A season packed with could’ves and should’ves, ended perhaps fittingly for the Hammerheads, with a might’ve.

Granted, the possibility of a Div 2 berth next year was slim going into the tournament’s final weekend in Northampton – depending, as it did, on a victory over unbeaten Champs 2 league toppers Liverpool Water Beatles.

But for a while the gutsy Leeds ladies made even the unlikely seem plausible; pounding the leaders with wave upon wave of never-say-die pressure before going down 8-6.  

Saturday’s outcome meant Sunday’s match against second-placed English Roses was something of a dead rubber in that it had become statistically impossible for the Hammerheads to end the season with one of the top three slots needed to secure promotion to next year’s Division 2.

But you wouldn’t have thought so.

Undaunted and with Yorkshire pride at stake, Leeds came storming into their final game, and despite the Roses’ vast experience, they could do little to prevent the Hammerheads from taking an early lead thanks to a clever one-two move by Jas Littler and Louise Boaz.

Robust and flawless defence work by on-form Lauren Richardson and Giulietta Lane held the Roses to a single goal by way of response. Within a minute, a startling mid-pool steal by Ellie Sowerby fed Lauren Richardson, who’s instinctive flick on to Selene Chew gave Leeds the 2-1 upper hand as the first quarter came to a close.

The Roses again equalized shortly after the start of Q2 and then swiftly moved a goal ahead despite more tenacious defence work in the pit by Jenny Worrell. A foul on Lauren Richardson gave her a penalty chance that she took in her stride to bring Leeds level. The Roses then scored again to go into half-time 4-3 up.

An early strike by Louise Boaz brought Leeds level within a few seconds of the start of the second half, but a series of very precise passing moves by the Roses gave them two quick goals and a 5-4 lead going into the final phase.

A very smart sequence of precise passes by Lauren Richardson and Lisa Marshall gave Ellie Sowerby an opportunity to weave the ball through a cluttered Roses defence to level the scores with a minute to play.

Lauren Richardson was then again the architect of a well-executed final Hammerheads attack. Her pass to Selene Chew went on to Jas Littler, who sealed the Roses’ fate and confirmed a sixth league table place for Leeds.