That was the season that was, at least for the Investec Women's League. The men's national league plays its final games tomorrow.
A surprising number of promotion and relegation issues were left until the final week. Probably the most significant was the scrap at the bottom of the Premier Division to avoid the relegation play-offs. Slough, in their final match, had the misfortune to meet neighbours Reading, who punished them with a 1-8 win at home, which included an Alex Danson hat-trick. The result pushes Slough into ninth place.
Clifton's 6-1 win over relegated Cannock offered them an opportunity to overtake third place Canterbury, but the Kent side also scored maximum points with a 2-1 win over Bowdon Hightown. Bowdon held onto their fifth place despite this, thanks to Leicester winning 0-2 at Olton & West Warwicks.
The final positions in the Premiership mean that Reading, Leicester, Canterbury, Clifton and Bowdon Hightown will be in the Championship play-offs. Slough will be in the relegation play offs and Cannock are relegated.
RELEGATION AND PROMOTION ISSUES IN THE CONFERENCES:
East Conference:
Promotion Play offs: Surbiton
Automatic Relegation: Maidstone
Relegation Play-offs: Horsham
North Conference:
Promotion Play offs: Beeston
Automatic Relegation: Northampton Saints
Relegation Play-offs: Springfields
West Conference:
Promotion Play offs: Buckingham
Automatic Relegation: Exe
Relegation Play-offs: Team Bath Buccaneers
