After the final matches in the Indoor EHL, champions East Grinstead will be making a return to the NIA next Sunday, having secured the top place in the Premier Division. Other qualifiers are Loughborough Students, Canterbury and Reading, giving the finals a repeat of last year’s line up. In the women’s competition, Chelmsford, who have dominated women’s indoor hockey in recent seasons, finished a disappointing 6th, one ahead of Canterbury who were also at last year’s finals. Top spot was taken by Slough, followed by Bowden Hightown, Ipswich and Sutton Coldfield. Full final tables for the Indoor EHL appear here.
There were no surprises in the first days play in the women’s Champions’ Trophy is Quilmes (Argentina) yesterday. In the opening match, outsiders Spain took on favourites, the Netherlands. For much of the game the Spanish looked outclassed, but there were moments when they showed signs of getting back into the match. At 2-0 down through goals by Calijn Welten and Naomi Van As, Maria Romagosa stuck a penalty corner which dipped over the outstretched ‘keeper and hit the boards. A wounded Dutch team are usually a dangerous team, and the Dutch piled on the pressure, bringing some good saves from Maria Rosa in the Spanish goal, but with six minutes left on the clock Kim Lammers secured the three points for the Netherlands with a goal from open play. In the other matches, debutants Japan, lost to Australia 3-0, whilst the hosts saw off the Olympic champions, Germany, 2-0.
