IRELAND AND KOREA LEAD IN FIGHT FOR LAST OLYMPIC PLACE

Korea and Ireland remain unbeaten after three matches in the last of the women’s Olympic qualifying tournaments being held in Victoria, British Columbia. Korea have so far overcome Uruguay 10-0, Korea 5-0 and Italy 5-0, whilst Ireland have beaten Malaysia 3-0, Canada 2-0 and Uruguay 1-0. Korea currently lead the table on goal difference. The two sides meet each other tomorrow (Thursday). In third place is Italy on six points. Italy play Malaysia tomorrow.

The final will be played on Sunday.

SUMMARY OF LAST WEEK'S HOCKEY

Photo: Celtic Panthers Ben Edge is upended by goalkeeper Philip Carr in their 3rd/4th place match against Caledonian Cougars in the GB Super League. Richard Gray scored from the subsequent penalty stroke.

An apology to visitors to our blog for the very poor report from Edinburgh on the final of the GB Super League. This was caused by a combination of factors including a very poor internet connection from Edinburgh.

TIGERS ARE TOP CATS BUT ONLY BY A WHISKER

After three days of play in the GB Super League during which the Saxon Tigers had dominated the men’s tournament, they were taken to the wire in the final on Sunday by a resurgent Pennine Pumas side. The two teams had played each other in the round-robin stage the previous day, with the Tigers winning by a comfortable 5-2, and Tigers performance over the tournament had shown that they were the team to beat. But from somewhere the Pumas found reserves of both skill and energy, taking the lead after only four minutes with a Chris Pryce penalty conversion. They kept their lead until early in the second half when Adam Dixon equalised for the Tigers. It was to be short lived with Chris Catlin restoring Pumas lead seconds later. As the clock ticked down to the final minutes, Gareth Andrews came to Tigers’ rescue with a fine goal in open play. That meant a final score of 2-2 and the issue had to be settled by strokes. Remarkably by the time the third pair of strokes had been taken, the Pumas had failed to score and so the match and the championship went to the Tigers. In the men’s 3^rd/4^th place match, Celtic Panthers beat Caledonian Cougars 3-1

The same pairing featured in the women’s final. Cathy Gilliat-Smith was early on the scoresheet for the Tigers from the penalty spot but a second stroke was saved and a penalty corner strike was disallowed for being high. Katie Maltman increased the lead to two shortly after the break but goals by Pumas’ Sarah Page and Katie Long in the last ten minutes threatened to rob Tigers of their victory. It was Lucy Brown’s penalty corner strike that eventually came to the Tigers rescue with only two minutes left on the clock. Final score 3-2 to the Tigers. In the 3^rd/4^th place match, Celtic Panthers beat Caledonian Cougars 3-2.

Photographs from the finals will appear on our main web site in the next few days.

USA BOOK OLYMPIC PLACE

The serious prospect of an obscure island of Venezuela qualifying for the Olympic hockey faded as the week progressed in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kazan (Russia). Netherland Antilles had qualified for the competition because it has a national Olympic association. But it does not issue passports as it is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Obvious questions were being asked as to how many of the Netherlands Antilles team, most of which play in the Dutch premier league, have actually been to the islands. Although the side reached the halfway stage of the qualifying tournament unbeaten, they were tripped up 2-3 by the Belgian’s on Thursday, and although the Belgians could only manage a 0-0 draw in their last match of the preliminary rounds, it was they and not the Netherlands Antilles who went through to Sunday’s final against the United States. The US, who had remained undefeated during the tournament, qualified for Beijing by beating the Belgians 3-1. The 3^rd/4^th place match was won by the Netherlands Antilles who beat India 2-1 but not until the match had gone to a golden goal in extra time. Russia finished 5^th after beating France 2-1. The last of the Olympic Qualifiers is currently taking place in Victoria, British Columbia (Canada).

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CARDIFF AND SPRINGFIELD REMAIN UNBEATEN IN EHL QUALIFIER.

After two matches Cardiff & UWIC emerged as front-runners in the men’s Slazenger England Hockey League Qualifier. They beat the South champions, Fareham, 2-1 on Sunday. Kingston-upon-Hull, who have a second chance to remain in the EHL, now look doomed . Despite taking an early lead against East champions, Harleston Magpies, they eventually went down 2-6. They are now on zero points with three more games to play.

