scored four or Otter.

We’re all set for the promotion playoffs, which will be staged as mini leagues (all play all in full games over a single weekend). The system is designed to ensure that, as the League shrinks over the next two years, a door remains open for any competing team to retain playing membership in the long term.

The women’s promotion event takes place at the Jason Kenny Centre, Bolton, on 11/12 March and sees the bottom two teams in Division 2 this season, Caledonia and Mid Sussex Marlins, up against the top two from Division 3, Watford and Manchester Comets. Up for grabs will be two places in Division 2 at the start of next season.

The men go to Haberdashers on 15/16 April. This involves the top two in Division 4, Sedgefield and Bridgefield, competing against the 7th and 8th placed teams in Division 3, Worthing and British Army, for two places in Division 3 next September. The two top two teams from Division 5, Northampton and Avondale, are matched against the bottom two from Division 4, Coventry and Caledonia Storm, for two places in Division 4.

Reduction in the size of the League began this season, when women's Championship 2 and men's Championships 3 and 4 were all cut.

​There will be no men’s Division 5 in 2023/24; the second half of that season will comprise women’s Super 5s and Championship 1 and men’s Super 5s and Championships 1 and 2.