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.
