Bolton Hockey Club’s teams returned to competitive league action after the summer break with the big clash on opening weekend the inter-club derby between the men’s second and third teams.

The thirds had achieved promotion last season, and this put them in the same division as the seconds, though retaining their league place is the aim this season for the thirds.

A nervy start by the thirds meant the younger second team got the better of the action, holding on to the ball well and stifling their overconfident contemporaries.

It can be a danger playing your own club, complacency can set in, and for much of the first 20 minutes it seemed like the seconds weren’t out of first gear.

They did finally come to life, stringing some nice passes together to take the lead through the late arriving Max Frost, sliding in to score near post.

Ill discipline saw the thirds reduced to 10 men for five minutes, and in that time the seconds doubled their lead, Louie Morgan opening his account for the season with a sharp finish inside the D.

The seconds made it 3-0 before half time, Kyle Hatch nutmegging the goalkeeper from a tight angle for a comfortable, if not convincing lead.

In the second half, the thirds regrouped and struck first, a fine move down the right and cut back saw Will Dunlop score.

Their joy was short-lived, though, as their away opposition went straight up the other end with Frost putting a delightful through ball at pace for Hatch to deflect into the top corner for his second.

The scoring was not done either as the thirds carbon copied their early goal - same action, same result, this time Nathan Watts getting the goal.

While they pushed for more, it was the seconds who finished the scoring, Keith Stanley being patient and picking his spot with a wonderfully-lifted effort into the roof of the net sealing a 5-2 triumph.

The men’s first team start off the season as they had last season, at home to Stockport Bramhall firsts, going down 2-1.

Last season’s feisty affair looked like it would be repeated, as both teams started off very physical from the start and both umpires had their work cut out to keep the peace.

It was Bramhall who took the lead midway through the first half as slack defending allowed a ball across the D and, while the initial shot was saved, the rebound was put away.

The award of a fortuitous penalty corner saw Bolton get back into the game. The routine itself worked well, Sam Robinson with the final shot to score.

But the opposition retook the lead before half time, a penalty corner of their own scored.

In the second half, the home side tried to get back into the game but the same tactics were shut down by Bramhall, who controlled the play well without ever being stretched.

Ill-discipline saw Bolton reduced to 10, and while Bramhall also saw a reduction, it was the visitors who triumphed.

After relegation last season, the women’s firsts wanted to get things on track with their first game of the season, but they came up against a flying Bowdon thirds side who took them to the cleaners.

It was not the outing they were looking for in what was a shell shocking 9-0 away defeat.

The women’s seconds started their season away at Timperley fourths and drew 2-2.

The two sides had finished a point apart last year and very little separated them again.

A closely-contested game finished with goals in each half for each team, as the spoils were shared on opening day.

The women’s thirds had a day to forget when they went down 6-0 at home against City of Manchester thirds.

The Bolton side are very much developing with long-term targets, and their opening-day opposition took full advantage with a resounding six unanswered goals.

But there were some signs of encouraging play from the Bolton side, with much to build upon.