WORCESTER Hockey Club's women fell to an opening day of the season 2-1 defeat in Midlands Premier League at Aldridge.

The visitors began brightly keeping possession and moving the ball, but it was Aldridge had the ball in the net first, however, the goal was disallowed as the no-one touched the shot from outside the circle.

Issy Davies made some great saves for Worcester and she was helped by the defence of Donna Hemming, Leanne Bennett, Sophie Stock and Alice Parsons.

Emily Horsley went close for Worcester after a good move down the left only to see her shot saved.

Aldridge took the lead just before half-time when they broke down the flank to net and they doubled their lead 12 minutes into the second period.

Worcester pulled a goal back when Rachel Humphries surged forward to help force a short corner which captain Stock fired home.

The seconds grabbed a late winner in their opening Worcestershire League Division One clash at Redditch.

With the scores level at 1-1, Charlotte Elliss pounced to net Libby Wycherley’s parried shot. It was Worcester who took the lead when Julie Harwood put in Wycherley to score.

Redditch levelled before the interval as they piled the pressure on the visitors.

With both teams searching for a win in the second-half, Redditch saw players sent to the sin-bin with only 10 minutes remaining on the clock.

That allowed Worcester to push forward and net the winner from a short-corner routine.

A young Worcester thirds fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Bournville seconds in Division Two.

The hosts managed to get to half-time level with Jess Ferrier making some fine saves, while Steph Weaver, Kate Bowyer, Alice Nott and Becky Smith were solid in defence.

Player-of-the-match Frankie Griffin played well up front, but Bournville caught Worcester on the counter-attack to take the lead seven minutes into the second-half.

The visitors doubled their advantage nine minutes later with a good strike to seal the win.

Worcester men’s firsts won their final pre-season friendly 3-0 against Wellingborough ahead of their Midlands League Division One opener at North Stafford on Saturday.

The men’s sixths came away from their Stourport counterparts with a 2-2 draw in their final pre-season friendly.

Jonathan Griffith put the visitors into the lead when he turned home Kevin Oliver’s drive, but Stourport levelled soon after.

The hosts took the lead on the stroke of half-time from a short corner, but Worcester hit back through Griffith to secure a draw in the second period.

A Sam Hodson hat-trick fired the Badgers Potter to a 4-0 victory at Ludlow, but they were made to fight all the way.

Hodson opened the scoring after 20 minutes, but he had to wait until after the interval to grab his second.

Paddy Milton made it 3-0 when he netted from a well worked short-corner before Hodson completed his treble.