COLWALL Womens' Hockey Club made a winning start to 2006 when they beat Tenbury Wells Ladies in a friendly at Ledbury Leisure Centre on Saturday.

COLWALL WHC 2, TENBURY WELLS LADIES 0

Colwall started well and created a number of scoring opportunities, but were unable to covert these into goals. Tenbury fought back, forcing a succession of short corners, but the well organised Colwall defence were able to clear the ball. The teams went into the half-time break with the scores still at 0-0.

Colwall pressed strongly in the second-half, and were unlucky not to score when a Coral Handley hit the crossbar. Handley was involved again when the ball broke free from a rebound after a short corner, and she struck a thunderous shot into the roof of the net.

Tenbury fought back strongly, and two excellent saves by goal keeper Carole Ward, and a clearance off the goal line by Melinda Bennett, maintained Colwall's lead.

The home side scored their second goal after some clever interplay between Handley, Jackie Styles and Anna Stocker, with Stocker finally putting the ball past the Tenbury keeper.

Sam Shail was Colwall's player-of-the-match.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Colwall are away to Yate and South Glos.