Men’s EHL Qualifier table: 1. Cardiff and UWIC 6 pts (+3), 2. Harleston Magpies 4 Pts (+4), jt3. Durham University 3 pts (+0), jt3. Harborne 3 pts (+0), 5. Fareham 1 pt (-1), 6. Kingston-upon-Hull 0 pts (-6).

Springfield UCLAN from the North are currently leading the women’s qualifying table after their win over Matlock Baileans on Sunday. Horsham, fighting to retain their EHL status, are in third after a useful 4-2 win over East champions Holcombe. Southgate are in second after a 4-1 win over bottom place Lansdown.

Women’s EHL Quaifier table: 1. Spingfield UCLAN 6 pts (+3), 2. Southgate 4 pts (+3), 3. Horsham 4 pts (+4), 4 Matlock Baileans 1 pt (-1), 5. Holcombe 1 pt (-2), 6. Lansdown 0 pt (-5).

The competition concludes with three more matches for each side at Cannock over the weekend of 3^rd to 5^th May.

TIGERS WIN GB SUPER LEAGUE BUT IT'S A CLOSE CALL

The GB Super League has many detractors, and I will admit that there have been occasions when I have been one of them, but the two finals today produced matches worthy of the ‘Super League’ title.

Saxon Tigers women had a closely fought match against Pennine Pumas, with Tigers taking an early lead through a penalty stroke conversion by Cathy Gilliat-Smith. A second penalty stroke award to Tigers was saved and a penalty corner shot was disallowed for being high, and it was not until the fifth minute of the second half that Tigers found the net again, with Katie Maltman scoring from open play. The match had always been finely balanced and in the space of two minutes the Pumas were able to put the side’s on equal terms, the first goal coming from a corner scored by Sarah Page, and the second from a field goal by Katie Long. With two minutes left on the clock, Tigers scored the winning goal, Lucy Brown the scorer.

Chris Pryce upset the form book by scoring an early goal from a penalty corner in the men’s match between the Pumas and the Tigers. It was not until early in the second half that the Tigers were able to equalise but the Pumas were back in the lead second later thanks to a Nick Catlin field goal. Gareth Andrew was finally able to equalise for the Tigers, forcing the match to a penalty stroke decider. Unfortunately, the Pumas prowess seemed to desert them when faced with the penalty spot and the Tigers won the penalty stroke barrage 3-0.

In the other matches, Celtic Panthers women beat Caledonian Cougars 3-2. In the men’s version of the same match, the Panthers emerged winners 3-1.

IN THE OLYMPIC QUALIFIER IN KAZAN the final was won by the USA who beat Belgium 3-1.

Other results from the weekend will appear on this blog tomorrow

TIGERS IN SUPER LEAGUE FINALS

Saxon Tigers continued to dominate the round-robin stages of both the men’s and women’s GB Super League which were completed in Edinburgh today. The finals are played tomorrow (Sunday). In the men’s tournament the Tigers overcame Caledonian Cougars 5-2, whilst in the women’s competition it was also the Cougars who were on the losing end of a 2-0 defeat against the Saxons. In the other matches Pennine Pumas women beat Celtic Panthers 2-0, and the Pumas’ men beat Panthers’ men 5-2.

The final table in the men’s competition is: 1. Saxon Tigers 9pts (+10), 2. Pennine Pumas 3 pts (-2), 3. Caledonian Cougars 3 pts (-4), 4. Celtic Panthers 3 pts (-4). Saxon Tigers play Pennine Pumas in tomorrow’s final.

In the women’s competition the final table is: 1. Saxon Tigers 9 pts (+8), 2. Pennine Pumas 6 pts (-1), Celtic Panthers 3 pts (-2), and Caledonian Cougars 0 pts (-5). Saxon Tigers also play Pennine Pumas in tomorrow’s women’s final.

TalkHockeyRadio will be in Edinburgh for the final and we hope to have pictures from the finals on this blog later in the day.

In the second WOMEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFIER in Kazan (Russia) today, the USA emerged undefeated when they beat the Netherlands Antilles 3-1. They go on to meet Belgium in the final tomorrow. Belgium could only manage a 0-0 draw against Russia but it was enough to see them through to the finals. India overcame France 7-0 in the other match today.

