Our photograph shows action in the East Conference match between Holcombe and Indian Gymkhana. Further pictures from this match will appear on our main website (www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk) tomorrow.As predicted yesterday, Beeston’s promotion into third place in the Slazenger Men’s Premiership lasted all of 24 hours. Without a game today, Beeston’s fate was in the hands of Southgate, who manifestly refused to defy the form book by going down 8-1 to East Grinstead. ‘Grinstead now move back into third place and Beeston slide to fifth. Cannock, who had a difficult match against Surbiton earlier in the season, struggled to come away with a point from the return fixture. Gareth Andrew opened the scoring for Cannock but Rob Moore was able to equalise before the break. Peter Flanagan’s early second-half goal was matched by Surbiton’s Andy Cornick three minutes later. Harry Jawanda’s 44th minute goal gave Cannock a lead which lasted for 16 minutes before Surbiton were awarded a penalty stroke, converted by Ben Hawes. At 3-3, a second goal from Gareth Andrew and a goal from Surbiton’s James Tindall meant that the sides went away with a point apiece. Cannock must now be looking nervously over their shoulders at Reading, who are two points behind the leaders but with a game in hand. Reading’s Austin Smith (2) and Iain Mackay put three passed Havant this afternoon for no reply. One of the Premiership’s unpredictable sides, Bowdon, went down 4-1 to Hampstead & Westminster 4-1. Although the end of the season is in sight, a number of clubs have games in hand, including both Beeston and Loughborough Students (who were playing in Europe this weekend – see report later in this b;pg), who are two matches behind at the present time.
SLAZENGER ENGLAND HOCKEY LEAGUE MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION: 1. Cannock 28 pts (+23), 2. Reading 26 pts (+24), 3. East Grinstead 20 pts (+14), 4. Surbiton 19 pts (+7), 5. Beeston 18 pts (+10), 6. Bowdon 14 pts (-10), 7. Hampstead and Westminster 10 pts (-11), 8. Loughborough Students 8 pts (-9), 9. Havant 6 pts (-21), 10. Southgate 5 pts (-27).
TalkHockeyRadio was at the East Conference match between Holcombe and Indian Gymkhana, expecting to see lots of goals. There were enough goals to keep us happy, although not necessarily in the direction expected. Well out of the drop zone, Holcombe are languishing at seventh despite managing to field several recycled players from top clubs, whilst Indian Gymkhana have been amongst the front runners for most of the season. Holcombe started impressively, controlling much of the play and being rewarded with a Simon Ramsden goal in the 21st minute. The indiscipline, which has frequently stopped Gymkhana playing their best hockey in the past, was noticeably absent in the first half, and Pravinder Hanspal equalised from a penalty corner three minutes later. This was followed by a penalty corner from Jagdeep Gill shortly after. Gill extended the lead to 3-1 from the penalty spot 18 minutes into the second half, but some of coolness that had marked out Gymkhana’s first half seemed to desert them in the second. Two penalty corners, ten minutes apart, were converted for Holcombe, the first from David Matthews and the second from Simon Ramsden. Unfortunately, as the match ended, their was a bit or argy bargy between the two sides – not X rated stuff but perhaps in need of someparental guidance – and that is how the match ended 3-3. We don’t often comment on the umpiring in these blogs, but a very competent performance by the relatively inexperienced Mark Gray and Paul Gallop. Indian Gymkhana edge above Oxted, who did not play today.
EAST CONFERENCE LEADERS: 1. Indian Gymkhana 26 pts (+19), 2. Oxted 25 pts (+16), 3. Canterbury 23 pts (+16). Canterbury have a game in hand.
None of the leaders in the North Conference played today and the top of the table remains unchanged. NORTH CONFERENCE LEADERS: 1. Belper 31 pts (+37), 2. Brooklands MU 30 pts (+31), 3. University of Durham 30 pts (+19).
Some of the leaders in the West Conference had their chances dented this afternoon. University of Exeter, who lead the table by five points, did not play today, but second place Bournville could only manage a 4-4 draw against bottom-of-the-table Cardiff & UWIC. Old Georgians went down 3-1 to mid-table Birmingham University. WEST CONFERENCE LEADERS: 1. University of Exeter 28 pts (+15), Bournville 23 pts (+9), Old Georgians 22 pts (+19).
Two Women’s Premier Division matches fell foul of the weather, with Leicester’s match against Chelmsford cancelled due to snow on the pitch, whilst Canterbury’s visit to Slough was postponed due to a frozen pitch. Bowdon continue their confident march towards the Championship with a 4-0 win over Ipswich, with goals from Charlotte Hartley, Tina Cullen and Julie Hope. Olton, who are in second place nine points behind Bowdon, look increasingly set to be runners-up, with a confident 4-1 win over third place Clifton. Trojans’ picked up a point against visiting Poynton, after trailing to a Helen Armitage penalty corner for 45 minutes. The equaliser was scored by Joanna Davis.
SLAZENGER ENGLAND HOCKEY LEAGUE WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION: 1. Bowdon Hightown 36 pts (+38), 2. Olton & West Warwicks 27 pts (+27), 3. Clifton 22 pts (+5), 4. Leicester 20 pts (+10), 5. Slough 19 pts (+13), 6. Canterbury 19 pts(+11), 7. Poynton 10 pts (-16), 8. Trojans 8 pts (-9), 9. Ipswich 5pts (-28), 10. Chelmsford 1 pt (-55).
Reading remain unbeaten at the top of the Women’s East Conference after a 5-1 win at Harleston Magpies. Barnes could only manage a 1-1 draw against lowly St Albans. EAST CONFERENCE LEADERS: 1. Reading 34 pts (+36), 2. Barnes 28 pts (+10), 3. Southgate 22 pts (+9).
In the North Loughborough Students were 6-0 winners at Beeston. The margin could have been greater had it not been for a missed and a saved penalty stroke. University of Durham stay four points behind the leaders after their 4-1 win at Sunderland. NORTH CONFERENCE LEADERS: 1. Loughborough Students 32 pts (+31), 2. University of Durham 28 pts (+28), 3. Belper 19 pts (+6).
West Conference leaders, Birmingham University, did not play today, giving chasing Sutton Coldfield the chance to close the gap with a 7-3 win over Rover Oxford. WEST CONFERENCE LEADERS: 1. University of Birmingham 32 pts (+67), 2. Sutton Coldfield 28 pts (+23), 3. Cannock 22 pts (+12).
