We were not quite sure what to expect from indoor hockey in
its new five-a-side format, but what we did get in the Maxinutrition Indoor
Championships Men’s Premier Division was lots of goals. The first three matches on Saturday produced
three draws with a total of 42 goals.
The usual suspects emerged as the leaders after four matches
and two days of play. East Grinstead took maximum points with wins over Beeston
(6-2), Reading (6-8), Canterbury (7-8) and Holcombe (6-2). Reading, in second place with three wins and
a defeat, had the highest scoring margin of the weekend, beating Loughborough
Students 1-16.
The once great Students have had a dismal weekend, despite
recording two draws. Losing against
Reading, and their 3-8 defeat at the hands of Canterbury, gives them a huge
negative goal difference of -20.
The Men’s Premier Division reconvenes on the weekend of 4th/5th
January to play its final matches. The
top four will go through to the finals at Wembley on 2 February.
Men’s Premier Division after four matches.
1.
East Grinstead 12 pts (+11)
2.
Reading 9
pts (+17)
3.
Bowdon 7 pts (+4)
4.
Canterbury 6 pts (+9)
5.
Sevenoaks 5 pts
(-2)
6.
Holcombe 4 pts (+0)
7.
Beeston 4 pts (-2)
8.
Loughborough Students 2 pts (-20)
9.
Doncaster 1 pt (-17)
The scorelines were less dramatic down the road at the Women’s
Premier League. The leaders after four matches include the usual suspects, with
Slough on maximum points. They had a
less than encouraging start by beating struggling Olton by a relatively modest
2-4, but went on to beat Canterbury by a more convincing 8-3, followed by wins
over East Grinstead (0-5) and Sutton Coldfield (5-1).
It seemed like someone had turned back the clock. Not only
were Slough topping the table, but close behind were Bowdon Hightown, with the familiar
name of Tina Cullen appearing more than once. Bowdon’s only slip-up was in
their opening match against East Grinstead, where they allowed Grinstead’s
Alicia Caillard to equalise with two late goals to finish the match 3-3.
Olton’s outdoor misfortunes have followed them indoors with
zero points after four matches. It is probably more surprising to see Leicester
in the same position. Both will be
facing relegation unless their fortunes change when the sides meet again during
the weekend of 4th/5th January.
PICTURES FROM THE WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION WILL APPEAR AT WWW.HOCKEYIMAGES.CO.UK TOMORROW
MORNING.
Women’s Premier Division after four matches:
1.
Slough 12 pts (+16)
2.
Bowdon Hightown 10 pts (+12)
3.
Reading 9 pts (+17)
4.
Canterbury 7 pts (+4)
5.
Sutton Coldfield 7 pts (-1)
6.
East Grinstead 4 pts (-7)
7.
Harleston Magpies 3 pts (-7)
8.
Leicester 0 pts (-13)
9.
Olton & West Warwicks 0 pts (-21)
FULL RESULTS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEB SITE AT
WWW.TALKHOCKEYRADIO.CO.UK.
