Invicta caused the first shock of the men's Division 1 programme with a well-deserved 9-6 victory over Manchester at Ponds Forge today (13 October).
Invicta stunned Manchester by racing into a 5-1 lead in the first period - and then moving to 6-1 with a Callum Bailey goal. Manchester's Joe O'Regan, back in action after missing much of last season, then took charge for a while, cutting the deficit to 6-4 with a quickfire hat-trick.
For a while, Manchester looked quite capable of full recovery until Paul Cheetham restored a three-goal advantage for Invicta at 7-4 with a fine long shot. O'Regan scored again - his fourth of the game - shortly afterwards and only Invicta's well organised defence kept their goal intact as Manchester threatened on several occasions.
Three minutes into the final period, typically dogged defence by Invicta disrupted yet another Manchester assault. The slick Invicta counterattack ended with Bailey breaking clear of the Manchester cover and firing a vital goal. That made it 8-5 - and effectively secured the points in an excellent match.
Cheltenham trailed 2-1 after the first quarter against Lancaster - but then hammered eight goals without reply in the second. Eventually, Cheltenham won 17-9, including four goals each for Rudi Polster and Rob Parker.
In Division 2, Portobello trailed 4-2 in the second period to City of Bristol but recovered to win 8-6 thanks to late goals by Ben Scott, Ed Grundy and Fraser Rutherford.
Invicta stunned Manchester by racing into a 5-1 lead in the first period - and then moving to 6-1 with a Callum Bailey goal. Manchester's Joe O'Regan, back in action after missing much of last season, then took charge for a while, cutting the deficit to 6-4 with a quickfire hat-trick.
For a while, Manchester looked quite capable of full recovery until Paul Cheetham restored a three-goal advantage for Invicta at 7-4 with a fine long shot. O'Regan scored again - his fourth of the game - shortly afterwards and only Invicta's well organised defence kept their goal intact as Manchester threatened on several occasions.
Three minutes into the final period, typically dogged defence by Invicta disrupted yet another Manchester assault. The slick Invicta counterattack ended with Bailey breaking clear of the Manchester cover and firing a vital goal. That made it 8-5 - and effectively secured the points in an excellent match.
Cheltenham trailed 2-1 after the first quarter against Lancaster - but then hammered eight goals without reply in the second. Eventually, Cheltenham won 17-9, including four goals each for Rudi Polster and Rob Parker.
In Division 2, Portobello trailed 4-2 in the second period to City of Bristol but recovered to win 8-6 thanks to late goals by Ben Scott, Ed Grundy and Fraser Rutherford.
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