READING'S FUTURE LOOKS ASSURED by Peter Savage at the EuroHockey League in Lille

Reading will almost certainly progress through to the second round of the EuroHockey League after their match against fellow-Brits, Western Wildcats. On a freezing cold evening here in Lille, Reading made most of the running but were only rewarded with two first quarter goals, the first from Austin Smith in open play and the second from a penalty corner from Richard Mantell. Reading will play the match fancied Rotterdam on Sunday, but two sides qualify from each pool and unless Wildcats can achieve the near impossible by beating Rotterdam tomorrow, Reading's place looks assured.

Scotland's Kelbourne, who are in the same pool at East Grinstead, took an early lead against Waterloo Ducks, but went on to lose the match 4-1 to the Belgians. The suprise result of the day was the outsiders from Ireland, Three Rock Rovers, who held top Spanish side Atletic Terrassa to a 0-0 draw. The Spaniards had a goal disallowed after it was refered to the video umpire and managed to put a penalty stroke wide.

English interest tomorrow will centre on East Grinstead, who will play Waterloo Ducks in Pool F.

BEESTON IN EIGHT GOAL BLITZ.

Beeston’s early season matches pitted them against some of the Premier Division’s top sides but last week saw them pick up three points against bottom-of-the-table Havant, and today found them in free-scoring form as they took on newly promoted Southgate. Chris Seddon opened the scoring for Beeston after five minutes, and from thereon it was an avalanche of goals in the Nottingham club’s favour, with goals from Alistair Wilson, Adam Dixon (2), Martin Jones (2), Ben Arnold and David Griffiths. Final score 8-1. East Grinstead also had no problems finding the net when they played host to Hampstead & Westminster. Goals from Danny Hall (2), David Creswell, Mark Pearn and Glenn KIrham won the home side a well deserved victory.

Cannock were not playing today. They qualified for Round 2 of the EuroHockey League this weekend by winning one of their two Round 1 matches in Amsterdam. Bowdon, Havant, Surbiton, and Reading played yesterday. The scores were Bowdon 3 Havant 2 and Surbiton 1 Reading 1. Loughborough Students did not play this weekend.

Men’s Slazenger EHL Premier Division: 1. Cannock 12 pts (+14), 2. East Grinstead 12 pts (+8), 3. Reading 11 pts (+11), 4. Beeston 10 pts (+11), 5. Bowdon 9 pts (-4), 6. Surbiton 6 pts (+0), 7. Hampstead & Westminster 4 pts (-6), 8. Loughborough Students 2 pts (-3), 9. Southgate 1 pt (-13), 10. Havant 0 pts (-15).

In the Conferences, Old Georgians and Exeter University share top place on 13 points, divided in Old Georgians favour by goal difference. The old boys had a successful visit to Bournville this afternoon, coming away 4-2 winners. Exeter played their match yesterday, beating Bath Bucanneers 2-1. In the East, Canterbury continue their remarkable recovery from last season’s relegation by beating struggling Chelmsford 4-1. They lead the table ahead of Indian Gymkhana, who notched up their third win 4-2 at home to Bromley & Beckenham. It is very tight at the top of the North Conference, with Brooklands and Leek both on 13 points, followed by Belper and University of Durham on 12. Durham moved into contention by virtue of a 2-1 win over Belper this afternoon.

One EH Cup match that has be re-arranged due to EuroHockey League commitments, is the game between Havering and Reading, which was won 6-1 by Reading. Reading are playing in Round 1b of the League in Lille next weekend.

CANNOCK SET FOR ROUND TWO by Susan Edghill at the EuroHockey League in Amsterdam

Image, courtesy of Frank Uijlenbroek, shows Cannock's James Fair dispossessing Bloemendaal's Rik Van Kan

It was always going to be hard for Cannock playing against the current Dutch league leaders, but with the weather a la England and both sides assured of their place in the next round, it proved to be an interesting encounter.

Nick Meijer missed a sitter for Bloemendaal after 5 minutes but Cannock had a good chance just a moment later. Good saves by Fair kept the score at 0-0 until Cannock won a penalty corner in the 12th minute, which was converted by captain Richard Lane. However, Bloemendaal came out firing after the first break and were soon level through former Scot Laurence Docherty. It wasn’t though, until the last minute of the first half that they finally took the lead with a shot from the top of the circle by Martijn van Mierlo.

