BY sharing the spoils with unbeaten league leaders Harrogate, Wilmslow Hockey Club women’s firsts ended the season on a positive note.

The hosts had taken the lead twice but were pegged by to draw 2-2 with North Hockey League Division One’s runaway winners.

It meant their first season after promotion finished in a promising sixth position, giving them plenty of encouragement for the next campaign.

Wilmslow started strongly as Carla Botha’s strong run led to a penalty corner, which Hannah Kelman converted with power and ease.

Strong defence kept the visitors at bay until a quick break brought them an equaliser as the sides went into the interval all square.

Into the second half and Wilmslow grabbed the initiative back – Amelia Poole’s cross into the D was converted on the line by Nic Mapes.

Wilmslow had opportunities to grab a killer third goal, but it was Harrogate who scored next with a second equalising strike to ensure the match ended level.

The seconds won 4-3 at Northop Hall firsts to ensure a top-half finish – an achievement matched by the thirds despite a 5-1 defeat to Whitchurch firsts in their final match.

The fourths fell just short of a second-place finish in their league after a 4-4 draw with their Chester counterparts.

Cheered on by a raucous home crowd, the men’s firsts rounded off their promotion-winning campaign in style.

Their place in the division above was sealed several weeks ago but finished off with a 3-1 win over Durham University.

An aggressive start was rewarded when Pete Hallinan finished at the far post to put the hosts ahead.

The second goal came just after half time as Jack Wright pounced on a loose ball inside the D to crash the ball in from a tight angle.

Durham pulled a goal back to set up a tense finale, but David Boddy’s one-on-one finish sealed victory.

Wilmslow’s nerves were finally settled when David Boddy slid the ball under the onrushing Durham keeper after Wilmslow had once again stolen possession in a dangerous area.

The men in orange comfortably saw out the rest of the game to record a win in their final game of the season. A summer of hard work is now ahead as they look to maintain a position in the North Premier Division after promotion.

In the only other men’s game of the day, the fifths were edged out in a thriller as they lost 5-4 to Bowdon veterans.