Hockey: Rochdale Ladies 6 - 1 Manchester University Fourths

Ashleigh Hoyle - Player-of-the-Match

Sunday saw Rochdale ladies win their second game of the weekend, a comfortable league win, after Saturday's cup victory.

Rochdale started off very slowly and it looked like two games in two days could have been a step too far, but leading goal scorer Jenny Banks pounced on a loose ball at the stop of the D, and with a sweet strike found the back of the net.

This lifted Rochdale’s spirit and confidence and straight from the restart Banks again picked up a loose ball, ran up the pitch and unselfishly passed it to Roisin Pickering who slotted home.

Manchester University kept on battling with some counter attacks but, with a weakened team, they were tiring and were no contest for Rochdale's strong defence.

Defence has been the pillar of the Rochdale success this season and in this game it allowed Paula McDonald, Kate Brammer and Ashleigh Hoyle in midfield to run the game and push higher up the pitch utilising both wings.

Rochdale's third goal came again from Banks, who picked up a  70 yard pass from Gill Knowles in defence and calmly slotted passed the on coming Manchester keeper.

Banks wrapped up her hat-trick after a move from Hoyle and Pickering saw the ball fall loose in the Manchester D; Banks smashed it in the net for a 4-0 half time lead.

The second half was a test of stamina for both teams as both had a double weekend.

Rochdale took a bit of time to get going, but continued to play their attacking game and it wasn't long until Banks capitalised.

Manchester did not give up and against the run of play they broke through and scored, but it was too little too late.

Legs were tiring and it was a test of wills for the final 10 minutes of the game.

Pickering, Leach and Brammer continued to make attacking runs but tired legs showed from the two Rochdale forwards and they could not muster the speed to get on the end of the passes.

Banks wrapped up the game and victory with Rochdale's sixth goal, her fifth of the game, having now scored 34 for the season.

Captain Kie Leech said: “When our defence is as solid as that, our midfield create the chances they did and the off the ball movement from the whole team in the last third is like it was today, we are a very hard team to beat.”

The player-of-the-match award went to Ashleigh Hoyle.