The final WOMEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFIER starts in Victoria (British Columbia) today. Due to the time difference we have no results at the present time.

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES END MATCH WITH EIGHT PLAYERS

The Netherlands Antilles, who were this morning joint leaders after three matches in the round-robin stage of the Olympic Qualifiers in Kazan, may have thrown away their chances of a place in the finals after going down 3-2 to Belgium. The Netherlands Antilles scored first after 21 minutes from Maria Hinskens but despite dominating much of the match they could not stop the Belgians coming back in second half with three goals in seven minutes. The scorers; Sofie Gierts (2) and Olivia Bouche. In their desperation to regain the lead the Antilles lost their discipline and saw three playing sin-binned in the space of two minutes, including their captain Ernestina Schreuder. An overtime penalty corner conversation by Marlies Van De Stel gave the Antilles a consolation goal but the three points go to Belgium. Belgium and the Netherlands Antilles are now both on nine points with the Belgians ahead on goal difference.

Leaders, the USA, kept up their unbeaten record with a 4-0 win over India. In the other match played today Russia beat France 5-2.

Tomorrow is a rest day with games resuming on Saturday, with the headline match being the meeting between the USA and the Netherlands Antilles. Belgium will play Russia who are currently lying in 5^th place.

USA AND ANTILLES RETAIN THEIR LEAD

Picture (right): Mellisa Leonetti, who scored for the USA in their match against France today.

It is looking intriguingly likely that the second Women’s Olympic Qualifier, being held in Kazan (Russia), could result in a showdown between the mighty USA and a group of small islands off the coast of Venezuela. Two teams remain on maximum points after three matches and they meet each other in the final game of the round-robin stage on Saturday. The Netherlands Antilles won their match against Russia today, 3-1, whilst the USA overcame France 7-0. Both teams are on maximum points (9) but the USA have much the better goal difference, having scored 14 times in the last two matches. Tomorrow (Wednesday) in a rest day and play resumes on Thursday with the USA playing India and the Netherlands Antilles playing third-placed Belgium. Belgium and the Netherlands Antilles met each other three times during 2007 with the balance of the matches going 2-1 in favour of the Antilles.

Round-up of Hockey News for Week Ending 20/4/08

SPAIN’S WOMEN QUALIFY FOR OLYMPICS

Spain defeated the host nation, Azerbaijan, 3-2 in a tight match in Baku to win one of the remaining three places in the women’s Olympic hockey tournament in Beijing in August.

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FIH ANNOUNCE MEN’S OLYMPIC POOLS

The International Hockey Federation announced the pools for the Olympics in Beijing. The pools place Great Britain in Pool B with Australia and the Netherlands.

The pools (World ranking shown in brackets):

Pool A:
Germany (1)
Spain (4)
Korea (5)
New Zealand (10)
Belgium (12)
China (17)

Pool B:
Australia (2)
Netherlands (3)
Pakistan (6)
Great Britain (8)
South Africa (13)
Canada (15)

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GRANT AND GARRARD RETIRE

Former England and Great Britain captain Brett Garrard has announced his retirement from international hockey. Although Garrard played in the recent match between Great Britain and Poland, he does not seem to have been part of Jason Lee’s plans for the Olympics. Helen Grant has been forced to stand down from international hockey because of a knee injury.

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TIGERS LEAD THE PACK.

After the first weekend of play in the GB Super League at Cannock, Saxon Tigers remain undefeated and lead both the men’s and women’s competitions. The tournament now moves on to Edinburgh next weekend. This year the GB Super League is being held over two weekends only. TalkHockeyRadio will have a report direct from the ground in Edinburgh next Sunday.

MUNOZ HAT-TRICK SAVES SPAIN'S BLUSHES. A round-up of today's hockey at home and abroad

Pictured (right), Spain's Silvia Munoz.

