The 2012-13 Investec Women's League season had promised to go out with a bang this afternoon, but instead was muffled under a layer of snow. Out of a programme of 20 matches due to be played today, only eight survived the weather. England Hockey has limited options as to when the remaining matches can be played, due to Easter and the proximity of the Championship and Promotion play-offs.
Knowing that the match between second placed Leicester and Slough had fallen victim to the weather, any sensible pundit would have predicted that Canterbury would have finished the Premier Division is poll position. However, they would have been wrong. Playing away at Surbiton, Vicky Bryant and Hannah Coulson scored early for the home side to give Surbiton a 2-1 win. Leicester only has to draw against Slough in their re-arranged match to finish in top place.
The only other Premier Division match played today saw Bowdon Hightown pulled back from a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against Clifton. The draw means that Hightown will miss out of the Championship play-offs as they will finish fifth.
At the basement end of the table the scheduled match between Olton & West Warwicks and University of Birmingham, which will decide which enters the relegation play offs, was one of the casualties of the weather today.
Today's Premiership results mean that we know who the top four clubs are that qualify for the Championship play-offs, but exactly who plays who will not be known until the outstanding matches are played. The current table puts Cantertbury on top (40 points and all matches played), followed by Leicester (39 points and one match outstanding), Reading (36 points and one match outstanding) and Surbiton (34 points and no matches outstanding).
The Women's West Conference was the least affected by the weather conditions, with all but one match being played. Taunton Vale lost their match away a Barnes Hounslow Ealing 2-1, and their theoretical, but high improbable, chance of avoiding relegation has now gone. They might have swapped places with Staines, who drew 2-2 at home to Firebrands. Staines now have a get out of gaol card in the form of the relegation play-offs. The only missing match in the Conference was that between Buckingham and Stourport. Buckingham were declared Champions of the West Conference some weeks ago, but Stourport could move up from eighth to seventh if they win the re-arranged match.
Manchester seems to have escaped the worst of today's weather, as Brooklands Poynton against Ben Rydding was the only match played in the North Conference. This leaves a number of issues to be resolved. At the top, University of Durham could catch Beeston, although Beeston have a massive goal difference in their favour. Realistically, there could be changes at the bottom. Bottom placed Cannock have a relatively good goal difference and could overtake Liverpool Sefton in ninth place. Sefton's poor goal difference should stop them overtaking either Doncaster or Ben Rhydding, who are three points ahead of them. The one match played today resulted in Brooklands Poynton beating Ben Rhydding 2-1.
Whilst large areas of the South and East were free of snow, it does seem to have fallen mainly in those areas where East Conference matches were being played. The one match that was played, the game between Harleston Magpies and Sevenoaks, decided who goes forward to the promotion play offs. The 1-1 draw means that Harleston finish three points ahead of Sevenoaks. The bottom end of the table is already decided, with Bromley & Beckenham relegated and Chelmsford taking part in the relegation play-offs.
FULLS RESULTS AND TABLES ARE ON OUR WEB SITE AT: www.TalkHockeyRadio.co.uk.
