CITY of York Men IV were beaten 7-3 at home by Yorkshire League division two leaders Leeds Adel II who secured the title with the result.

Adel were quick and clinical on the ball, despite the blizzards that punctuated the game, and put City under early pressure both with and without possession.

The champions bagged four goals in the first period, getting in behind the City defence with some quick-flowing moves and hitting good deflections past keeper Brian Ignjatovic.

City were still able to get the ball upfield and create opportunities, and one saw the returning Henry Wilson make the most of a speculative through ball, round a defender and lob over the diving keeper.

Mike Carter was making his return to hockey after a broken ankle early in the season and was influential in the second period, sending big aerials upfield and pressurising the Adel defence.

City pulled two goals back through man-of-the-match Carter's drag flicks from short corners, but the visitors made sure of the points with three more of their own.

City of York I, II, III and VIII all had their games called off.

In division three, City of York V put second-bottom Ben Rhydding III to the sword with a 7-0 away win.

The visitors started the game with intent and opened the scoring with five minutes on the clock as Chris Dutton volleyed home a looping deflection from Matthew Todd's cross.

City continued to control the game in the increasingly difficult conditions and got their second 20 minutes later when a switched penalty corner was neatly dispatched by Ben Foster.

Pat Herriott netted a brace either side of the break to give City a commanding lead before a flurry of goals in the final quarter of an hour put gloss on the scoreline.

Dutton beat two defenders to calmly slot in the fifth past the advancing keeper, Andy Richardson made it six with a thunderbolt from the edge of the 'D' and Matthew Todd rounded off proceedings when wrong-footing the keeper.

City of York VI piled more misery on relegated Airedale II with a 6-0 home win in division four north.

The hosts were on top from the start and continually created chances, despite being suspect at the back, and by half-time, were two up through Rob Prentice and Paul Rowntree.

An improvement in the second half saw a further four goals netted through George Trowsdale, James Hogg, Prentice and Rowntree.

The second game of their double-header at home to Ben Rhydding IV was called off.

City of York VII were beaten 5-3 at third-placed Leeds Adel in division four north.

The visitors were well in the game at half-time when the score stood at 2-2, but the second period saw Adel net a further three to City's one. Rob Abell (2) and John Barrett were York's marksmen.

Their game against Acomb II the day after was called off.

City of York IX lost 8-1 at home to division five north high-fliers Boston Spa III, with Keith Hunter getting the consolation, before conceding the reverse fixture the day after 3-0.

City of York X claimed a deserved 2-0 win at home to Ben Rhydding VII thanks to goals from player-of-the-match Harry Jenners and Josh Perryman.