Spain’s women have qualified for this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing - but only just. Having beaten Azerbaijan 4-0 in their round-robin match on Wednesday, the Spanish found them to be much sterner opponents in the final of the Olympic Qualifier in Baku today (Sunday). Spain opened the scoring after only three minutes when Silvia Munoz found the net. But Azerbaijan managed to equalise four minutes before the break with a penalty corner conversion by their captain Dilfuza Mirzaliyeva. Munoz restored Spain’s lead early in the second half but with ten minutes left Mirzaliyeva struck again in open play. With three minutes of play left, Munoz scored her hat-trick and the winning goal for Spain, from a corner. Final score 3-2 to Spain. Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Baku final positions: 1. Spain, 2. Azerbaijan, 3. Chile, 4. Ukraine, 5. Belarus, 6. Kenya.

A lot of English people will be unfamiliar with the Netherlands Antilles but they are in the Caribbean just off the coast of Venezuela. They also seem to have produced a remarkably good hockey team as results in the second women’s Olympic Qualifier in Kazan (Russia) are proving. After two days of play they are joint leaders with the USA, having beaten France 2-0 yesterday and India 2-1 today. Tomorrow is a rest day but the USA play France on Tuesday and the Netherlands Antilles play Russia later the same day.

The first matches in the 2008 qualifying tournament for the Slazenger England Hockey League were played today and they have not gone well for those clubs hoping to remain in the EHL. Kingston-upon-Hull went down 3-1 at Harborne, whilst Horsham’s women could only manage a 0-0 draw against Matlock Baileans. The front runners in the men’s table are Cardiff & UWIC, who beat Durham University 3-1, and Harborne. The other men’s match today, between Harleston Magpies and Fareham ended in a 2-2 draw. The only team to win in the women’s table was Spingfield UCLAN from the North who saw off West club Lansdown 2-0. Holcombe and Southgate drew 2-2.

In the GB SUPER LEAGUE AT CANNOCK Saxon Tigers established their dominance by further wins in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. In the men’s competition the Tigers overcame Celtic Panthers 3-0, whilst the Caledonian Cougars beat the Pennine Pumas 4-3. In the women’s matches, the Tigers beat the Pumas 7-3, whilst the Panthers recorded a 3-1 win over the Cougars. The competition, which is spread over two weekend’s this year, now moves on to Edinburgh.

TIGERS LEAD THE PACK

Saxon Tigers have taken the lead in both the men's and women's tournaments at the end of the first day of the GB Super League at Cannock. Tigers were 4-1 up at half time in their men's match against Pennine Pumas, thanks in part to four minute spell where they managed to find the net three times. Gareth Andrew, Peter Flanagan and Martin Jones were the scorers. Goals either side of the break by Richard Lane and a second goal by Jones gave Tigers a 6-2 win. Pumas scorers were James Osborne and Richard Smith. Celtic Panthers are in second place separated from Tigers by goal difference after their 3-1 win over Caledonian Cougars. In the women's tournament Hannah Macleod and Lucy Brown scored in their 2-0 win over Celtic Panthers. The other women's match, between Pennine Pumas and Caledonian Cougars ended 2-1 to the Pumas.

Azerbaijan will play Spain in the FINAL OF THE OLYMPIC QUALIFIER in Japan tomorrow (Sunday) after they won their final round-robin match against the Ukraine 5-0. The second women's OLYMPIC QUALIFIER IN KAZAN (Russia) started today with wins for the USA, Netherlands Antilles and India.

GB FACE AUSTRALIA AND NETHERLANDS IN OLYMPIC DRAW

The International Hockey Federation has announced the pools for the Olympic Games in August. The selection throws up no easy routes through to the finals and Great Britain find themselves in Pool B with Australia, Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa and Canada. Pool A consists of Germany, Spain, Korea, New Zealand, Belgium, and China.

The women’s pools will be announced on the completion of the women’s qualifying tournaments. Spain look favourites to win the tournament in Baku, which finishes on Sunday. The second women’s Olympic qualifier starts in Kazan (Russia) tomorrow (Saturday), followed the following weekend by the final qualifier in Victoria, British Columbia. Great Britain’s women are already qualified by virtue of winning bronze at the European Nations in Manchester last year.

Final EHL Result and Round Up of Play-Offs

The last remaining match in the 2007-2008 EHL season was finally played today when Indian Gymkhana met Ipswich in the National South Division. The final score: 7-4 to Indian Gymkhana.

Final league tables are available on our main web site at www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk.

