Despite pre-season concerns over the retirement of key players, Reading have got off to a good start to the season with six points from two games, the latest a 3-2 win over Cannock. Second place, also on maximum points, are Loughborough Students, who recorded a 2-1 win over East Grinstead. Interestingly, after only two matches, there is no team in the men's Premier Division that does not have at least a point.
Bowden have made a fine start in Men's Div. 1 with nine points from three matches, the latest scalp being against second place Havant. Near the basement end of the Division, today (Sunday) saw an intriguing battle between Holcombe and Southgate. Although Holcombe had the lions share of the first half action, it was Southgate's Dan Shingles that caught the home defence napping in the ninth minute. Shortly after the restart Holcombe served notice that they were not beaten when South African internation Denzil Dolley shaved the near post, followed minutes later by a superb penalty corner goal by Chris Bassano-Harper, our man of the match. Both goalkeepers saw plenty of action in the second half with a number of super saves, and despite end-to-end action, neither team could break the other's defence, and the match finished one apiece. The draw leaves Holcombe and Southgate in eighth and ninth place respectively, with Teddington propping up the table.
In the Women's Division One, University of Birmingham beat mid-table Poynton to stay top on maximum points, whilst second place Barnes Hounslow added more misery to newly promoted Horsham, who are now in botttom place on nil points and a goal difference of -12.
Oxted put seven past St Albans in men's South Division to take top position ahead of Indian Gymkhana. In Women's South Divsion, Reading beat St Austel and Swansea beat Southampton and are first and second respectively. Hapless Southampton recorded their fourth straight defeat and stay bottom. In the North, Sheffield University Bankers men defeated Leek 2-1 and stay on maximum points and Cannock lead the pack in the women's division after a 3-2 win at Preston.
A full up-date of the league tables will take place tomorrow (Monday) on our site at www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk
