EASI-ROCKITS’ new HellDivers team made a splash by winning their first two games in the 2013 VX season.

Competing in the second division of the now two-tier Yorkshire and Humber Regional League, the debutants defeated York Raiders 181-101 and stable-mates Easi-Rockit HellFighters 173-152.

HellDivers, captained by Theo Bentley and also including Sam Williams, Tom Williams, Leo Walker and Jack Peel, opened up a 17-point gap at the end of the first interval against Raiders and then led 91-52 at the midway point.

By the finish of the third quarter, they were 54 points up before wrapping up their first victory.

Their second game against HellFighters proved more of a ding-dong battle against an understrength Hell Fighters, who had to recall Lena Fowles back from Middlesbrough to join Paul Hildreth, Karen Bruin and an injured Sam Raper on court.

HellDivers led by three points at the end of the first quarter but were behind 84-69 at half-time.

They responded, though, to go three points ahead again going into the final period when their greater energy proved decisive.

HellFighters had earlier beaten Raiders 133-130 despite being behind 69-63 at half-time and 100-97 going into the final quarter.

In division one, a depleted Easi-Rockit HellCats, who won every tournament they entered last year, were forced to forfeit their first match of the 2013 season against Ripon.

HellCats trailed 37-25 at the end of the first interval against opponents, who boasted England and German internationals in their ranks.

That deficit had widened to 66-48 by half-time when coach Paul Hildreth decided a lame Leckenby was not fit to continue, leaving the team with just three players and unable to fulfil the fixture.