Leicester women have taken the EHL Premier League title in a weekend that saw them beat Slough 3-1 on Saturday and strugglers Old Lougtonians 5-0 the following day. Depite some impressive work by Natalie Goodhill in the Old Loughts goal, the Essex team never really seemed to be in the match and it only took nine minutes for Rebecca Herbert to open Leicester's account. Christa Cullen put the visitors two ahead with stinging penalty corner strike and scored a second when a hapless Julia Henry was sin-binned for tripping a Leicester player in the twenty-five yard area. The rain only seemed to add to Old Loughts misery as second half goals from Hannah McLeod and Vanessa Hawkins sealed their fate. The only comfort from this match may come from the fact that the demolition was not more comprehensive. It would seem that only a miracle can now save Old Loughtonians from relegation or a play-off place. Second place Canterbury only managed to come away with one point in their encounter against Doncaster on Sunday.
It is not just Old Loughtonian women who are lodged in the drop zone. Cannock, whose championship status has already been decided, saw off Old Lought's men 6-5. Chelmsford, who are now relegated, went down at home to the men from Guildford, whilst another team looking like candidates for a play-off spot, Canterbury, lost 4-6 to Surbiton.
With one game left to play, the EHL Premier men's table is currently, 1. Cannock (49pts), 2. Surbiton (40pts), 3. Reading (38pts), 4. Loughborough Students (35pts), 5. Hampstead (19pts), 6. East Grinstead (18pts), 7. Guildford (15 pts), 8. Canterbury (12 pts), 9. Old Loughtonians (11pts), 10. Chelmsford (4pts).
In the women's Premier Division, the current table is: 1. Leicester (41 pts), 2. Canterbury (34pts), 3. Olton (31pts), 4. Slough (29pts +15), 5. Bowdon Hightown (29pts +11), 6. Ipswich (29pts+10), 7. Chelmsford (26pts), 8. Doncaster (8pts), 9. Old Lougtonians (8pts), 10. Clifton (5pts).
