The headline grabbing result from the England Hockey League this afternoon was East Grinstead's 11-1 win over Hampstead & Westminster, with no less than nine of the squad finding the net. The result means that East Grinstead finish top of the Premiership table and qualify for next season's EuroHockey League.
A real scrap is developing at the bottom of the table, with only two points separating the bottom three clubs after today's matches. Bottom place University of Exeter picked up three points with a 2-0 win over Southgate, and Bowdon managed a 2-1 win over Cannock. Bowdon and University of Exeter share the bottom place, with Bowdon having the better goals scored rate. Southgate are in ninth place, two points ahead.
Loughborough Students missed out on a draw at home to Beeston when Richard Dwdson-Smith had a 52nd minute penalty stroke saved by George Pinner. Beeston emerged the winners, 2-1. Jonty Clarke also had a stroke saved in Reading's match at Surbiton, but Reading still won the match 4-3.
At the top of the East Conference, Canterbury still lead the charge with a four point lead over second placed Old Loughtonians. Loughts could only draw3-3 away at Holcombe, despite a second half revival which saw them come back from 3-0 down. Canterbury maintained their unbeaten record with a 4-3 win over Oxted. Issues at the bottom of the table have still to be settled.
In the North, Barford Tigers are clinging onto their national league status with a 5-3 win over fellow strugglers Deeside Ramblers. At the other end of the table it's still neck and neck between Sheffield Hallam and Brooklands MU. Brooklands recorded a 1-0 win over Olton & West Warwicks, whilst Sheffield overcame Belper 3-1. Sheffield top the table on goal difference.
Tim Davenport was one of the scorers in Team Bath Buccaneers 2-1 win over Guildford, but they were already crowned West Conference champions. At the bottom of the table, Bournville are relegated after losing 1-5 at home to Cardiff. Both Cheltenham and Lichfield are in contention for the relegation play-offs after Lichfield suffered a 7-2 reverse at Havant, and Cheltenham went down 4-2 at Whitchurch.
There was one match in the Investec Premiership today. Leicester blew their remote chance of finishing top of the table by drawing away at Bowdon Hightown. As a result, Reading win the automatic European place.
TalkHockeyRadio was at the Varsity Match at Southgate this afternoon, and witnessed a cracking game between Oxford and Cambridge which saw Cambridge come back from behind three times to win the match 5-3. This is Cambridge's 50th win of the annual match, but their first since 2008. Despite being a 0-0 draw, the women's match was an excellent curtain raiser for the men's event. Oxford retain the title for the second successive year by virtue of the draw. Images from both matches will be on our www.HockeyImages.co.uk site some time tomorrow.
Full results and tables from today's league matches can be found on our main web site at www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk.