At the start of the second half captain Lane was hit by a lifting ball and was clearly showing signs of this when Bloemendaal added to their lead through Ronald Brouwer. Bloemendaal’s 1st penalty corner of the game finally arrived after 16 minutes but their shot was well saved by Fair. At the start of the last quarter Cannock pushed up the pitch but left themselves open at the back and, with two against one, it was inevitable that Bloemendaal would score again with a second from van Mierlo. With twelve minutes remaining Cannock earned their second penalty corner but a rather complicated move meant they failed to get a shot on target. Bloemendaal’s second penalty corner a minute later was put in the top of the net by Tim Jenniskens. With second left on the clock, Lane, showing no signs of his earlier injury raced through to put the ball in the back of the net to make it 5-2. At the final whistle Bloemendaal earned their third penalty corner but the ball was put wide.

As a result of this match, Bloemendaal and Cannock qualify for Round 2 at Easter

In the earlier matches Club Egara beat Der Club an der Alster 4-0 with a hat-trick from Guillermo Schinckendantz and one from Eduard Arbos. Amsterdam disposed of Olimpia Kolos Sekvoia by 8-0 with a hat-trick from Santi Freixa, two penalty corner conversions by specialist Taeke Taekema and one each from Don Prins, Jan Willem Buissant and Geert Jan Derikx.

Full results will be available on our web site at www.talkhockeradio.co.uk. Go to the News page and look for the EHL page in the News menu

SATURDAY ROUNDUP PLUS REPORT FROM THE EUROHOCKEY LEAGUE

One of the odd things about the Slazenger Women’s Premier Division is that there are only two unbeaten clubs in the Division but they are separated by eight points. Leaders, Bowdon Hightown, made it five out of five this afternoon when they travelled to Clifton. Tina Cullen scored both of Bowdon’s goals in their 2-1 win, the first coming from the penalty spot. Despite being unbeaten this season, Canterbury recorded only their first winin five matches at Poynton, with goals from GB defender Mel Clewlow (2) and Cathy Gilliat-Smith. The final score there, 2-1 to Canterbury. Leicester are occupying unfamiliar territory towards the foot of the division and they had the misfortune of meeting on-form Olton & West Warwicks today. First half goals from Denise Marston-Smith and Jenny Pritchard gave Olton a 2-1 win. Trojans could not continue there recent run of good results and fell 1-0 to Ipswich with Vicky Sandall scoring the only goal. Slough, whose form has been a bit uncertain to date, met bottom-of-the-table Chelmsford, where Slough’s Jane Smith (pictured) scored a hat trick in their 4-0 win over the Essex side. Lauren Penny scored the other Slough goal.

SLAZENGER EHL PREMIER DIVISION (WOMEN): 1. Bowdon 15 pts (+13), 2. Olton & West Warwicks 12 pts (+16), 3. Slough 10 pts (+5), 4. Canterbury 7 pts (+1), 5. Trojans 7 pts (+1), 6. Clifton 7 pts (-2), 7. Leicester 5 pts (+1), 8. Ipswich 4 pts (-7), 9. Poynton 3 pts (-5), 10. Chelmsford 0 pts (-23).

Looking around the women’s conferences, the two leading clubs in the East Conference, Reading and Barnes, met this afternoon, with Reading emerging as the winners in a 5-1 tussle. Reading now lead the pack on 13 points, closely followed by Barnes on 12. There is then a four point gap before the next placed side, currently occupied by Harleston Magpies, who beat Staines 3-2. In the North the progress of Loughborough Students was slowed by mid-table Doncaster, who held them to a 3-3 draw. Loughborough retain the lead, followed by Belper who beat Ben Rhydding 2-0. University of Birmingham, who are leaders in the West Conference, scored a blitz of goals away in a local derby. Their surprise victims in their 7-1 win were Sutton Coldfield. Some of their menfolk’s form has rubbed off on Cannock women, who are in second place after entertaining Swansea. The final score there 4-0 to Cannock.

