BEESTON THOUGH TO FINAL and news from the EHL Qualifying Tournament

Beeston have shown themselves to be a very unpredictable side this season, but they left nobody in any doubt that they were looking for cup glory when they played Havant at home in the semi-finals of the England Hockey Cup today. Beeston took a lead into the second half with goals from Tom Sherratt and David Griffiths but goals from Simon Faulkner and Andrew Pett briefly put the two sides on level terms. Beeston then piled on the pressure, first Wayne Rowlands scoring, and then Jamie Parker and Adam Dixon finding the net les than 60 seconds apart. Final score 5-2. Beeston will have the home advantage when they play Bowdon in the final at Highfields on 17 May.

Picture (right): Beeston's Tom Sherratt, who scored his side's opening goal.

It was two very contrasting tails for the EHL clubs who found themselves fighting for survival in the Slazenger England Hockey League Qualifying Play-offs in Cannock this afternoon. Kingston-upon-Hull finally finished at the bottom of the men’s table with zero points after they met Durham University. Hull must have thought their luck had changed when Anthony Keld opened the scoring after only five minutes but goals by the students’ Richard Jenkin, Chris Borrett and James Warburton, plus two penalty stroke conversions by Andrew Baggs, ended Hull’s campaign in disappointment. Final score 5-1 to Durham University and they are promoted to the EHL. Harleston Magpies may count themselves unlucky when they played this morning’s leaders, Cardiff & UWIC. Despite winning 3-1 the goal difference was not sufficient to unseat the Welsh side from one of the promotion spots. All three top sides on 10 points but Cardiff and Durham were promoted on the back of a better goal difference. In the other match of the day, James Seager scored a hat-trick, including two penalty strokes, in their 7-4 win over Harborne.

In the women’s play-offs, Horsham stay in the EHL after a 6-0 win over Springfield UCLAN. Southgate secured the other promotion spot with a 5-1 win over Matlock Baileans. Holcombe played bottom placed Lansdown and came out the 6-1 winners.

The final tables are as follows:

Men’s qualifying play offs:
1. Durham University (North) 10 Pts (+7 won 16) Promoted to EHL
2. Cardiff & UWIC (West) 10 Pts (+7 won 15) Promoted to EHL
3. Harleston Magpies (East) 10 Pts (+4).
4. Fareham (South) 8 Pts (+11)
5. Harborne (Midlands) 4 Pts (-4)
6. Kingston-upon-Hull (EHL) 0 Pts (-25) Relegated from EHL

Women’s qualifying play offs:
1. Horsham (EHL) 13 Pts (+14) Remain in EHL
2. Southgate (South) 10 Pts (+9) Promoted to EHL
3. Holcombe (East) 8 Pts (+6)
4. Springfield UCLAN (North) 7 Pts (-8)
5. Matlock Baileans (Midlands) 4 Pts (-7)
6. Lansdown (West) 0 Pts (-14)