IT was a weekend to forget for City of York Ladies II who opened the New Year with back-to-back defeats in the Yorkshire Women’s Hockey League premier division.

Beaten 2-0 by Selby I on Saturday afternoon, they subsequently lost 4-1 away at Dewsbury I on Sunday morning. Fay Chapman scored the team’s only goal in the two games and York have dropped to sixth in the table.

York III suffered a fourth consecutive defeat as they lost 4-0 away at Leeds Adel II.

A strong Adel team put York under immediate pressure but Vicky Thornton and Jenni Fitton kept the ball moving out through Steph Pearson to Abby Collins on the forward line.

Attacks from Collins and Liz Armitage were foiled by the strong Adel defence.

Player of the match Jess Hall ensured that Adel attacks were kept to a minimum and Becky Hall and Jo Perryman worked hard in midfield. But once Adel scored midway through the first half, they took command and goalkeeper Catherine Whitworth had to work hard to keep the score respectable.

In division one, lowly York IV were narrowly beaten 1-0 by second placed Driffield II who scored just before halftime.

Driffield improved after the break but York goalkeeper Leeha Cox made a string of fine saves.

York V were beaten 5-0 by Leeds Adel IV in division four north.

Adel scored an early goal despite excellent defending from Hanan Golabi, Sam Fenning and Lynn Bowes. Play was even until Adel exploited a York mistake to take a second goal.

In the second half, York came out strongly, Maisy Lawrence and Carla Metcalfe putting in good running up the left. However, Adel had four substitutes compared to York’s none which proved significant and they added another three goals to their tally.

Leaders Bradford I inflicted a 6-0 defeat on York VI.

York VII won 2-0 at Bradford II who are bottom of division five north.