SUSAN EDGHILL REPORTS FROM THE EUROHOCKEY LEAGUE IN AMSTERDAM

Cannock may have reason to be worried about their next game in the EuroHockey League, here at the Wagner Stadium in Amsterdam. Dutch side Bloemendaal, their next opponents, thrashed Dinamo Kazan 8 -1 today, with a hat-trick from Ronald Bouwer, two apiece from Jamie Dwyer & Olmer Meijer, plus one from captain Teun de Nooijer. Ivan Kisialevich scored Kazan’s only goal. Yesterday Cannock only just overcame the Russian side 5-4. However, today’s result does mean that even if Cannock lose tomorrow, they will be sure of going through to the next round at Easter, courtesy of yesterday’s win.

The host side, Amsterdam, playing their first game of the weekend, beat Polish side WKS Grunwald Paoznan 8-1. Goals came from Captain Timme Hoyng, Taeke Taekeme (2), Santi Freixa (2), Valentin Verga, Billy Bakker and a goal made by some superb play by Freixa for Balder Bomans. WKS looked tired after their win yesterday against Olimpia Kolos Sekvoia, but had a number of chances to score goals, only one of which they managed to take. They are however almost certain to be in the next round and should not be taken lightly.

PEARCE SAVES DAY FOR STRUGGLING CANNOCK by Susan Edghill in Amsterdam

Cannock played their first game of the 2008-09 Euro Hockey League against Dinamo-Kazan in Amsterdam this afternoon. Goalkeeper James Fair could do nothing as the Russians raced to a 2-0 lead in the first nine 9 minutes, with goals from Arsen Gevorkyan and Ivan Kisialevich. Cannock pulled back to 2-2 by the first quarter break with goals from Richard Lane and Matthew Taylor. At the start of the second quarter Pakistan international Ali Warsi Syedimran gave Dinamo the lead again. A ball brought out from the Cannock defence all the way to the opposition circle saw Gareth Andrew score, to the delight of the travelling supporters, to make it 3-3 at half time.

Five minutes into the second half Cannock nearly took the lead when a shot by Lane from a penalty corner hit the upright. But after 15 minutes Dinamo Kazan were again in front from a penalty corner scored by Syedimran. With eleven minutes to go Cannock broke away and earned a penalty corner. Kazan, having fallen foul of the EuroHockey League rule which allows the umpire to banish defenders to the half way line for breaking early, were left exposed and Richard Lane scored his second to take Cannock to 4-4.

With eight minutes to go, Ralis Nasyrov was hit by a rising ball and was helped off the pitch. But the Russians still pressed forward and only superb saves by Fair kept Cannock in the game. With less than two minutes to go Ivan Kisialevich was given a green card and side-lined. Cannock then immediately pressed forward and with less than a minute on the clock took the lead with a goal from Will Pearce. Despite losing Flanagan to a green card in the final seconds, Cannock held on to win 5-4.

In the first game of the day Der Club an der Alster from Germany beat Pocztowiec Poznan of Poland comfortably 3-0.

CANNOCK SHOW CHARACTER AS THEY PULL AWAY

Further evidence was provided this afternoon of the depth of character of current Men’s Premier Division leaders, Cannock. Having gone down to a late first half goal by East Grinstead’s German international, Martin Haner, Cannock recovered and Richard Lane found the net twice in under a minute. Cannock have now opened up some space between themselves and the pack as a result of this win. East Grinstead’s defeat means that they slip to third behind Reading, who gave Bowdon a lesson in hockey with a 5-2 win at home. Southgate earned their first point of the season in a 2-2 draw against Loughborough Students, with the Students twice coming from behind. Surbiton are finding the season a difficult one, despite a respectable goal scoring rate, as was demonstrated by their match against Hampstead and Westminster. Surbiton twice had a one goal lead wiped out and then went behind to a Mark Little goal in the second half. Saviour of the day was Andy Cornick, who equalised for Surbiton in the dying seconds. Final score 4-4.

One match that caught our eye was the Men’s Conference East match between Kent rivals, Canterbury and Holcombe, not least because of the presence of ex Canterbury and England international Dave Matthews in the Holcombe side. Canterbury were dumped out of the Premier Division after struggling for a few seasons but they were on maximum points at the start of play afternoon. Canterbury went into the second half with a two goal advantage, courtesy of Lloyd Norris-Jones, but three goals in five minutes from Dave Matthews (PS), Liam Foster and Samuel Lund, put Canterbury on the back foot until Matt Harper equalised. Late goals from Michael Farrer and Lloyd Norris-Jones gave Canterbury the 5-3 win and gives Canterbury an impressive 5 point lead.

