It was the final day in the Women’s EHL today and triumph or tears for a number of sides. Leicester were already winners of the Premiership before today but a win away against Canterbury would have put the icing on the cake. Canterbury had ideas of their own about the icing. But this was a match that explained why Leicester are top and Canterbury are third in the table. Canterbury had all the early running but failed to find the net. It was during one of the comparably few forays into the Canterbury twenty-five that Kerry Williams was fouled and umpire Louise Knipe, umpiring her last EHL match, signalled for a penalty corner, which was converted by Anne Panter. Canterbury continued to have much of the run of play and eleven minutes after the re-start Cathy Gilliat-Smith converted a penalty corner to makes honours even. Two minutes later Susannah Townsend gave Canterbury the lead with a shot that nearly pulled the net off its uprights. Briefly it looked like it might be Canterbury’s day, but with eight minutes left on the clock Ann Panter struck again, this time from open play, to make the final score 2-2. Some people claim that women’s hockey is boring – and sometimes they are right – but even from two teams who can play better than this was an intriguing and entertaining game. Our photograph shows Leicester skipper, Julia Sawkings, receiving the Premiership trophy from match official Sue Bodycombe. At the bottom end of the table it was really a matter of deciding who was automatically relegated and who had the lifeline of a play-off place. Bottom placed Doncaster lost 3-0 at Olton, whilst Sutton Coldfield managed a 3-3 draw against Chelmsford, with Jane Sixsmith scoring a hat trick and briefly giving Sutton a lead. Doncaster are relegated and Sutton Coldfield go through to the play offs. There they will meet Clifton from Division One, who beat bottom placed Horsham 2-1. Clifton could have overtaken leaders Poynton, but Poynton managed to beat Firebrands 3-0. Barnes, who had led Division One for much of the season, were able to win against mid-table Harleston Magpies, 3-2, with Harriet Preest scoring twice for Barnes, but their recent failure to gain points means they will have to wait until next season for a chance of promotion. Horsham and Firebrands were already relegated from this division, but the relegation play-off place was decided when Birmingham University drew 0-0 at Sunderland. Loughborough Students, who had previously occupied the play-off slot, redeemed themselves with a 3-0 win against Trojans. As a result it is Birmingham University whose fate will be decided at the play-offs
The top spot in the North EHL had already been decided, with Durham University being promoted. But their 1-1 result against Belper, and the 1-1 result between Preston and Aldridge, means that Aldridge and Belper stay in second and third place respectively and so Aldridge have the play-off spot. Preston were already stranded in the play-off place for relegation from the EHL. Worcester and Chester are relegated. In the South, Reading are clear winners with St Albans already qualified for a play-off place. The two relegation slots were already booked by Wimbledon and Southampton, with only the relegation play-off place to be decided. Exmouth could only draw 0-0 against Southampton. Had the score been different at Exmouth, Bournemouth’s Louise Partridge would be kicking herself for hitting the upright from a 48th minute penalty stroke in their surprise 1-1 draw against St Albans. A win by Exmouth would have left Bournemouth and not Exmouth entering the relegation play-offs.
Full league tables will appear on our main web site, www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk, tomorrow (Sunday),
It was the final day in the Women’s EHL today and triumph or tears for a number of sides. Leicester were already winners of the Premiership before today but a win away against 