The play-offs at Chelmsford this afternoon finished with the following outcomes:

Chelmsford remain in the Women's Premier Division
Sunderland remain in Women's Division One.
Hampstead & Westminster remain in the Men's Premier Division.
Brooklands remain in Men's Division One.
Horsham women go through to the EHL Qualifying Tournament
Sheffield Hallam are relegated from the EHL.
Kingston-upon-Hull men go through to the EHL Qualifying Tournament
Robinsons men are relegated from the EHL.

Photographs from the second day of the play-offs will appear on our main website in the next few days.

CHELMSFORD AND HAMPSTEAD REMAIN IN PREMIERSHIP by Peter Savage pitchside at Chelmsford

The status quo remains in the Slazenger Premier Division as a result of today’s play-offs at Chelmsford. The host club, who overcame Sunderland 3-1 yesterday, found themselves in trouble when their visitors pegged back a 2-0 lead. Chloe Rogers had converted a penalty stroke for Chelmsford late in the first half and Kirsty Smith had made it two from a corner. But Sunderland’s Susan Hamilton was on target from penalty corners and converted two in ten minutes early in the second half. However, they were unable to capitalise on their golden patch and the score remained at 2-2. Chelmsford remain in the Premier Division and Sunderland’s dreams of promotion will have to wait another season.

Hampstead & Westminster, who drew 2-2 against Brooklands yesterday, proved too strong for them today. They opened the scoring after only two minutes of play with a penalty stroke from David Eakins. Despite fluffing his shot, the ball crept under Lee Ible in the Brooklands goal. On the stroke of half-time Hampstead increased their lead with a corner conversion by Eakins. Brooklands looked like coming back into the match after Andy Cornick scored Hamstead’s third. Jon Bell scored in open play but the revival was short lived. Jono Holt scored Hampstead’s fourth towards the end of the second half and the final score was 4-1. So Hampstead & Westminster can also look forward to Premiership hockey next season.

HULL AND HORSHAM FIGHT ANOTHER DAY by Peter Savage pitchside in Chelmsford

Hull and Horsham both had their chances of remaining in the Slazenger EHL boosted when they recorded wins in their play-off matches here in Chelmsford today. Both recorded 2-2 draws in their games yesterday and so all depended on wins today. Horsham, playing Sheffield Hallam, parked themselves in the Sheffield half for most of the first 35 minutes and goals from Erica Rogers and Fran Crossley gave them a 2-0 lead at the break. A penalty stroke, converted by Rogers, put Horsham three ahead just after the re-start. Sheffield managed to secure a consolation goal from a penalty corning in the closing minutes. Final score 3-1.

The match between Kingston-upon-Hull and Robinsons remained scoreless until the last three minutes when Hull’s Richard Arkle scored the winner.

GERMANY HAVE QUALIFED for the Olympics with a 4-0 win over Japan. Meanwhile in the WOMEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFIER in Baku, only Spain and the Ukraine remain on maximum points after two matches. Spain beat Chile 5-0 today, whilst the Ukraine beat Belarus 2-0.

Late Result from Play-offs

All but one of today’s EHL play-offs at Chelmsford ended in a draw today, with the last match of the day also ending in a 2-2 draw. Hampstead & Westminster from the Men’s Premier Division went into the break with a two-goal lead over Brooklands MU courtesy of two penalty corner conversions by David Eakins. Fifteen minutes into the second half Martin Scanlon scored from open play for Brooklands, followed by a last gasp equaliser from Mark Richardson. Only Chelmsford from the Women’s Premier Division go into tomorrow’s round of matches with a goal advantage after their 3-1 win over Sunderland earlier.

READING LOSE DESPITE HAVING TWO GOALKEEPERS ON THE PITCH

The Slazenger Men’s Premiership finally completed its season this afternoon, with two of the matches postponed by last weekend’s snow being played. An under strength Reading travelled to Havant and lost only their second match of the season thanks to a hat-trick from Havant’s Tim Davenport. Havant’s other scorer in their 4-3 win was Andrew Pett, with Simon Lanyon, Andrew Watts and Huw Jones scoring for Reading. The visitors had only taken one substitute, former England goalkeeper Simon Mason, who came on to play during the match as an outfield player. Beeston, who have had a disappointing season, played host to East Grinstead, whose Danny Hall was in scoring mode. In addition to his four, Mark Pearn and Scott Ashdown found the net in their 6-5 win. Beeston’s scorers were Adam Dixon, Jamie Parker, David Griffiths and Stephen Wood. The match between Surbiton and Hampstead & Westminster was played on Tuesday and finished 4-3 to Surbiton.