One of the expected consequences of compressing the EHL down into two layers was the possibility of some mismatches between sides. This was in evidence today as two teams nearly found themselves on the receiving end of double figure scores. In the Men’s West Conference it was Whitchurch who found themselves on the receiving end of such an onslaught when they visited Team Bath Buccaneers. James Kellock (2), Max Ruxton, Phillip Ball, Lewis Prosser, William Matthews (2), James Grogan and Luke Gupta were all on the scoresheet there, with no reply from Whitchurch. Ipswich did slightly better at home to Indian Gymkhana in the East Conference, briefly managing to match their visitors scoring rate until, at 2-2 the floodgates opened. The scorers for Indian Gym were Jagdeep Gill (3), Tejinder Hanspal (4), Pravidner Hanspal and Laveen Jandu. Final score there, 3-9.

Full league tables will be available on our main web site at www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk from tomorrow (Monday)

BEESTON DOMINANT AGAINST STRUGGLING HAVANT

Havant look in deep trouble as they crashed to their fourth defeat of the season. Their opponents this afternoon in the Slazenger Men’s EHL Premier Division were Beeston, who last term failed to live up to their early season promise but have now been reinforced by the return of Ali Wilson from GB duties. Havant got off to a lively enough start, but 14 minutes into the match Chris Seddon found the net for Beeston and for much of the first half Beeston were dominant. A Jamie Parker goal just before the break took Beeston into the second half with a 2-0 advantage and it was not long before Welsh international David Griffiths had extended the lead to three. Beeston paid the price for sitting on a three goal advantage when Andrew Pett scored from a penalty corner. Parker scored his second to restore Beeston’s lead, and Ali Wilson put the icing on the Beeston cake by scoring an overtime penalty corner. Final score 5-1. Our photograph shows David Griffiths celebrating his 40th minute goal. Further images will appear on our main web site at www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk soon.

The match at Havant was the only game in the Premier League today.

In the women’s Premier, Canterbury must be wondering what they need to do to earn points after their fourth draw in four matches. Their opponents, Clifton, twice took the lead but a last gasp goal by Canterbury’s Cindy Botha earned them a 2-2 draw. This morning the only thing that separated Bowdon from Olton & West Warwicks was goal difference. This afternoon’s clash between them leaves Bowdon as the only team in the division on maximum points. Two penalty corner conversions by Sally Walton and a field goal by Charlotte Hartley gave Bowdon a 3-1 lead at half time, with Tina Cullen scoring a late second half goal to give her side a 4-3 win. Olton’s scorers were Holly Chipman, Emma Rochlin and Rachel Walker. Despite being depleted by defections abroad, Slough recorded their second win of the season, with a 2-0 victory over Poynton, as did debutantes Trojans. Trojans’ victims were Chelmsford, whose failure to score in four matches leaves them with zero points and an X-rated goal difference. Leicester, who have had a surprisingly indifferent season so far, could only manage a 1-1 draw when they played host to Ipswich.

Women’s Premier Division 1. Bowdon 12pts (+12), 2. Olton & West Warwicks 9pts (+15), 3. Trojans 7pts (+2), 4. Slough 7pts (+1), 5. Clifton 7pts (-1), 6. Leicester 5 pts (+2), 7. Canterbury 4 pts (+0), 8. Poynton 3 pts (-4), 9. Ipswich 1 pt (-8), 10. Chelmsford 0 pts (-19).

CANNOCK GIVEN CHARACTER BUILDING LESSON

Cannock exposed themselves to a character building lesson when they visited Surbiton in the Men’s Slazenger EHL Premier Division this afternoon. Their fourteen league goals to date soon became seventeen as Hardeep Jawanda, Richard Lane and Gareth Andrew took the Midlanders into the second half with a 3-1 advantage, Surbiton’s only goal coming from Tim Pinnock. Pinnock pulled the score back to 3-2 soon after the restart and suddenly it was Cannock who were weathering the storm. Some superb goalkeeping by James Fair managed to keep the Surbiton hordes at bay until the 57th minute, when Ben Tibble scored the equaliser from a penalty corner. The pressure sometimes seemed too much for Cannock, and although this could never been described as a dirty game, first Richard Lane, and then Garreth Andrew and Russ Hayward, spent spells in the sin-bin. It was Andrew, not long back on the pitch, managed to find the net when the ball fell loose for him close to the left post. His goal, with three minutes of play left, proved to be the winner in this closely contended match. Cannock still lead the division on a generous goal difference, followed by East Grinstead, who beat Southgate 3-1 yesterday.

