For the second weekend in a row the national league has provided goals aplenty. Bowden Hightown put nine passed the women from Doncaster on Saturday, a feat repeated by the men from Loughborough students the following day when they met bottom of the table Chelsmford. Fellow strugglers Canterbury had played the 'Get out of gaol' card twice this weekend, having beaten Chelmsford 6-2 on Saturday and Guildford 4-3 the next day, with David Matthews scoring a hat-trick both days. Runaway leader Cannock were held to a surprise draw by Reading on Saturday, the first points they have dropped this season. Reading and Loughborough students now go ahead of Surbiton in the table. Canterburys two wins promote them one place.
East Grinstead had their game against Old Loughtonians postponed on Sunday due to the absence of an umpire, but on the previous day they went down at home in a tense struggle against Surbiton. Ben Payne opened the account for Grinstead in the 17th minute, but England capped players Tindall (2) Daly and Grice had put the visitors in a comanding position by the 46th minute. East Grinstead performed a bit of a revival in the last ten minutes, with Mark Pearn latching onto a rebound off Jon Ebsworth's pads from an Ashley Jackson strike. With two minutes left on the clock, Pearn scored a second in open play. Final score 4-3 to Surbiton.
In the women's Premier Division, Leicester have a five point lead over Canterbury, with Clifton holding up the division on 4 points.