Of the other postponed matches in the Slazenger EHL, all of them in the National South division, the game between Indian Gymkhana and Ipswich is due to be played tomorrow (Sunday). Oxted played relegation Teddington yesterday and won 4-3.

In the EHL play-offs we have two results, both of them 2-2 draws. Sheffield Hallam and Horsham are fighting it out survival in the Women’s EHL and play each other again tomorrow. Likewise, Kingston-upon-Hull and Robinsons will play again tomorrow. The outstanding results are Sunderland v Chelmsford, to see who will play in the Women’s Premier Division next season, and Brooklands MU v Hampstead and Westminster, to see who will play in the men’s Premiership. Results will be posted on this blog later.

STOP PRESS: Chelmsford kept alive their hopes of staying in the Women’s Premier Division with a 3-1 win over Sunderland in the first of their two play-off matches.

THE FINAL OF THE OLYMPIC QUALIFIER in Japan will be between Germany and the host nation, who drew 3-3 with Malaysia today. Winner of the final tomorrow will take the last remaining Olympic slot. Meanwhile, the first of the WOMEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS started in Baku today. The favourites are Spain, who are having to play in the qualifiers by virtue of failing to gain automatic qualification in Manchester last year. In their opening match they beat Belarus 4-0. Kenya, who made a late return to the competition after initially withdrawing as a result of the political turmoil in their country, were beaten 6-0 by the Ukraine.

GERMANY THROUGH TO FINAL

Germany have reached the finals at the last of the Olympic Qualifiers in Japan by beating the host nation 4-0 yesterday (Thursday). They are on maximum points from the four matches they have played in the round-robin stage and they play the last of their preliminary round matches against Poland on Saturday. Today is a rest day. The other final place almost certainly depends on the outcome of Saturday’s match between Japan and Malaysia. Japan are on nine points and Malaysia on seven. The final will be played on Sunday. Only the winner will go through to the Olympic Games in August.

LOUGHBOROUGH AND BATH PUNISHED FOR LEAGUE RULES VIOLATIONS

England Hockey announced today that two Slazenger League Clubs are to be deducted points and face fines as a result of fielding players who had played abroad during the season contrary to league rules. Premier Division Loughborough Students, who reached the last eight of the EuroHockey League, are to be deducted 10 points and fined a total of £200. Bath Buccaneers, who at one time were prospective promotion candidates from Division One are to be deducted 15 points and fined £200.

The following is the full transcript of the announcement by England Hockey:

At it’s meeting of 7th April the EHL Committee discussed the issue of EHL registered players who it had been alleged had been playing hockey in Ireland.

The players concerned are John Jackson and Chris Gregg of Loughborough Students and Chris Cargo of Team Bath Buccaneers. All three were found to have played in inter club cup competitions organised by the Ulster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association during December 2007. In addition subsequent investigations found that Cargo had also played in an Ulster Premier League match on 19 March 2008.

The relevant players and clubs have ratified this information. The EHL committee is satisfied that club officials had no prior knowledge of this.

EHL regulation 4.2.8 states that:

If an EHL registered player plays for another club in an outdoor League match in England (excluding matches organised under the authority of BUSA), or another club in any competitive cup or league match in any other country affiliated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that player will immediately be deemed to have been de-registered by so playing and thus be ineligible to play in the EHL.

Having established that the players became ineligible by their participation in these competitions the EHL committee considered the penalties to be applied in line with EHL Regulation 13.2.

13.2 Penalties

Any team found to be in breach of Regulations 4.2 or 1.4 may be subject to the following penalties:

13.2.1 a fine, and/or
13.2.2 deduction of 1 point for each EHL match in which an ineligible or de-registered player has played subject to a maximum of 5 points, and/or
13.2.3 deduction of all points gained in any and each EHL match in which an ineligible or de-registered player has played subject to no maximum, and/or
13.2.4 such other penalties as the EHL Committee consider appropriate.

