Reading had the gloss taken off their double-double header weekend when their women could only draw 0-0 against Bowdon, and their men found their heads on the block when East Grinstead demolished them 8-1, with goals from Danny Hall (4), Mark Pearn (2), Will Arthur and Darren Cheesman. By any standards that is an extraordinary change of fortunes in 24 hours.
Whilst the win might have been expected, although perhaps not the scale of it, there was another surprise in the Men's Premier Division. Second place Cannock lost to bottom place University of Exeter, a result that makes Bowdon's position even more precarious. They lost 6-2 to Surbiton, which puts them on equal points with Exeter.
Overall there were goals galore in the Premiership, with a total of 33 being scored in five matches. Beeston made a contribution to that figure with a 4-0 win over Hampstead & Westminster, whilst a revitalised Southgate pulled off a 4-1 win over Loughborough Students.
The Premiership was not the only place to see goals. East Conference leaders Canterbury beat Bromley and Beckenham 7-3. Oxted and Teddington in the bottom half of the table, managed 10 goals between them, with Oxted emerging the 7-3 winners.
It was the same in the North, where Sheffield Hallam took advantage of a waterlogged pitch at Belper to overtake Sheffield Hallam with a 5-1 win over bottom place Barford Tigers. The postponement of the match between Belper and Brooklands MU means that Sheffield and Brooklands are both on 35 points separated only by goal difference, although Brooklands have a game in hand.
With only three matches left, Team Bath Buccaneers are West Conference Champions after beating Fareham 3-0. Their nearest rivals, Havant, palyed out a 1-1 draw at home to Guildford. As a result, Havant, University of Birmingham and Guildford are all on 27 points. Bottom place Bournville looked doomed after losing 3-2 at Whitchurch. They are eight points adrift at the bottom of the table.
Full results and tables can be found on our main web site at www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk.
