Clifton women, who have been in the top flight of the national league since its inception in 1990, will need nothing short of a miracle to aoid the drop this weekend. In the final round of Premier Division matches this Saturday (27/5/06) they meet Doncaster, who themselves are perilously close to the play-off zone. A win for Clifton would put them on equal points with Old Loughtonians if the Essex side lose against second placed Canterbury. Even then, Clifton's goal difference of -44 would require some require some remarkable scores to catch up with Old Loughts difference of -24. In the men's Premier Division the men of Old Loughtonians find themselves in a similar position to their women. Currently occupying the play-off spot they find themselves pitted against fellow strugglers, Canterbury. Only a win can put them above Canterbury.
Our featured match this weekend is Saturday's clash between League Champions Cannock and seventh placed Guildford.
Some changes to the EHL regulations for next season have been announced by England Hockey. These include a minimum age for players (16 for boys and 15 for girls), a maximum number of player registrations of 28 outfield players and a minimum of three goalkeepers, a maximum of one foreign player (who does not meet existing exlusion catigories), and a ball patrol at Premier Division matches.
One unusual piece of international news is that the USA Field Hockey association has provided a supply of field hockey sticks to the US Forward Operating Base in Taji, Iraq. The equipment is being used by both male and female service personnel at the base and followed a request made by an NCO at the base. Iraq does not have a national hockey federation.
