This afternoon we enjoyed the aftermath of two weeks of snow when the usual fixture list was enhanced by a collection of re-arranged matches. But if you were looking for goals, there was only one place to be and that was at Chelmsford, where you would have seen a total of nineteen. Bowdon Hightown’s 8-0 win in the Women’s Premiership match, with goals from Jo Ellis (4), Tina Cullen, Julie Hope (2) and Lindsay French for the visitors, went very much with the form book. What might have been less expected was the Men’s East Conference match that also took place later in the afternoon at Chelmsford’s Beehive Lane ground, when the home side recorded their first win of the season, beating City of Peterborough 10-1. That’s almost 40% of all their goals this season in one match. The result elevates them up the table to eighth.
At the top end of the men’s Premiership, East Grinstead were finally able to play their re-arranged match against Beeston. There has always been a suspicion that we have not seen the best of Martin Jones since his move to The Bees, but his three goals this afternoon gave his side three points that moves them up into a European qualifying place. Final score 3-2, with the ‘Grinstead goals coming from Mark Pearn and Glenn Kirkham. Havant can breath a sigh of relief that last weekend’s win does genuinely move them off the bottom. The new occupants of that slot played their game in hand against dark horses Surbiton, who have been moving slowly up the table after an indifferent start. Ben Hawes opened the scoring for Surbiton from a penalty stroke but Dan Shingles managed to equalise early in the second half. Hawes scored his second shortly after, with further goals coming from Andy Cornick and Matt Daly. Andy Westbrook scored a late goal for Southgate in their 4-2 defeat. The result leaves Southgate on the bottom but promotes Surbiton into fourth place.
There is almost a full Men’s Premier Division fixture list tomorrow (Sunday) with only Beeston and Loughborough Students not playing. East Grinstead are playing Southgate, which may mean that Beeston’s elevation to third place may be short lived.
Bowdon’s win at Chelmsford has opened up a 9 point lead for them at the top of the Women’s Premiership, whilst Clifton’s continuing form gave them a 2-1 win when they entertained Slough. Clifton’s goals came from Leah Wilkinson and Abi Welsford, and the reply from Jane Smith. Clifton now move up to third and Slough slip back to fifth. Two Jennys were on target for Canterbury at Polo Farm when they entertained Trojans, with Jenny Wilson scoring two and Jenny Hall one. Trojans’ reply came from Laura Nicholls. There is a full programme in the Women’s Premiership tomorrow.
In the men’s Conferences, it remains competitive at the top of the East, with Indian Gymkhana recording a 4-3 win at Sevenoaks and Oxted drawing 2-2 at Canterbury. Canterbury’s early charge seems to be running out of steam, leaving Indian Gym and Oxted at the top of the table, both on 25 points but separated by goal difference. The recent weather gives Indian Gymkhana a game in hand and Canterbury has two games with which to close the five point gap held by Oxted.
In the North, the leaders Belper, Brooklands and University of Durham, all won this afternoon. 13 points now separates third place Durham from Leek in fourth place. In the West there was a minor upset when third place Bournville beat leaders Exeter University 2-1. Despite the defeat, the University holds a six point lead over Old Georgians, who are in second place.
In the women’s Conferences a gap has opened up in the East between the top two and the chasing teams after second place Barnes beat Southgate 2-0. Leaders Reading stay top after beating Old Loughtonians 3-2. The leaders in the North Conference, Loughborough Students, did not play today but they hold a four point lead over University of Durham, who beat Ben Rhydding 4-0 today. In the West, University of Birmingham maintained their seven point lead over Sutton Coldfield with a 5-1 win over Cannock. There is a full programme in the women’s conferences tomorrow.
We are not updating the progress tables on our main web site (www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk) until tomorrow due to the number of rearranged matches that are being played this weekend. Full league tables can be found at the Fixtures Live web site at www.FixturesLive.com
