CITY of York Ladies I dropped to seventh in North Hockey division one after an exciting 6-3 loss at home to local rivals Harrogate.

The visiting side also leapfrogged City into sixth spot in the division, now sitting one point above.

Harrogate opened the scoring following a well-contested opening 10 minutes, edging into the home side’s ‘D’ and finishing.

City’s heads went down after this early disappointment, and conceded four more before the end of the first period.

However, a motivational team talk at the interval spurred City on, and the hosts dug deep to produce an exciting half.

Three goals in the opening 20 minutes of the half from Laura Horne, Steph Wilkinson and Hannah Smith brought the hosts within touching distance of Harrogate, but a sixth goal for the visitors killed off the determined City side.

City of York Ladies V gave up a four-goal advantage in a thrilling 4-4 draw at home to third-placed Horsforth in division four north.

The home side raced into the lead, with Rebecca Copperthwaite bagging a brace and Nicola Winter and Lily Dowdy scoring one apiece, but they were pegged back by two doubles for two visiting players.

City of York Ladies VI remain bottom of the division after their 5-0 loss at Selby II.

The visitors fought hard despite the numerical disadvantage – having brought 11 players to Selby’s 15 – with Phoebe Casey and Sarah Motteshead defending well and Cara McKay making some excellent saves.

City of York Ladies II had their Yorkshire League premier division game at Harrogate II called off because of a frozen pitch, as did division two bottom side City of York Ladies IV at home to Leeds Adel III and Ladies VII ahead of their division five north clash with Ben Rhydding V.

Snow on the pitch was the reason for City of York Ladies III’s postponement at division one table-toppers Sheffield Hallam II.