TENBURY Ladies endured a tough start to the Worcestershire Women’s Hockey League Division One season, losing 5-1 to a strong Worcester seconds team.

A Tenbury side with the bare 11 players struggled against a 16-player Worcester squad who were able to rotate but goalkeeper Fern Bowkett made several saves to keep the score down.

Katie Petford also made two goal-line clearances before Tenbury claimed a deserved consolation as Abi Davies, returning from injury, slotted home skipper Cat Mumford’s pass from a penalty corner.

There were further positives as teenagers Olli Davies, Tilly Evans, Harriet Harding and Georgia Turvey all impressed.

Emily Moseley’s equaliser earned Tenbury seconds a 1-1 draw against Redditch in Division Three as under-14 debutants Lily Hillhouse, Annie Pearce-Bourne and Izzy Scott shone, as did a returning Suzy Brain.

In the Shropshire Ladies League, Ludlow lost 5-0 to Bridgnorth with all five goals coming in the second half. Shaugnah Yarham and Claire Stewardson claimed Ludlow’s star player awards.

Ludlow’s men team, meanwhile, played their part in a nine-goal thriller against Worcester seconds in the West Midlands Premier but lost narrowly 5-4.

Nonetheless, it has been an encouraging start at the new level for Ludlow, who drew their opener 3-3 with Barford Tigers seven days earlier.