WARRINGTON Hockey Club's goalkeepers and defenders were kept busy at the weekend as injuries and unavailability tested the teams to their limits in some tough encounters.

The women's first team were unlucky to be defeated by Northop Hall in a closely fought game.

Player-of-the-match Kate Connolly dominated the midfield and Meg Sutch and Sally Froggatt worked hard up front searching for an equaliser after conceding in the first half.

Carrie Wright and Steph Rawlins kept Warrington in the game by controlling the defence and limiting Northop's attack but Warrington could not find the breakthrough.

The second team had to defend for much of their game against a well organised Sale side, managing to hold out until the 25th minute thanks to numerous saves from keeper Tish Edwards.

Warrington successfully defended a flurry of short corner,s with Holly McCurrie and Laura Page making key clearances.

Player of the match Molly Rudd and Emma Frew came close to scoring for Warrington in the second half but Sale ran out 2-0 winners.

The men's first team had a difficult game against a strong Didsbury fourths.

Goals from Adam Garrod and Matt Petitt gave them hope, but it could have been worse than 4-2 if it had not been for some great saves from Tom Lloyd in goal and Steve Fiddy stepping up from the second team to help the defence.

The seconds were unlucky to lose 1-0 to table-topping Wrexham seconds, who have scored an average of more than six goals per game this season.

Rhydian Burston was strong in defence and Richard Bloomfield was outstanding in goal, only being beaten when Wrexham were awarded a penalty flick well into the second half.