Wilmslow were forced to field a new scrum-half and two props in the back row for the clash at Aspatria.

Indeed, the Olympic champion hasn’t competed since winning two gold medals at last October’s European Championships in Holland.

The club is planning a 10-week Run England beginners course which is expected to start on Saturday, February 11 at Club Moativation Gym at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Styal.

The first team hosted Crewe, who they had beat 5-4 in an end-to-end encounter earlier in the year.

This Saturday the very windy conditions make it a difficult day for hockey and the match started at a fast pace.

The nets are being held on Sundays at 4 pm with separate group coaching sessions for school years three and four, years five and six and years seven and eight.

Everyone knew that Anselmians would be a difficult proposition at home but Wilmslow didn’t help themselves by questioning refereeing decisions.

And the Express has teamed up with the race organisers to create a ‘ Race within a Race’ for entrants living in our newspaper catchment area, with a prize for our first local male and female finisher.

The very windy conditions make it a difficult day for hockey and although Wilmslow felt they were matching Sale it was the away team who scored first.

After a cagey start Chester took the lead with a reverse-stick shot and doubled the lead shortly afterwards.

Liam Hanrahan led the way with two victories, firstly over Warley’s ABC Matt Windle.

Only on the near side could the surface have been described as ‘a bit crisp’ but past experience had shown that it would quickly soften when it was exposed to the sun at about 1.30pm.

The Loreto Grammar School pupil won the 50m butterfly and is now in training for the British Gas Championships in June, a second qualifier for the London Olympics.

The 19-year-old will arrive in Bolton for next month’s tournament full of confidence after he and men’s doubles partner Chris Coles finished joint third, while still a junior.

Throughout, the two sides played with totally contrasting styles – Leigh picked and drove around the narrow fringes all afternoon, while Wilmslow always sought to put some width on the ball to create space for their runners.

Alderley travelled to Bowdon with several experienced players missing, but the young guns produced a great performance, none more so than debutant Andrew Drummond.

Three matches did survive the weather but they didn’t affect the Wolves’ 10th position in the table. There is, however, very little to choose between the Wolves and the four sides above them.

More than 100 people attended the event which included a meal, the presentation of awards and a raffle.

Craig Corrigan was the first Haigh Hall player to win a prize, taking the individual pro top spot with 40 points after carding 68, to finish ahead of Knutsford’s Tim Maxwell (37) and Anthony Millar (Cheadle) and Jon Cheetham (Styal), who both carded 36.

League leaders Edge started off brightly but against the run of play Didsbury led through a converted penalty corner.

In its continued drive towards excellence the club has been recognised for the achievements of its head professional, clubhouse steward and course manager.

Unfortunately for Northwich, they had arrived at the Memorial Ground without a handful of first-choice players. all confined to the treatment room.

The visit to a Wigton side, struggling close to the bottom of the table and without a home win, had seemed to provide the best opportunity so far for success on the road.

The 6ft 9in 23-year-old wrapped up the English, British and Commonwealth titles in the space of just 15 professional fights.

Alderley’s first team returned to the top of North Division One after putting 11 past Lytham St Annes. Alderley’s pace and movement caused Lytham trouble throughout, with six-goal James Warburton taking the starring role.

The 20-year old will drive the team sponsored car for Indianapolis-based Sam Schmidt Motorsports, who are represented in both the Firestone Indy Lights and IndyCar championships.

After a poor start in September and October, the Wolves appear to have got their season back on track with three consecutive much improved showings in November.

Each team won their mini league pool to set up semi-final deciders against some of the best schools currently in the North West.

The team of the week is the men’s seconds, who are now five points clear at the top of North West Two, following a 9-2 victory over Prescot.

Wilmslow started the game well, but it was the visitors who scored first with some direct hockey and good finishing.

From the start Wilmslow felt they were the stronger team and had most of the possession and territory.

The Wolves can hold their heads high after this one. The home side were lying second in the table and are many peoples’ favourites to win it but they will have been mightily relieved to leave with four points.

As with previous weeks, the Oakwood Farm team started quickly and scored in the first minute, Sam Holt finding the bottom corner. The hosts then went two up, Andy Crabtree slapping home from close range after another short corner strike.

Alderley knew that they would be up against it to keep up their challenge, and keeper James Riley had his busiest game of the season.

The 31-year-old Wilmslow-based Team GB sprinter will hang up her wheels once the closing ceremony dies down.

The British and Commonwealth heavyweight title holder fights at New York’s Madison Square Garden on St Patrick’s Day and promoter Mick Hennessey is working on a major opponent to capture the attention of US audiences.

The cheer that greeted winger Tom Raynor’s 70th-minute try to settle the matter for the Wolves was the loudest heard at the ground this autumn.

Alderley started the brighter and within 20 seconds had tested the ‘keeper, but they fell behind when the forward half-volleyed a bouncing ball in.

Before conquering Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, he has first captured the sleepy seaside town of Morecambe in the palm of one of his giant hands.

Carlisle had shipped 50 points at Northwich the week before, had recorded only two wins this term and were below Wilmslow in the league. Tellingly, however, there had been signs of revival as both those wins had come in the last three weeks and on this occasion the hosts showed that in the right conditions they can be a proposition for anyone.

The Russian fighter has reportedly wanted to face Styal star Fury, and his camp has since issued statements claiming the latter is ducking him.

Edge were the better team throughout and ran out deserved winners by 7-0.

As Olympic fever grips the nation, Blue Bell Wilmslow will be championing young sporting stars throughout the region, and recognising the area’s most promising talent for the Young Sports Personality of the Year 2012 awards.

The opening Wolves try came after just eight minutes when Andy Walker, playing at out half, threaded through a perfect little grubber kick, which forced the Rochdale defence to concede a lineout close to their line.

Christian Braybrooke reached the final of the National Madison Race, which took place at the Manchester Velodrome during the National Track Championship finals, in which Sir Chris Hoy was racing.

It was the Oakwood Farm outfit who took the early initiative on a cold afternoon and spent most of the first 15 minutes camped in the home side’s half.

Lara Knowles put Wilmslow in front early on with a strike from a penalty corner.

Two disrupted scrums on their own put in on either side of half time led directly to both the two Sandbach tries.

The boys played some fantastic rugby, beating teams from Lymm, Macclesfield, Altrincham Kersal, Stockport and Sandbach on the way to their tournament success.

Stockton flew out of the blocks and ‘keeper James Riley was called into action immediately. Stockton scored from a penalty corner, but Edge soon equalised when good play up the left gave Joe Coxon a chance to shoot and he squeezed it in.

Ali Davies gave the home side an early lead but Neston responded to put Wilmslow under pressure, Sarah Dymond and Cat Lang defending well.

Having upset the form book the previous weekend by defeating Northwich, Aspatria had travelled with good reason to believe that they would add to the Wolves early season discomfort.

The 14-year-old from Chapel Road, Alderley Edge, took 14 wickets in nine games playing for Cheshire under-15s.

However, it was the home team that came out of the blocks quicker with two early goals from short corner routines and dominating early possession.

The first team welcomed Khalid Sawas, Laurence Barnes and James Riley for their first league action of the season.