Four games into the Investec Women's League season, and a decreasing number of clubs remain on maximum points.
Amongst the casualties yesterday afternoon were table leaders, Surbiton, who were playing host to Bowdon Hightown in the Premier Division. Both clubs have been busy in the transfer market during the Summer, with the biggest coup probably going to Surbiton, who managed to recruit Olympic bronze medallist Georgie Twigg. Also joining their ranks were Sarah Haycroft and Sarah Page from Birmingham Uni, and Natalie Maclean from Slough. Bowdon have gained the very talented Abi Harper from Reading. With a number of new players on display, it was an ideal match for TalkHockeyRadio to visit.
Played in glorious sunshine, unlike the conditions when we visited Sugden Road two weeks ago, both sides provided excellent entertainment for the modest crowd. Although possession was generally shared throughout the match, Surbiton seemed to have the edge in the first half, and a 33rd minute goal from Amy Bryant opened the scoring. Surbiton held onto their 1-0 lead until Sally Walton stepped up at a penalty corner 11 minutes into the second half to equalise for Bowdon. From that point the balance of power seemed to shift in Bowdon's favour, but the match finished 1-1.
PICTURES FROM THIS MATCH ARE ON OUR SISTER WEB SITE AT WWW.HOCKEYIMAGES.CO.UK.
Although it was Bowdon's first win of the season, and the first points that Surbiton had dropped, it makes no difference to their table positions. Surbiton remain in first place on 10 points, separated on goal difference from Canterbury. Canterbury recorded their third win of the season, after beating League Champions Leicester. Bowdon Hightown are in fifth place on five points, with Leicester in sixth, also on five points.
Among the spectators at Sugden Road was Olympic bronze medal winner Ashleigh Ball, recently of Slough. When we asked her whether we should read anything into this (and she is also a former Bowdon Hightown player) she remained tight lipped, but said that she would not be playing for Slough this season. The diaspora of players from Slough has left them weakened and after yesterday they dropped to bottom place, after being beaten 2-1 by Birmingham University, with Laura Puddle scoring their only goal. In fairness, their four defeats in four games have not been by massive margins (their goal difference is a modest -6), so perhaps there is a glimmer of hope.
In the other matches in the Premier Division, Clifton's championship ambitions took a knock when goals from Jane Sixsmith and Vicky Woolford gave Sutton Coldfield a 0-2 win. Despite the near absence of Suttton Coldfield from the transfer market during the summer, they have been the surprise package so far this season, rising from sixth to fourth on the back of yesterday's result. The other side with hopes for a championship place, Reading, also waved goodbye to three points, as a single goal from Olton & West Warwick's Mandy Gatherer, hauled the West Midlands side off the bottom place.
The North Conference table remains relatively static after yesterday's matches, although Whitley Bay & Tynemouth's 0-2 win away at Liverpool Sefton lifts them from eighth to fourth in the table. Leaders University of Durham, who beat Doncaster 0-4 away, are one of only two Investec clubs with a 100% record.
There are no changes at the top of the East Conference table, despite Harleston Magies dropping points at home with a 0-0 draw against Ipswich. Horsham closed the gap by beating struggling Bromley & Beckenham. Magpies lead the table on eight points with a goal difference of +3, with Horsham also on eight points with a goal difference of +2.
In the West Conference, Buckingham continue to dominate, with a four wins out of four, as they saw off Barnes Hounslow Ealing 0-3. Second placed Gloucester City, who had been on nine points with Buckingham , slipped back after drawing 1-1 at Swansea City.
FULL RESULTS WITH SCORERS AND TABLES ARE ON OUR MAIN WEB SITE AT WWW.TALKHOCKEYRADIO.CO.UK.
