The Championship play-offs kicked off today, along with the England Hockey League Promotion Tournament and the Relegation play-offs.
Bidding for the title of Investec League Champions and qualification for Europe, were Leicester, Canterbury, Clifton and Bowdon Hightown. At Leicester, the home side raced to a 3-0 lead within 12 minutes, thanks to goals from Crista Cullen (2) and Katie Long. Natalie Seymour responded for their opponents, Canterbury, but a late Kerry Williams goal settled the matter decisively in Leicester's favour, 4-1.
Two clubs who have enjoyed improved form this season, Clifton and Bowdon Hightown, met at Bristol with Hightown taking the lead midway through the first period with penalty corner conversions from Sally Walton and Fay Nash. Els Mansell pulled one back for Clifton in the 58th minute, but the match ended 1-2 to Hightown.
At the other end of the table, Slough were fighting for their Premier Division existence in the promotion play-offs. A Hannah Bowe penalty corner conversion early in the second half was enough to give them a 1-0 win against North Conference champions Beeston.
West Conference Buckingham, who are trying to gain promotion at the second attempt, beat Surbiton from the East Conference 1-2.
There was one women's relegation play-off match today, which saw East Conference Horsham beat North Conference Springfields.
In the men's England Hockey League, it was a successful day for Reading and Surbiton. Reading saw the Mantell brothers, Simon and Richard, score one apiece in the first half in their match against Beeston. Martin Jones raised Beeston's hopes late in the second half, but a Jonty Clarke penalty stroke in the last minutes of the match settled the issue in Reading's favour, 1-3.
Surbiton's James Tindall (2), Phil Messent, Tim Pinnock and Fergus Dunn, were all on target in their match against Cannock. The final score was 3-5 to Surbiton, with Ross Hayward (2) and David Harris being the scorers for Cannock. Surbiton will be hoping to put behind them a dismal record for European qualification. This win will help.
Team Bath Buccaneers may have sailed through the West Conference, but they found life a little more difficult in their promotion play-off match against Canterbury. Despite a 3rd minute Johnny Kinder goal, the match did not go their way and the final score favoured Canterbury 3-5. Exeter University played Brooklands MU, but a solitary goal from Mark Richardson was enough to give the Manchester side the win.
Bromley & Beckenham's improvement in form in their last East Conference matches continued in the relegation play-offs as they beat Barford Tigers 5-3.
FULL RESULTS AND TABLE FROM TODAY ARE ON OUR MAIN WEB SITE AT www.TalkHockeyRadio.co.uk.
