In our report on the Investec Women's League yesterday, we commented on the fact that there are so many undecided issues with only two matches left to play. The same is very apparent in the Men's Hockey League.
If you are looking for an example, you only have to look at the East Conference, where Wimbledon and Holcombe are both on 35 points, separated by a goal difference of +1. Beneath them, the remaining eight teams are separated by four points. In theory any one of the eight could face automatic relegation in two weeks time.
For the record, East leaders Wimbledon beat Old Loughtonians 3-2, whilst Holcombe closed the goal difference gap by beating Teddington 3-6, thanks in part to a Danny Hall hat trick.
The top spot in the Premier Division has belonged to Beeston for several weeks, but the Championship play-off places remain very much in contention, with seven clubs in contention. Even relegation issues remain open.
Beeston recovered from last week's slip up at Surbiton to beat Southgate 6-0 at home. Their opponents last weekend, Surbiton, move into second place after beating Reading 2-5 away. East Grinstead stay in contention after a 2-3 win away at Canterbury. Cannock slip down one place to fifth after losing at home to Hampstead & Westminster, which eases the West London club's relegation worries and gives them an outside chance of finishing in the top five.
Bottom placed Brooklands MU needed three points today to avoid the certainty of either automatic relegation or the relegation play-offs. They kept their hopes of survival alive by beating Loughborough Students 3-2 at home, although the odds are still stacked against them.
In the North Conference Bowdon missed an opportunity to move clear of second placed Sheffield Hallam when they could only draw 4-4 at home to Durham University. Hallam's game against Preston was postponed, meaning they have a game in hand. They are currently five points behind the leaders. This is another Division where the bottom placed clubs could escape the drop. Preston, as we mentioned, have a game in hand, and are on seven points, five points below Doncaster who drew 1-1 at Belper this afternoon. Above them are Wakefield on 16 points, who drew 2-2 to visiting Khalsa.
In the West Conference Cardiff & UWIC lead the table on 35 points. They beat ninth placed Cheltenham 3-1, whilst University of Exeter's 4-2 win over Whitchurch keeps them in touch, only one point behind the leaders. The other contenders for a promotion play-off spot are Guildford, who have faded slightly of late and could only draw 1-1 at home to Bath Buccaneers. Firebrands are already relegated, but with only six points separating Havant, Fareham, Whitchurch and Cheltenham, Cheltenham have two more games to pull themselves out of the relegation play off spot.
FULL RESULTS AND TABLES ARE ON OUR MAIN WEB SITE AT: www.TalkHockeyRadio.co.uk.
