South Lakes men fell just short of returning from the winter break in the hockey season with a positive result as they were narrowly defeated 4-3 at home by St Helens in Division Two North of the North West League.

In wet and windy conditions at Ulverston Leisure Centre, St Helens went 1-0 up through a penalty flick through Alan Travis before Lewis Robinson doubled their advantage.

Alec Gaydon pulled a goal back form Lakes before half-time, but St Helens controlled the early stages of the second half and seemed to have the result in the bag after they opened up a 4-1 lead.

Travis knocked in from close range after good work down the left and the same man had his hat-trick when Phil Travis squared the ball for him to find the net.

However, the hosts had plenty of fight left in them and two goals from Patrick Eayton-Morris reduced the deficit to one with 12 minutes left, in which South Lakes were unable to find an equaliser.

South Lakes ladies returned by pulling double duty in Division Three North West of the North League, but their weekend ended in double disappointment as they were defeated by both Fylde 3rd XI and Carlisle.

Lakes first travelled to Fylde on the Saturday and went down 5-3, their opponents leapfrogging them in the table as a result.

There was no time to dwell on this, though, as they returned to Ulverston to face Carlisle in what was a fixture rearranged from the end of November, and the visitors came away with the points following a 4-2 win.

Windermere men's 1st XI dropped to seventh in Division Two West of the North League after they were defeated 5-2 by second-placed West Derby.

Chris Hart scored a hat-trick for the home side, while Kenny Noon and James Kemp were also on target, with the latter striking from a penalty corner.

It was a better afternoon, however, for Windermere ladies' 1st XI in the Premier Division of the Lancashire Central League by defeating Southport 3-1 on their travels, moving four points clear of their opponents in the process.

Mere's men will look to bounce back when they welcome Alderley Edge 2nd XI on Saturday, while their ladies will want to keep up the good work when they travel to bottom club Pendle Forest 3rd XI.