KENDAL Ladies kept their 100 per cent winning record in this year's Cumbria League with a 6-3 victory over titleholders Wigton at Caldew School on Sunday.
The only team to beat Wigton in the league last year, Kendal repeated the feat to continue an excellent start to the campaign.
Eventful, end-to-end hockey saw Kendal's drive and teamwork pitted against talented young opponents whose individual skills have earned honours at county level and beyond.
Kendal shaded the first half for a 3-2 lead with goals from Sarah Dent, Vicky Jones, whose terrific run and shot crept under the bar, and Andrea Elvey.
When Wigton went ahead for the first time at the of the second half, it might have signalled the end for many sides, but Kendal, with three straight league victories behind them, stuck to the task, their set-piece play was working well and only Wigton's keeper was keeping their side in the contest.
Kendal wore down their opponents, second goals from Jones and Elvey putting them on top, despite a saved penalty-flick, before Sarah Brooks completed the scoring with a last-minute sixth goal.
Windermere hosted Keswick in their first Cumbria League match winning a typically hard-fought match between these two sides 3-1.
An early solo run from Keswick brought a penalty flick which they converted and then Windermere pulled together and pressured Keswick for the next 15 minutes until Helen Telford scored an equaliser.
In a physical game, Windermere had several shots saved again in the second half with Sarah Whitehead and Katie Hoyle working hard to net but without luck.
The determination paid off when Sarah Whitehead hammered in an unstoppable rising shot for a 1-0 lead and then they battled hard to preserve their slender lead, Hoyle and Katie Quill surging down the right and Shona Taylor and Helen Telford combining well on the other wing.
Windermere's defence did them proud, too, keeper Rosie Wadmore making key saves before they finally sealed victory with Jane Jackson hitting a cracking shot from the edge of the D.
Ambleside inflicted an 11-0 Cumbria League rout upon an injury-stricken Glaxo.
There were hat-tricks for Amanda Faulkner, Lauren Wright and Louise Hartley, with Janet Faulkner and Sue Conway the other scorers.
Young Lucy Chorley showed promise in midfield and Conway and Wright put in a lot of tireless running.
Ambleside's youngsters went to Windermere and gained a 1-0 win in the Netherwood League derby.
On her first full game for Ambleside, Abi Bland showed promise on the eight wing.
A fine solo goal by Lauren Wright broke the deadlock. Wright took the player award for Ambleside and Chelsea Daley for Windermere.
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