SECOND in the table after the regular season, Canterbury beat last season's eventual Investec Women's Hockey League champions Reading 2-1 in the first weekend of this season.
Goalless at half time, Canterbury drew first blood with Anna Baker scoring from open play on 43 minutes. They doubled their lead through Nikki Ward from a 62nd minute penalty corner.
Although Elspeth Cockburn pulled one back for hosts Reading on 67 minutes, it was not enough to avoid defeat.
Last season's beaten finalists Leicester made a winning start to their 2013-14 fixtures with a 3-1 away win over the University of Birmingham.
Katie Long put Leicester ahead from a 32nd minute penalty corner, and although the home side pulled level through Holly Payne, further goals from Kerry Whitehead and Hannah Fair secured the win for Leicester.
Elsewhere, Beeston ran out emphatic 7-0 winners over Sutton Coldfield with Hannah Wraith scoring a hat-trick and Sophie Robinson two, while others came from Sophie Hawkins and Erica Sanders.
Fay Nash and Tina Cullen both scored twice in Bowdon Hightown's 5-2 win over Olton and West Warwickshire, while Nat Wray scored the other.
And Surbiton and Clifton drew 1-1, Georgie Twigg and Helena Faust scoring the goals.
In the Investec Conference West, last season's champions Buckingham made a superb start to the 2013-14 season, rattling 11 goals past Bristol Firebrands on Saturday.
Sam Sandham scored a hat-trick in the 11-0 victory, while Lorraine Campbell and Jessica Bloom both scored twice and other goals came from Jo Ellis, Kitty Higgins, Anita Bazini and Jazmine Needham.
Last season's runners-up Isca didn't have such luck though, and had to settle for a tough 2-2 draw at home against Oxford Hawks. Claire Thomas scored twice for Isca, while Emily Court bagged two for the Hawks.
In the Investec Conference North, last season's runners-up Durham university left it late before salvaging a point from a 1-1 draw at Loughborough Students.
Ellie Tait gave the hosts the lead on 59 minutes, but Durham pulled level in the final minute through Pippa Lewis.
In South Yorkshire, Lisa Garbutt scored a hat-trick to help Doncaster win 5-3 over Boots.
And Lindsay Rachubka also scored three times in Brooklands Poynton's 4-0 win over Stourport.
