Looking at the team list for their visitors must have been a
slightly intimidating experience for Cardiff & UWIC as they lined up for
the first of the Men’s Promotion Play-Off matches this afternoon. But, facing Wimbledon from the East
Conference, it was the team from South Wales who drew the first blood, with
Mark Whatling scoring from a penalty corner in the 12th minute. It
was a short lived lead, Richard Alexander replying from a penalty corner only
two minutes later. It was then the turn of another Olympian, Ben Hawes, to make
his presence felt with a hat-trick of goals from a penalty stroke, a penalty
corner and a field goal. Final score, 1-4 to Wimbledon.
Southgate’s fight for Premier Division survival got off to a
poor start with a 0-3 defeat at home to North Conference Sheffield Hallam. Hallam’s scorers were David Goodfield, Rhys
Gowman and Phil Roper.
In the Investec Women’s League Promotion Play-Offs, Olton
& West Warwicks look determined to preserve their place in the Premier
Division with a useful start, beating North Conference Beeston 1-2. In the other women’s play-off match, West
Conference Buckingham beat East Conference Harleston Magpies 2-1.
