13th Oct 2018 Ladies 1st v Leeds(Home) 5 - 1 win
This week the Ladies 1s hosted Leeds Hockey Club, who are new to the National League, having won promotion from the North Premiership last season. Like our L1s, Leeds have had a dream start to their National League campaign, taking the maximum 6 points in their first two games. With Ben Rhydding sat top of the table, and Leeds a close second, this top of the table clash had the potential to be a tasty encounter, with all the emotions you would expect from a local derby.
3 points in this match would give either team the top spot in the league, as well as stamping their mark as the club to beat in Yorkshire. Despite the geographical proximity of the sides, it was their first encounter this season, as Leeds had failed to defeat Wakefield in the semi-finals of the Yorkshire Elite Cup to face Ben Rhydding in the final. It was therefore all to play for as the two sides took to the pitch for a 1.30 push back.
The nerves and anticipation, which were only spurred on by the social media hype surrounding what was effectively a Leeds Beckett alumni game, were quickly put to bed as Kelly Baxter opened the scoring in the third minute from open play, quickly followed by Beth Cordukes� (or was it Kate Wood�s?!) finish which made it 2-0 in the ninth minute.
It was not long, however, before Leeds hit back with a well finished reverse stick strike in the 16th minute to make the score 2-1 at half time.
With the majority of possession and control in the first half, Ben Rhydding were disappointed not to have reflected the dominance more clearly in the half time score. However, as the game developed in the second half, the experience of the home side shone through, as Leeds could only really take scraps of possession here and there, and failed to create any meaningful chances.
Baxter and Cordukes completed their braces in the second half by way of a penalty stroke and open play goal respectively, followed by Rafaela Brandao-Lee�s finish from a penalty corner in the dying minutes of the game. The final whistle blew sealing the L1s 5-1 victory, thus maintaining their 100% run and 1st place in the table. Next week they take on Loughborough at home on Sunday 21 October and would welcome all supporters.