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.
