RELEGATED City of York Men's I kicked off the North Hockey League division one campaign with a 7-2 victory at Newcastle University I.

The Minster city side equalled their tally of wins from the whole of the 2013/14 season on day one, thanks to two goals apiece from Rich Cockram and Rich Jenkins, plus strikes from Chris Wilson, Ben Bull and Ollie Couttie.

York took the lead through Wilson, with the forward taking advantage of a free ball in the 'D' to reverse-shot home.

It was not long before the lead was doubled through a Jenkins drag flick, and Bull made it 3-0 after some first-time passing allowed the midfielder to walk into acres of space and slide the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs.

Newcastle scored from a short corner to get their first goal of the game, before man-of-the-match Couttie scored an incredible reverse-shot into the roof of the net to make it 4-1.

Successful drag flicks for both sides made the score 5-2, before Cockram scored a brace after two sets of clinical build-up play to leave the final score 7-2 in York’s favour.

City of York II finished their truncated pre-season with a 4-0 defeat at home to a well-drilled Airedale unit.

York dominated possession and territory in the opening 30 minutes and the three-man backline held firm.

The hosts were caught on the break, giving away a short corner which was only half dealt with resulting in another corner from which Airedale took the lead.

Early in the second half, an Airedale defender eliminated two of York's midfielders and fed a ball through leading to an easy finish for the opposition.

With York pressing to get back in the game, two further breaks resulted in two more goals.

City of York III got the Yorkshire League division two season off to a flying start with a 6-0 demolition of a ten-man Huddersfield Dragons II.

York found the net within two minutes of the start after a Rob Prentice shot was blocked and Tim Lister picked up the loose ball to open the scoring.

Lister nabbed a second minutes later after he latched on to another loose ball and lobbed the keeper.

York added to their lead seven minutes from the break, Alex Herriott stepping up for a short corner strike which was saved by the Huddersfield keeper but debutant Ben Mould pounced on the rebound to score.

Ten minutes into the second half, York got their fourth with another short corner goal, this time Ben Foster getting on the scoresheet with a smart strike into the bottom corner.

Lister completed his hat-trick five minutes later and Matt Todd added a sixth when he evaded two defenders and beat the keeper.

In division three, City of York IV were 3-2 winners over Slazengers.

York started the game brightly and dominated early on, but Slazengers earned two short corners on the break and scored on each occasion.

York got back into the game when Jono Trowsdale earned a penalty flick and Rob Wise converted.

Second half goals from Trowsdale and Russ Bowry gave York the victory.

The derby clash in division four north went the way of Acomb I as they triumphed 3-2 over City of York V.

In division five north, City of York VI lost 4-1 at home to Driffield II.

After a goalless first half in which Andy Gray and Matt Marshall were superb in a City of York rearguard, Driffield took a fortunate early second half lead.

The lead was quickly doubled but City pulled a goal back from a neat penalty corner routine, with George Trowsdale deftly placing the ball into the bottom corner.

Driffield then added two late goals as York pushed to get an equaliser.

City of York VII went down 4-1 at Tadcaster Magnets II in the same division.

The division six north clash between City of York VIII and Driffield III was postponed as York were unable to raise a side.