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.