In considering this the EHL Committee considered previous penalties in which ineligible players had played in the EHL. However, the committee noted that there is no precedent in which players have played a significant number of games where information had subsequently come to light that they were ineligible to do so.

The EHL Committee agreed the following penalties in line with Reg 13.2.

Team Bath Buccaneers are to be deducted all thirteen points earned during the second half of the season in games that Chris Cargo participated in. In addition, the club to be deducted a further one point in respect of Cargo’s participation in the Ulster cup competition, and a further one point in respect of his participation in one Ulster Premier League match; totalling a fifteen point penalty.

In addition the club will be fined £200 in respect of the player actions which were contrary to the EHL regulations and Cargo will be suspended for the first four matches of season 2008-09.

Loughborough are to be deducted all eight points they earned during the second half of the season in games that Jackson and Gregg participated in. In addition the club to be deducted a further one point in respect of each player’s participation in the Ulster cup competitions. This is a total of a ten point penalty.

In addition the club will be fined £100 for each player whose actions were contrary to the EHL regulations, totalling £200, and each player will be suspended for the first two matches of season 2008-09.

In applying these penalties the EHL Committee, which includes volunteer representatives of clubs, wishes to stress that by registering to a club in the EHL the league regulations are clear that a player should only play competitive hockey for that club and that any action contrary to this will lead to penalties being applied to their EHL club.

Result of Postponed Match

The match between Surbiton and Hampstead & Westminister that was postponed because of snow of Sunday was played earlier this evening. The final score was 4-3 to Surbiton, with Surbiton's goals coming from Karl Pinnock, James Mulcair (2) and Tim Pinnock. Hampstead's goals were scored by Josh Smith and David Eakins (2).

The match between Havant and Reading, which was also postponed due to snow, will now be played at Havant at 13:30 on Saturday 12 April.

Latest Results from World Cup Qualifier in Japan

Switzerland 0 Germany 10
Japan 6 Poland 1
Italy 4 Malaysia 4

Germany and Japan lead the table after two matches with six points each.

Tomorrow (Monday) is a rest day.

SNOW DISRUPTS LAST DAY OF SLAZENGER SEASON

Snow caused chaos in the Slazenger Men’s EHL Premier Division this afternoon, with over half the matches being postponed. However, the league organisers can probably count themselves lucky that no promotion or relegation issues seem to have been effected. The snow which swept across the South of England left Beeston’s ground at Nottingham bathed in sunshine. Unfortunately, things were no so bright for their opponents, East Grinstead, who were unable to travel because of the weather. The two other postponed matches involved southern clubs, with the meetings between Havant and Reading, and Surbiton and Hampstead & Westminster, being snowed off. Relegated Canterbury found their season ending on an unhappy note when they travelled north to Bowdon and lost 5-2, Bowdon’s goals coming from David Egerton, Ian Wilson and Saxon Hill, plus two penalty strokes from Simon Egerton. Craig Boyne and Aaron Hudson were the scorers for Canterbury. Cannock and Loughborough Students are only one place apart in the table but the Student’s suffered an 8-3 hammering when they entertained Cannock. Andrew Langlands (2), Gareth Andrew, Richard Lane (2), Martin Jones, Matthew Taylor and Andrew West were on target for the visitors. Dave Becket, Peter Dobson and James Blackwell scored for the Students.

Remarkably, Division One escaped the worst of the weather. The top of the table had been become very tight, with no less than four clubs in contention for a play-off place. A 2-2 draw between Old Loughtonians and promoted Southgate was the worst possible result for the Essex side, who this morning had been occupying the play-off slot. Third placed Brooklands moved ahead of them by beating Guildford 4-1 and so go into next weekends play-offs at Chelmsford, where they will meet Hampstead and Westminster. Of the other teams in contention, Old Georgians beat Chelmsford 3-2, b but Bath Buccaneers went down 4-2 to Bournville.

The final positions at the top of Division One are: 1. Southgate, 2. Brooklands, 3. Old Loughtonians 4. Old Georgians.

