The teams in the top half of the Men's England Hockey League Premier Division all enjoyed successful afternoons today with the exception of Cannock, who could only draw 1-1 at home to Reading. Leaders East Grinstead made up for the disappointment in the European Indoor Championships last weekend by putting six past Bowdon for no reply, with Danny Hall (2), Andy Piper, Mark Pearn (2) and Mark Cleghorne supplying the goals. Bowdon look in trouble unless they can pick up some points in the run in to the end of the season.
Beeston recorded a more modest 3-0 win against Southgate, another side who will need to find some points to avoid the play-off zone. Surbiton's Ben Tibble, James Tindall (2) and James Ashcroft, supplied the goals in their side's 4-1 win over Loughborough Students. Hampstead & Westminster have an outside chance of qualifying for the League Championships, so their 3-1 win over University of Exeter will keep their hopes alive.
In the Conferences there were a number of clubs who were playing back-to-back matches as a result of the disruption caused by the weather at the beginning of the month. East Conference leaders Canterbury had taken the points at Harleston Magpies yesterday, but could only draw away at Holcombe. Ironically, their goal came from a penalty stroke from David Matthews, who has returned to Canterbury after a spell at Holcombe. Canterbury are two points ahead of Old Loughtonians, in what is looking increasingly a two horse race. Old Loughtonians came away with maximum points from their two matches this weekend, with a 2-1 win over Calum Giles' Teddington yesterday, and a 7-1 win over Harleston Magpies today. Their Oliver Didham's managed to net the ball five time over the two matches.
In the North Conference, leaders Brooklands MU were spared having to play two matches and beat Leek 3-0. Leek were playing their second match, having come out of yesterday's match against Deeside Ramblers with a 7-5 win.
In the West Conference, Team Bath Buccaneers are on the verge of being crowned Conference Champions. With 12 points available from the remaining matches, they have an 11 point lead over Havant. They helped their cause this afternoon with a 2-0 win away at Cardiff.
In the Investec Women's Premier League, Reading have not quite wrapped things up yet, but their 7-0 win over relegated Cannock keeps them seven points ahead of Leicester in second place. Nice to see someone from outside Reading's GB contingent scoring goals, with Elizabeth Hunt netting a hat-trick for her side. Leicester visited Slough this afternoon and recorded a 4-0 win. Sutton Coldfield rocket up the table after three goals in the last ten minutes from Sarah Mills, Celia Butler and Charlotte Cross gave them maximum points. They are now in sixth place.
We were very unkind yesterday about the match between Maidstone and Chelmsford, and Chelmsford were clearly out to confound their detractors when they beat Women's East Conference leaders Surbiton 1-0. St Albans, who were chasing the leaders, also suffered a defeat, losing 1-0 to third place Sevenoaks.
There was only one match in the Women's North Conference this afternoon. It's tight at the top in the North, with only seven points separating the first and fifth placed sides, so Wakefield Bradford would have found their 1-3 win away at Doncaster useful. They move into fourth place. The West Conference leaders, Buckingham, beat Firebrands 2-0, to stay four points ahead at the top of the table. Trojans moved further away from the danger zone when they beat bottom placed Team Bath Buccaneers 5-2.
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