SHEFFIELD TAKE MAXIMUM POINTS

2007 Season	PLD	W	D	L	F	A	PTS	GD
Invicta	3	3	0	0	37	24	6	13
Sheffield	3	3	0	0	34	21	6	13
Solihull	3	2	0	1	32	23	4	9
Birkenhead	3	2	0	1	30	29	4	1
Sutton & Cheam	3	1	0	2	17	22	2	-5
Leeds	3	0	1	2	22	29	1	-7
Tyldesley	3	0	1	2	25	32	1	-7
Hucknall	3	0	0	3	20	37	0	-17

Promoted City of Sheffield made a superb start to life in Division Two by winning their three matches during the opening weekend at Lancaster.

Sheffield beat Tyldesley, Birkenhead and Leeds, while Invicta also achieved a 100 per cent start by defeating Sutton & Cheam, Solihull and Hucknall.

Mike Whitley enjoyed an outstanding weekend for Sheffield, scoring four times in the 11-7 defeat of Tyldesley, who were without suspended goal-scoring ace Mike Cowburn.

Against Birkenhead, Sheffield took a 5-1 lead early on and were always in control, eventually winning 11-6. Whitley scored three in that match – and three more in the 12-8 victory over Leeds.

Invicta’s young team will be tough to beat now that players like Jack Waller and Sean King have gained valuable experience in the GB Juniors set-up.

Waller contributed three goals in a 9-4 defeat of Sutton. Invicta followed up with a 15-12 victory over Solihull – probably the best game of a competitive opening weekend. Waller, King and Alex Murphy each scored four but Solihull will be kicking themselves for wasting the bulk of 16 man-up situations. The sides were level at 7-7 at the half-way stage – then Invicta won the third 7-3.

Invicta stormed into an 8-1 lead against Hucknall but then allowed their opponents to hit back and trail only 9-8 at one stage before the Kent side rallied again to net four without reply and secure the points at 13-8. King led the Invicta scoring with five, while Dan Siddons and Phil Foster claimed three apiece for Hucknall.

A goal by Rimmer 15 seconds from the end earned Tyldesley a 7-7 draw against Leeds. Cowburn was back in action in Tyldesley’s match against Birkenhead

But his six goals were not enough to prevent a 14-11 defeat. Andy Fowler was top marksman for Birkenhead with five.

Sutton and Hucknall were all square at 6-6 at the start of the last quarter before the Londoners eased clear to claim the points with a 10-7 win.

Birkenhead conceded 13 majors against Leeds but still won 10-7. Fowler (3) and Lee Cadwallader (3) were their main scorers.