Doncaster Hockey Club’s ladies will bid to emulate their male counterparts when they launch their North Premier League season on Saturday.
The Town Field club kick off their new campaign at home to Timperley (noon) following last season’s relegation from the National League.
They can take inspiration from the men who suffered a similar fate last year but bounced back to the EHL at the first time of asking by winning the Northern Premier Division.
Andy Gibson has been appointed as coach and has assembled a young squad, the majority of whom have graduated from the club’s junior section.
Lauren Firth has returned to Doncaster, while defender Emily Walker who joined from Wakefield at the end of last season has stayed on.
The squad will also be bolstered by Australian Maddy Rojahn for the second half of the campaign.
Doncaster’s first weekend of action is a league and cup double-header. On Sunday they host Prescot in the Investec Women’s Cup.
Meanwhile, Loughborough Students launched a second half comeback to condemn Doncaster to defeat on the opening day of the EHL.
Rhys Doherty fired the students into a sixth minute lead but a Joe Morrison penalty corner double edged Doncaster into a half time lead at Town Field.
However, second half goals from Tom Bean, Ed Horler and Doherty gave Loughborough victory.
Doncaster travel to Belper on Sunday.
n The men’s 2nd XI also start their North League campaign at home to Lincoln Roses on Saturday, while the ladies 2nd XI travel to Boston Spa.