RETURN AFTER BREAK BRINGS SOME FAMILIAR SCORES. A round-up of today’s matches in the Investec League.

The Investec Women's League took a rest last weekend, and today's results look as if we have passed through a time warp in the process. Some very familiar names have started producing some very familiar scores.

Reading, who have had a very poor start to their season, suddenly sparked into life when they played host to Clifton. They increased their goal tally by 30% this afternoon after putting five past Clifton, Reading's goals coming courtesy of Rebecca Halle (2), Alex Danson, Halley Munt and Amanda Potgeiter. Final score 5-1. Leicester has also had an indifferent start to the season by their high standards, but they collected three points against University of Birmingham with a 4-1 win at home. Leicester's goals came from Anne Panter, Katie Long (2) and Jo Hunter. Reading move from seventh to sixth in the table, swapping places with Clifton. Leicester remain in second but the University's defeat slips them down into the relegation play-off spot. 

For the nostalgic, it seemed very much like the old days when Bowdon Hightown took a substantial win against Sutton Coldfield. On the scoresheet for Bowdon were Tina Cullen (2) – no surprise there – Sally Walton (2) and Hannah Pike. Final score 5-1. Sutton's promising start to the season now seems to be in disarray as they slipped from second to fourth, and now surrender that place to Bowdon. 

After a runaway start, a bit of the gloss was starting to go off Surbiton's season, but they got back to their winning ways this afternoon with a win over lowly Slough, who remain propping up the table with one point from eight games. Surbiton's scorers in their 2-0 win were Vicky Bryant and Abi Robinson. Surbiton remain in third place.

Perhaps the most surprising result today was the draw between Olton and West Warwicks and leaders Canterbury. Mel Clewlow gave the Kent side the lead with a penalty corner conversion just before the break, but Kerry Thompson-Moore equalised 14 minutes into the second half. Canterbury remain at the top of the table, one point ahead of Leicester, but the single point earned was enough to lift Olton out of the relegation play-off area.

In the East Conference, Sevenoaks and Harleston Magpies lead the table. A Jet Vab Zalen goal gave Sevenoaks a 0-1 win at Chelmsford, and they are one point ahead of Harleston who beat Horsham 2-1. Bromley & Beckenham, who have only scored twice all season, had another fallow afternoon when they entertained Wimbledon. Losing 0-2, they remain at the bottom of the table with zero points.

Beeston continue to lead the North Conference, their seven goals this afternoon bringing their goals total up to 45. Their victims were Ben Rhydding, who remain at the bottom of the table with no points. Astonishingly, Beeston only lead the table on goal difference, although it is a substantial one. University of Durham also scored seven times in their match against Liverpool Sefton for no reply. Beeston and the University are both on 21 points.

Buckingham remain the only side with a 100% record, although it must have seemed in doubt when Becky Westall scored for their opponents in the 11^th minute in their match against Trojans in the West Conference. Buckingham managed to pull back two second half goals to win the match 2-1, which keeps them five points ahead of their nearest rivals, Isca University. 

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