The top of the Men’s Slazenger Premiership could look a very different place tonight after Reading were toppled by two goals by East Grinstead’s young German International, Martin Haner. Reading had taken a lead in the first half through a penalty corner conversion by Tom Bertram. The final score of 2-1 to East Grinstead puts them at the top of the table.
Cannock’s 2-1 win over Southgate pushes Reading down to third, although that might not be the end of their slide. Beeston have a 18:00 start at Bowdon and a win for Beeston would push Reading into fourth position.
Loughborough Students, who earlier in the season seemed to be having a perilous courtship with relegation, have secured their season with a 3-0 win over Hampstead and Westminster. The Student’s goals were scored by Simon Faulkner, Peter Dobson and Carl Smith. Calum Giles managed to equalise for Havant after Tim Pinnock’s fifth minute goal gave Surbiton the lead, but Havant’s hopes of picking up a much needed point were dashed when Ben Hawes scored a second half goal from a penalty corner. After what was initially a disappointing season, it is almost a surprise to find Surbiton are suddenly within reach of taking the championship. Despite their fifth place they are only four points behind the leaders.
Joel Evan’s goal in under 60 seconds must have given Southgate a glimmer of hope as they languish at the bottom of the table, but a penalty corner conversion in each half by Cannock’s Will Pearce spoilt any planned celebration. Final score 2-1 to Cannock.
A league table for the Premier Division will appear on this blog later this evening when the result of the Bowdon V Beeston match is in.
It’s still tight at the top of the MEN’S EAST CONFERENCE, with the top-of-the-table clash between Oxted and Indian Gymkhana ending 3-1 in Oxted’s favour. Canterbury move ahead of Indian Gym after a high scoring match at Sevenoaks, which ended 7-4 to Canterbury. Old Loughtonians, who did not play today, will have a chance to keep in touch with the leaders tomorrow when they play Ipswich, who are currently in bottom place.
MEN’S EAST CONFERENCE LEADING SIDES: 1. Oxted 34 pts (+25), 2. Canterbury 32 pts (+18), Indian Gymkhana 29 pts (+23), Old Loughtonians 28 pts (+27).
The MEN’S NORTH CONFERENCE also saw a high scoring match when leaders Belper played host to Leek. Leek were 7-0 down after fifty-nine minutes of play after Sam McCambridge (3), Tom Sherratt (2), James Hewitt and Richard Kitchen scored for Belper. Then in the space of a little over ten minutes, Scott Cordon, James Gough and Paul Nixon found the net for Leek, and Tom Sherratt scored his third for Belper. Final score 8-3. A Dan Berry goal gave Sheffield Hallam an early lead against Brooklands, but Brooklands finally prevailed 5-2. Brooklands remain the only unbeaten team in the North Conference. University of Durham remain in contention after a 4-3 win at Doncaster. The three leaders and now separated by a single point, with a gap between them and the fourth placed side of thirteen points.
MEN’S NORTH CONFERENCE LEADING SIDES: 1. Belper 38 pts (+43), 2. Brooklands 37 pts (+37), 3. University of Durham 37 pts (+24).
Two of the three leaders in the MEN’S WEST CONFERENCE won today, with University of Exeter putting six passed University of Exeter for no reply. Guildford kept their hopes for a play-off place alive by beating University of Birmingham 2-0, with one of the goals coming from their recent signing, Mani Kochar. The surprise result from the top group is Bournville, losing 1-4 to Stourport, although from what we saw of Stourport last weekend, they seem to be a better side than their sixth place in the table might suggest.
MEN’S WEST CONFERENCE LEADERS: 1. University of Exeter 33 pts (+21), 2. Guildford 28 pts (+7), 3. Bournville 27 pts (+8).
There was one match in the WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP today. Canterbury’s visit to Slough ended in a 3-2 win for the visitors.
