DUNFERMLINE Carnegie Hockey Club's men's first team have opened their Scottish Hockey Premiership campaign with two defeats from their opening two matches.

In May, the team were promoted to the top tier of the sport for a second time - having previously done so in 2020 - by winning National League Sub Division One.

After topping the National Division table after the opening nine games, the 10 competing teams were split into two sub divisions, and the West Fifers were crowned as champions with 12 wins from 14 matches.

Dunfermline Carnegie lost their opening match, at Grange Hockey Club men's firsts, 3-0 on September 14 before hosting Hillhead Hockey Club men's firsts on Saturday.

However, there proved to be no home comforts at Woodmill High School as the Glasgow side recorded a 3-1 victory.

The men's seconds were also in action, losing 6-3 to Uddingston twos, as were the men's fours and development teams, who lost 9-1 to Watsonians sevens, and defeated Stirling Development 5-0, respectively.

Meanwhile, Dunfermline Carnegie ladies firsts played newly-formed Heriots Trinity - a merger of two Edinburgh-based clubs - on Saturday, but fell to a 4-0 loss.

Although Dunfermline started the game well, they were under pressure from the start from their clinical opponents, who eventually made it count.

Despite the defeat, Carnegie took plenty of positives from the match, particularly with the performance of the youngsters in the team, which showed promising signs for the future.

They were then back in action on cup duty on Sunday, at Strathclyde University, in a preliminary round tie.

With a small squad, and some tired legs, Carnegie held their own in an even contest, with Kerry Jackson's third-quarter equaliser taking the game to penalties, which they won 2-1 to reach the first round.

The ladies twos travelled to Goldenacre to play Castle in their first league match of the season, and started well against experienced opponents who were strong in attack.

They conceded a goal in both the first and second quarter and, although Lauren Girdwood pulled one back, they lost a third shortly afterwards, as the hosts claimed a 3-1 win.