Bowdon managed to recover from their ordeal against Cannock last weekend to win their match against Hamptead & Westminster by a single goal. The scorer, Stephen Brogdon. Beeston at last showed us what they are made of, with their first win of the season. Going 1-0 down against Loughborough Students, they managed to find the net four times in the second half, courtesy of Chris Seddon, Mohammed Nadeem (2) and Adam Dixon. Final score 4-2. The other Premier Division match this weekend was between Havant and Reading and was played yesterday. Reading were the 2-0 winners, leaving Havant propping up the table on zero points.

Our picture shows the post goal celebrations after Gareth Andrew (centre) scored Cannock’s winner.

In Round Two of the women’s cup, the Premier Division sides emerged unscathed with some impressive scores. Bowdon Hightown put twelve passed Didsbury Northern for no reply, with Olton & West Warwicks adding to a successful weekend with a 10-1 win over Worcester. Slough found the net eleven times against Salisbury for no reply, Clifton won 9-1 at Teddington, Trojans won 12-0 when visited by Westberries, whilst comparatively speaking, Leicester had a modest 3-0 win over Whitley Bay and Tynemouth. Poynton beat Spingfields UCLAN 5-0.

OLTON SECURE LEAD IN WOMEN'S PREMIER

Olton and West Warwicks secured their lead in the Slazenger EHL Women’s Premier Division this afternoon with an emphatic win over Clifton, who had been undefeated until today. Two early goals by Denise Marston-Smith and a goal by Fiona Davies gave Olton a 3-1 advantage at the break. Second half goals from Laura Davis, Denise Marston-Smith, Rachel Walker and Emma McCabe ratcheted the score up to 7-3 by the close of play. Leicester’s hesitant start to the season was given a boost with Abi Harper and Kerry Williams (2) scoring in their 3-0 win over Chelmsford. Canterbury are turning into draw specialists, recording their third of the season after Slough came from 3-1 behind and briefly took the lead at Polo Farm. The scorers for Canterbury were Grace Balsdon, Mel Clewlow, Cidy Botha and Cathy Gilliatt Smith. Sloughs scorers were Lauren Penny, Alex Scott and Jane Smith (2). Final score 4-4. Newly promoted Trojans move into fifth place after a 2-1 at Poynton, and Bowdon Hightown retain their second place after a 3-0 win over Ipswich.

Women’s Premier Division: 1. Olton & West Warwicks 9 pts (+16), 2. Bowdon Hightown 9 pts (+11), 3. Clifton 6 pts (-1), 4. Leicester 4 pts (+2), 5. Trojans 4 (+0), 6. Slough 4 pts (-1), 7. Canterbury 3 Pts (+0), 8. Poynton 3 pts (-2), 9. Ipswich 0 pts (-8), 10. Chelmsford 0 pts (-17).

HEROES RETURN AT BROOKLANDS

You could have been forgiven for thinking that you had stepped into a time machine. The names of the scorers were familiar – Grimley, Kerly, Sherwani and Bhura – as were the faces, although the latter were a little older than we may have remembered them.

The occasion was the ‘Heroes Return’ weekend hosted by Brooklands Hockey Clun, to mark the 20th anniversary of the GB gold medal win at the Olympics in Seoul. Proceedings were started on Saturday afternoon with a golf match, followed by a dinner at the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham, attended by the GB team circa mid 1980s, supported by the bronze medal winning women of 1992, and – of course – TalkHockeyRadio.

On Sunday afternoon, the GB men played an England seniors team. The England team got off to a flying start with two early goals from Andy Batchelor but, finding their feet again as a team, the GB men struck back with a penalty corner by Martin Grimley (who had organised the event) and a field goal from Sean Kerly. Imran Sherwani briefly gave GB the lead but they were pegged back by a third England goal from Andy Batchelor just before the break. The second half was less than two minutes old when Sean Kerly hit his second, but it was Batchelor who again scored to bring the score to 4-4. As the final seconds ticked away Kulbir Bhura scored the winning goal for the GB men. Final score 5-4.

