It was a weekend of contrasting emotions for the West Yorkshire Hawks, with the men’s team continuing their dominant unbeaten league run, while the women’s side showed heart and resilience despite a heavy defeat.

At the Hawks Nest on Saturday, the Hawks Men put on a statement performance in a thrilling 90-75 win over a tough Manchester Titans squad.

In one of their most hard-fought contests of the season so far, the Hawks were pushed from tip to buzzer by a Titans side loaded with experience and physicality.

After edging the opening quarter by a single point, the Hawks carried a narrow lead into half-time and found themselves just two points ahead heading into the fourth.

But it was in that final stretch that their depth, composure and defensive discipline came to the fore.

With Wisdon Otokhagua leading a stifling defensive effort, the Hawks held the Titans to just 11 fourth-quarter points.

At the other end, sharpshooter Dave Walsh delivered a masterclass, pouring in 31 points, including nine from beyond the arc, to power the Hawks to a 15-point victory.

Joe Heyes and Dan Pilkington each chipped in with 13 points in a game that underlined the Hawks’ credentials at the top of the division.

Head Coach Danny Byrne praised his team’s mentality and said: “The win is amazing, but more important to me was the composure the team showed.

“Titans put us under pressure throughout that game but at no point did I see any cracks. It’s that level of mental strength that separates good teams from great ones.”

The men now enjoy a rare weekend off before returning to the Nest on Saturday November 29 for a huge clash with Sheffield College.

Earlier in the day, the Hawks Women travelled to Hemel Storm, where they faced a high-flying, in-form side.

The game began with Storm asserting control early, racing into a commanding lead and restricting the Hawks to just 12 first-half points.

Despite trailing heavily at the break, the Hawks came out in the second half with renewed energy and resolve.

Led by Luna Jade Gommersall Buckley (14 points) and Sonia Maria Matei (13 points), the Neon and Navy rallied to produce a stronger offensive showing.

While the 99-46 defeat was a tough one, the second-half spirit gave plenty of reasons for optimism.

Player-coach Millie Oates said: “This was always going to be a tough game. Storm are very strong and arriving shorthanded added to our challenge. We’ll regroup and continue to push for growth in our first NBL season.”

The women’s team return home on Saturday (November 22) to face Tees Valley Mohawks, a team they pushed close earlier this season in the National Cup.

Tip-off is at 6.30pm at the University of Huddersfield, and tickets are available at https://tktp.as/EKDMIL.