The Investec Women's Hockey League goes into its winter recess after this weekend, but winter struck early for two important matches. Amongst the front runners, only Reading saw action today, with the matches between Bowdon Hightown and Surbiton, and Leicester and Cantebury being postponed due frozen pitches.
Reading enjoyed another high scoring match when they visited Olton & West Warwicks. Goals from Jessica Brooker, Alex Danson (2), Elizabeth Hunt, Emma Thomas and Amanda Potgeiter, gave them a 1-6 win, and they move up to third, behind Canterbury and Leicester, both of whom have games in hand.
Also in goal scoring mood were University of Birmingham, who put five past Slough. With seven matches left until the end of the season, a gap is starting to open up between University of Birmingham in eighth place and the two relegation candidates, Olton and Slough. Final score at Slough 1-5.
On a day when none of the matches ended with less than six goals being scored, the match between Sutton Coldfield and Clifton turned out to be a real goalfest. Both sides have been sliding gently down the table since a good start to the season, so points were important for both. Sutton might have thought those points were in the bag when the score reached 4-1, but Clifton crept back into the match and, at 5-4 in Sutton Coldfield's favour, Emily Atkinson equalised in the 64th minute. Two minutes later there was heartbreak for the home side, with Zoe Leach scoring Clifton's winner. Final score, 5-6. The result means that the two sides swap places in the table, with Clifton moving up to sixth.
There were no matches in any of the women's conferences today. Last weekend was the final before the winter break.
A relatively inexperienced England side got off to a disappointing start when they played India in the Champions Trophy in Melbourne today. A Richard Smith penalty corner conversion in the first half started the scoring but India finally won the match 1-3.
England meet the Olympic Champions Germany tomorrow
Today's Results (1 December):
Netherlands v Pakistan: 3-1
Germany v New Zealand: 3-2
Australia v Belgium: 4-2
England v India: 1-3
Pool A
1. India (3 pts), 2. Germany (3 pts), 3.New Zealand (0 pts), 4. England (0 pts).
Pool B
1. Australia (3 pts), 2.Netherlands (3 pts), 3. Belgium (0 pts), 4. Pakistan (0 pts)
