South Lakes women bounced back from a heavy loss to defeat Lancaster University in a weekend they pulled double duty in Division Three North West of the North League.

They pushed themselves up to seventh in the table with a 2-1 victory at home to Lancaster in a match that had been rearranged from last month due to a frozen pitch.

It was the perfect response to their 10-2 thrashing at the hands of leaders University of Liverpool, who have won all 11 of their games in the division this season and a positive note in which to go into the Christmas break.

South Lakes men face a tough second half to their campaign in Division Two North of the North West League after their 3-0 loss at Formby 3rd XI.

Lakes were unable to capitalise on their good start, with Fergus Jackson and Tom Clements both missing good chances and this cost them as a succession of short corners led to Formby taking a three-goal lead before half-time due to defensive mishaps.

The visitors continued to play well in the second half, but just couldn’t find a route back into the game and head into next month’s resumption second-from-bottom in the table, behind Horwich on points difference.

Liverpool Sefton came from behind three times to frustrate Windermere men’s 1st XI’s hopes of going into their Christmas break with a win in Division Two West of the North League.

But last Saturday’s 3-3 draw at still sees Mere remain sixth in the table at the hockey season’s half-way mark, continuing their good recovery from what was a difficult start to the campaign.

Will Dolman fired Mere ahead with a well placed drag-flick, but expansive play by Sefton had Mere in all kinds of trouble and the first equaliser came as no surprise.

A charging run by Ben Williamson after the break allowed skipper Adam Whitehead to convert at the far post, but Sefton were quick to respond again and at 2-2 the game was finely poised, with both teams battling hard for ascendancy.

A dipping reverse stick effort by Dolman gave Mere the lead again, but his side but still could not hold their advantage in the time that remained.

Sefton levelled for a third time and they nearly grabbed all three points with a last gasp short corner strike that was edged round the post by Windermere goalkeeper and man-of-the-match Rob Curme.