Our photograph shows some of the GB team with Barry Davies, who was the BBC TV commentator in Seoul for the final. Barry has recently suffered a injury playing tennis – hence the track suit bottoms.

The men’s game was preceded by a very lively match between the 1992 GB team and the current England Lady Masters. Linda Webb gave the Masters an early lead, but two goals from Sue Fraser took GB into the break on 2-1. Pat Wells equalised for the Masters soon after the re-start but Faser scored her hat-trick to give GB a 3-2 victory.

Photographs from both matches and the dinner at the Cresta Court Hotel will appear on our main web site at www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk soon.

OLTON GO TOP AS EAST GRINSTEAD DEMOLISH WEST HERTS

Olton & West Warwickshire go top of the Slazenger Women’s EHL Premier Division on goal difference after a 4-0 win over Ipswich this afternoon. They are followed by Bowdon Hightown, who added to the woes of struggling Chelmsford by finding the net six times for no reply. No surprise is the fact that Tina Cullen played a major part in the win with two penalty corners, a stroke and a field goal to her credit. Chloe Rogers, a refugee from Chelmsford, could not stop her side going to down in a surprise defeat at the hands of Poynton. Leicester had taken a first half lead but a goal from Katie Maltman, her second of the match, gave Poynton the three points. Surprise package Clifton, go into third place on goal difference after a 2-0 win over Slough. Trojans picked up their first points in a 1-1 draw over Canterbury.

The second round of the men’s cup produced some high scoring matches as the minnows came up against the EHL sides. Danny Hall scored five for East Grinstead in their 18-0 demolition of West Herts. Cannock put ten passed Alderley Edge for a reply of one. It did not all go the way of the senior clubs, with Chelmsford suffering a 6-3 reverse at the hands of Chelmsford.

TalkHockeyRadio is currently returning from Manchester after the ‘Return of the Heroes’ matches at Brooklands this afternoon. We hope to have a report and photos on this blog later this evening.

FOURTEEN GOAL CANNOCK STORM TO TOP

Cannock’s steller start to the season took one more step forward this afternoon when they scored their fourteenth goal of the season in their 7-1 win over Bowdon. They go ahead of East Grinstead on goal difference after the Sussex side won their encounter with Loughborough Students 3-2. The possible front-runners in league all meet each other early in the season and Beeston again found themselves again facing fellow challengers for the top. On this occasion it was last year’s champion’s, Reading, with each coming away from the match with one point from a 2-2 draw. Newly promoted Southgate stay on zero points after a 2-3 defeat by visitors, Surbiton, but the table is currently being propped up by Havant, who went down 0-2 to Hampstead and Westminster.

Sorry we have no scorers for you but for some reason we have not received the information from the agency that provides details to the press.

TalkHockeyRadio is current in Manchester where a celebration dinner is being held for the 20th anniversary of the gold medal win at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. Tomorrow, Sunday, the 1988 team will again take the field at Brooklands MU hockey club. A report and pictures will appear on this blog.

ENGLAND GO DOWN IN SECOND TEST AGAINST GERMANS

England's women suffered a further defeat at the hands of the hosts when they played their second test match against Germany this afternoon. England were no match for the experienced Germans as they went down to three first half goals by Anke Kuhn (pictured), Eilleen Hoffman and Natascha Keller. Final score 3-0 to Germany.

FANNY MAKES IT FOUR

England's women met Germany in Hamburg this afternoon in a game which saw Germany's Fanny Rinne (pictured) score a hat trick in their 4-1 win over the visitors. An England team made up mostly of youngsters was no match for the experienced Germans, although they managed to hold out until the 26th minute before Rinne scored her first from a penalty corner. Five mintutes into the second half Bowdon Hightown's Sally Walton scored from the penalty spot after Sarah Page's shot at goal was illegally stopped on the goal line. But it was not long before the German's were back in the lead courtesy of Julia Muller from a penalty corner. Two more goals from Rinne put the match beyond reach. The two teams meet again tomorrow.