Women’s Hockey: Leeds Gryphons 1sts 2-0 Northumbria 2nds

Leeds claimed a hard-fought win over a recently relegated Northumbria at Weetwood on Wednesday. Well-taken goals from Leanne Royle and Becky Marsh gave Uni a winning start to their new BUCS campaign and the perfect follow up to their Varsity win last week.

After a tentative start, Leeds played themselves into the game, the impressive Cara Kayum influential down the right wing.

Uni went into the lead when Kayum was fouled following a mazy run; the resulting short corner was laid off for Royle to smash a deflected shot past Northumbria’s stranded goalkeeper.

Northumbria immediately upped their game in an attempt to draw level before the break.   

Some direct passing and brute strength almost opened Leeds up on a few occassions, but the hosts held firm and went in ahead at half time.

Northumbria started the second half brightly and nearly scored a great breakaway goal, a smothering stop from Holly McDuff kept her side in the lead. Despite Northumbria’s bright start to the half, Leeds soon settled into a period of dominance, Marsh breaking through and testing the opposition keeper with a lofted shot.

McDuff had to be in top form to deny the visitors twice in two minutes from short corners, the second at full stretch to divert the ball away from the bottom corner.

Only a minute later the hosts made Northumbria pay for their missed chances with a second goal after a lightning breakaway.

Kayum started the move deep in her own half, feeding Royle, who played a brilliant ball across the face of goal.  Marsh was able to control and fire a magnificent reverse shot high into the net.

Leeds dominated the final ten minutes, and perhaps could have added to their lead, but will be ecstatic with this opening day win.

Captain Kitty Heggens and team-mate Annie Gambell said after the game; “It was a great start to our BUCS season, especially against a team who were in the Premier last year, and we deserved the win, a great team performance.”

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