Cookstown got their Men’s Premier League title defence off to the perfect start as they thrashed Belfast Harlequins 6-0.
The champions took the lead in the first quarter after Mark Crooks combined with teammate Paul Thompson before picking out Paul Watt at the back post who tapped in.
Crooks was again involved as they doubled their lead when he found Gregg Allen unmarked in the circle and he netted his first goal of the season.
The result was put beyond doubt in the second quarter as Michael Kerr scored a drag flick from a penalty corner before final-quarter goals from Mark Cuddy, Greg Allen and Paul Watt rounded off a perfect opening day for the hosts.
At Edenvilla, Queen’s University comfortably beat Portadown 5-2 to get their season off to a winning start.
Two penalty corners from Ben Law and Daniel Irvine gave the students a 2-0 lead at half-time before Jamie Wright got one back for their hosts at the beginning of the second half.
However, two goals in quick succession from Harry Scott and Sam Boyd gave Queen’s a comfortable 4-1 win before Harry Scott got his second of the afternoon in the final quarter.
A last-minute strike from Ross Beattie proved to be a consolation for Portadown as the game ended 5-2 to The Students.
Elsewhere, Instonians made it back-to-back wins as they edged past Kilkeel with a 4-3 away win.
Three goals from David Finlay, John Finlay and Mark Henning were not enough for the home side to earn anything from the tie.
Instead, it was their Belfast opponents who took all three points with goals from Ben Rose, Ben Plamer and Matthew McAreavey (2).
The result puts the side top of the table with maximum points from their opening two games this season.
On Friday night South Antrim got their first win of the season as they beat Bangor 3-2 at Friends’ School Lisburn.
Chris Henry got the first South Antrim goal as he was quickest to a rebound in the circle and converted into the bottom left corner.
The hosts then got their second goal when Callum Patterson found Ryan West 1v1 with the goalkeeper and he remained composed to score.
Meanwhile, the third South goal came after a goal line scramble was eventually forced in by Rory Brown following good work from Andrew Clarke.
Despite two Bangor goals from JJ Holley and Ryan Lyle, the visitors were unable to get anything from the game and lost 3-2 for a second week running.
The final game of the weekend saw P.S.N.I get their first win following their recent promotion as they beat North Down 6-2.
PHOTO: Front Row Union
