WHALLEY Range-based Sale Men’s Hockey Club first team bounced back to winning ways with a close 3-2 win over Liverpool Sefton.

After Sefton had dominate the early stages and taken an early lead Neil Blackburn levelled with a cool strike and Sale upped the ante with Blackburn adding his second after a silky strike from Paul Golds had given Sale the lead.

Solid displays from Ben Smith and Adam McCarthy kept Sale in charge in the second half to limit Sefton to a second goal.

Sale seconds lost out 3-2 to free-scoring Chester who raced into a 3-0 interval lead.

Sale dominated the second half with Ralph Swift and Scott Raftery and were unlucky to lose after great displays from Ben Wells and Lionel Robinson.

Sale thirds were too hot for Bramhall to handle in a 6-0 cruise which featured goals from Savio Martins, Alex Tremblath, Robbie Asher (two) and Tim Roberts (two) Sale fourths lost out 5-0 to Knutsford and a re-jigged Sale team did well to contain Knutsford to the score-line with stand-in keeper Ben Brown being outstanding.

Sale ladies first team hosted Whitchurch and took the lead from Hannah Buchanan from a Fiona Vaughan Thomas cross.

Whitchurch drew level before the break but Jane Fylan converted a great run from Kate Levy to give them the winning goal.

Sale seconds played Crewe and were good value for a 3-1 win.

They led 3-0 at the break with strikes from Naomi Campbell, Megan Smith and Sue Boswell and although Crewe came back well in the second half they could only get a consolation goal.