Bolton Hockey Club’s men’s first team avenged an opening-day home defeat to Stockport Bramhall with a 3-1 away win as they returned after the festive break with a bang to keep their North West Men’s Division Three South promotion bid on track.

It was a tasty affair at home, and so it proved once again, with temper’s flaring and cards shown.

It was Bolton who started the better, controlling play and moving the ball around smartly.

The opening goal came from from quick thinking and smart play, moving the ball through midfield all the way to the byeline before a sharp pull back gave Scott Mather the perfect opportunity to score.

This was quickly undone by a poor pass in defence - Ryan Aldred tried to block off the Stockport attacker but his tackle was clumsy and saw him get 10 minutes to think about what he’d done. The attacker’s poor reaction to the tackle, meant he got some time on the sidelines as well.

Bolton made use of the extra space and just moments before half time, Keith Stanley made it 2-0.

Bramhall hit back soon into the second half, scoring a scrappy effort after Bolton failed to clear, and the home side felt the impetus was with them.

However, more poor discipline saw both teams reduced in number again. This time a poor tackle from Mather saw him get a green, the retaliatory shove earning the receiver time off as well.

This broke up Stockport’s momentum and with tackles flying in, there was more drama at the end. Bolton once again found themselves reduced to 10, with Stanley seeing yellow for another robust tackle.

It was, however, Bramhall’s ill-discipline in the D that cost them - a poor tackle in the act of shooting and a penalty stroke awarded. Lee Ramagge made no mistake to wrap up the game and a excellent three points for Bolton.

There was an inter-club battle in North West Men’s Division Six East and it saw the men’s seconds win 2-1 against the thirds.

The seconds have slipped one place in the table due to not playing fixtures, with their rearranged game with title challengers, City of Manchester postponed twice due to weather.

Meanwhile, the thirds have been unlucky with performances not always reflecting the result, and many games lost by just a solitary goal.

In this clash, the seconds thought they had broken the deadlock just three minutes in, a penalty corner’s first shot was saved by keeper Charlie Hardman, with centre-back Stuart Wallace slamming the ball into the top corner. However it was ruled out, as the umpire believed it was the first shot - a decision that outraged Kyle Hatch and his protests earned him a season-fastest green card.

The seconds dominated possession and territory, but the thirds were comfortable throughout the half and happy to go in at half time all square.

The seconds’ were less than happy and after a half-time rollicking, four minutes after the restart they had the lead.

A deep pass from James Taylor found Hatch before it was worked inside and a first-time pass from Louie Morgan fed Cameron Hall to slot home.

However, they then eased off and the thirds - the ‘away’ team - were soon level.

It came from a mistake in the defence, Phil Morgan gliding in to tap home.

But the thirds’ joy was short-lived, as Max Frost soon restored the seconds’ lead. A rare mistake in the middle allowed him to move into the D and produce a sharp finish to seal victory.

The women’s firsts were at home in North West Women’s Division Two South against Bowdon women’s thirds and narrowly lost 1-0.

The away side - who won convincingly in the reverse fixture - started in the ascendancy with slick passing and high-press that pushed Bolton back into their own half.

Despite dominance with the ball, Bowdon did leave themselves open to counters with such a high press, and twice Bolton caused panic with good through balls.

But it was the away team that took the lead in the 16th minute, a ball down into the right channel was passed inside, before a drive into the D and a slip to the left for a slap shot into the corner, leaving the keeper no chance.

Their high press saw a change in tactical personnel from Bolton and they slowly started to move up the pitch and control a bit more of the midfield, with more presence up top, pulling the Bowdon defenders back.

At half time, this tactic was tweaked again, with the second half seeing marked improvement in Bolton’s play.

Bowdon still tried to press high and push Bolton back, but the home side had much more control of the ball, pushing Bowdon back towards their own goal.

The pressure started to tell as Bolton won a series of penalty corners midway through the half, but they could not take advantage, working the keeper but nothing concrete.

Despite the pressure, Bowdon held on for a slim victory, but it was a marked improvement in performance from the reverse fixture which saw the hosts disappointed to come away with nothing.

The women’s seconds have had a torrid start to the season - their four draws the only points so far.

However, they always felt the win was coming and in the first outing of 2024 it arrived with a 4-1 home triumph against Timperley women’s fourths in North West Women’s Division Four East.

Bolton got off to an excellent start when a breakaway attack resulted in the first goal, an initial shot was parried but Jessica Flegg was on hand to hit the ball into the net.

Things got even better when Viv lake doubled the lead after more sustained pressure in the Timperley D.

Lake scored her second and Bolton’s third five minutes before half time, with Nicola Ashurst sealing a perfect half to leave the home side 4-0 up at the interval.

They were unable to match those amazing highs in the second half, and Timperley were able to score a consolation late on from a penalty corner, but the damage had been done and the seconds had that elusive victory.

In contrast, it was a day to forget for the women’s thirds in North West Women’s Division Six East.

They always knew it was going to be tough against a City of Manchester fourths side that concedes little, and scores often.

And that is how it panned out at the Armitage Centre with the hosts winning 9-1.

While Bolton did score when 2-0 down, through Evelyn Clayden, it was as good as it got for the away side.