Dateline Wednesday 27th February 2002:    Dewsbury had a match at Halifax, a predictable result yet to be reported. Yorkshire Ladies arranged to use Dewsbury's normal pool time to host their home match against TYKES. The Bradford contingent of TYKES sadly depleted by the recent death of 'Fireman' Dave managed two players. The two girls who usually play for TYKES were, of course, playing for the Yorkshire Ladies. The Sheffield part of TYKES also managed two players. Oh dear! TYKES had only four players.

Dewsbury pool time starts at 9:15. Well 9:15 came with the two Sheffield TYKES players on the pool side but no one else. We knew that there were two YL players in the changing room, we'd brought them up to the pool. But thoughts of claiming the match were rife. The two other TYKES players arrived from Bradford. Still no Yorkshire Ladies.

The suspense should be building by now. "We'll give them two more minutes and then we'll claim the match." was our hopeful conversation. Just in time two Yorkshire Ladies came onto the poolside, closely followed by two others, then some more. One of the strongest YL teams seen this season turned up. They magnanimously gave TYKES Garry Birley to help us out but the task still looked daunting. With Janice, Jo, Anne, Belinda, Fiona, Angela, Rebecca and one other (sorry didn't spot who) Yorkshire Ladies were at full strength. They were also on top form and when play eventually started they quickly found our weak spots and pressed home a hardworking and closely supported attack against TYKES 'old git.. but I'm still the best' defense.

One-Nil, Two-Nil, Three- Nil, Four-Nil. Try as we might, and we did try, and we had chances, we could not score. We did NOT put the puck in the tin, and the Ladies forced us back with their rapid response team and scored repeatedly. Five-Nil!! Then at last half time.

Relief? We get the advantage now? NO. Second half and TYKES are now pushing uphill. Nonetheless we get a goal first in the second half with a Tim Dey speciality breakaway. But the girls pull one back quickly. Six-One. Necks get twisted, arms get smashed. Poor old Gary is doing his usual elegant and efficient Dewsbury job of waiting for the forward pass but TYKES are not up to the service he is used to.

The TYKES defence holds, and the hardworking but poorly rewarded attack notch up another victory before the end to finish six-two (6-2). Yorkshire Ladies first league win of the season and a testament to their usual strengths of working hard for each other. It felt like there were twice as many YL's as TYKES; not just one more.

TYKES have fallen foul of a full strength Yorkshire Ladies before. Beware other Ladies teams, YL are on the warpath.

Dateline Saturday 9th March 2002:   The last match of the 2001-2002 Yorkshire Junior League took place during the Under-16 championship at Manchester Aquatic Centre. Rochdale, the league leaders just had to beat tail-enders Sheffield to clinch the title. This they managed without too much trouble. Earlier in the championship though Rochdale had been soundly beaten by Batley (who eventually went on to take the National Championship). Batley have been improving dramatically since the start of 2001 and are now a formidable force; finally toppling Guildford as National Champions. Sadly for them they did not improve quickly enough this season to prevent Rochdale beating them last Autumn.

Dateline Monday 25th March 2002:    Following on from that disastrous defeat for TYKES are two wins for Rochdale. Beating Ledds Free Divers and Yokshire Ladies puts Rochdlae above TYKES in the league with the same number of games. Rochdale though have yet to play TYKES this season.

Dateline Saturday 23th March 2002: After months of uncertainty Dave Bailey has finally chosen his under-19 squad to go to Canada for the World Championships.
NameSource Team
Joel SwindinGuildford (but he started in Sheffield)
Matthew WarnerSouthsea
Anthony BaileySouthsea
Grant WaltersSouthsea
David RandallDunstable
Mark DawsonRochdale
Michael RabbBatley
Fiona KirkbySheffield
Joe PatchettSheffield
Matthew OliverTAROT
Thurlough RemidiosBrighton
Daniel ...Reading

Dateline Saturday 23rd April 2002:
TYKES depleted again with the three Sheffield lads missing. Michael tied to awful shift at that awful McDonalds, Joe catching up with schoolwork and Tim baby sitting (it is his own daughter born just a few weeks ago). Sadly the four Bradford contingent plus 'yours truly' and the girls Fi and 'Beccy were not quite good enough to keep a newly revitalised Rochdale from winning 4-3 at their pool.