One of the other play-off places that was still in contention was at the bottom of the National South Division, where two matches were cancelled because of snow. Fortunately for the league organisers, but unfortunately for Robinsons, the match between Robinsons and Holcombe went ahead, with Holcombe coming out the 6-1 winners. Robinson’s will now have to play Kingston-upon-Hull from the National North in the play offs next weekend.

Our photograph shows the view from the TalkHockeyRadio studios at mid-day today.

Next weekends play-offs at Chelmsford:
Saturday:
12:00 (W) Sheffield Hallam v Horsham
14:00 (M) Kingston upon Hull v Robinsons
16:00 (M) Brooklands MU v Hampstead & Westminster
16:00 (W) Sunderland v Chelmsford
Sunday:
10:00 (W) Sheffield Hallam v Horsham
12:15 (M) Kingston upon Hull v Robinsons
14:30 (W) 16:00 (W) Sunderland v Chelmsford
16:45 (M) Brooklands MU v Hampstead & Westminster

SLOUGH'S FINAL MATCH SPOILT BY REVIVED LEICESTER

The return of key players to the Leicester squad fired off a warning shot to other Slazenger Women’s Premiership sides as to what they are likely to face next season when Leicester are back up to full strength. Slough, of course, have already won the Premiership title but the comprehensiveness of the beating they received from Leicester this afternoon cannot be simply written off on the grounds that the outcome did not matter. Helen Richardson scored an early goal for Leicester but it received a quick reply from Slough’s Natalie Bell from a penalty corner. After that the match was all Leicester’s, with a hat-trick from Hannah Macleod, two goals from Holly Payne, and a penalty stroke by Helen Richardson. All this was despite Leicester’s Alexis Williamson, Gemma Darrington and Julia Sawkings spending time in the sin bin. Slough had a golden patch in the second half during which Chloe Strong found the net but the final score, 7-1, sees a return to the high scoring ways we have associated with Leicester in the past. Our photograph shows Slough’s captain, Fiona Greenham will the Premiership trophy, presented to Slough after the match. Photographs from this match will be posted on our main web site tomorrow. Another side with a prolific scoring record are Bowdon Hightown and they were back on song this afternoon, putting nine passed Ipswich. The scorers for Hightown were Tina Cullen (5), Nicky O’Donnell (2) and Jo Ellis (2). Tina Cullen has now scored a total of 300 goals in the EHL. Lizzy Aldous was Ipswich’s scorer in their 9-2 defeat. Canterbury also were in scoring mode when they played host to relegated Old Loughtonians, with Canterbury’s goals coming from Cathy Gilliat-Smith (2), Jenny Wilson, Helen Grant (2), Hayley Brown and Natasha Brennan. Final score 7-1. This morning Poynton were in the play off place and three points behind Chelmsford. Katie Malman’s 43^rd minute goal for Poynton when the two sides met this afternoon means that Chelmsford will be fighting for survival in the Premiership on their home ground in the play-offs next weekend. Fourth placed Olton overcame Clifton 3-1 but superior goal difference means they finish one place behind Leicester.

Slazenger EHL Women’s Premier Division final table: 1. Slough (champions), 2. Bowdon Hightown, 3. Leicester, 4. Olton and West Warwickshire, 5. Canterbury, 6. Clifton, 7. Ipswich, 8. Poynton, 9. Chelmsford (play-offs) , 10. Old Loughtonians (relegated).

The very tight position at the top of Women’s Division One was finally settled when Sunderland beat Birmingham University 3-1. They now earn a play-off place. Reading put a single goal passed Sutton Coldfield and stay in third.

Top of Women’s Division One (final table): 1. Trojans (champions), 2. Sunderland (play-offs), 3. Reading, 4. Birmingham University, 5. Sutton Coldfield.

As next season’s league restructure means that there will be no promotion from the National North and South Divisions, all eyes were focussed on the play-off candidates at the bottom end of the table. In the North Sheffield Hallam could only manage a 0-0 draw against Whitley Bay and so remain in the play-off spot. Theoretically, a win for Horsham in the National South could have elevated them four places and out of harms way. Despite doing their bit with a 3-1 win over Sevenoaks, the teams ahead of them, Firebrands, Maidstone, St Austell and St Albans, all conspired to win their matches,. Horsham remain three off the bottom and go forward to the play-offs.

The EHL play-offs take place next weekend at Chelmsford Hockey Club.

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