If you want to see goals, go and watch Leicester – at least that was the wise hockey watchers choice last season. But would it be the same this season? Playing against Old Loughtonians at Luxborough Lane, and with an almost full compliment of their England players in the side, the early exchanges looked as if they were going to disappoint. The visitors looked disjointed and played without their usual rhythm in the first half, It took all of 23 minutes for them to find the net via the stick of Vanessa Hawkins (pictured). Just before the break Gemma Darrington converted a penalty corner to make it two but it hardly looked as if a goal feast was on the cards, particularly when Louise Jukes pulled one back for Old Loughts. Then, almost out of the blue, Leicester went through a golden patch halfway through the second half. A penalty corner conversion by Ann Panter was followed two minutes later by a Becky Herbert field goal two minutes later. A minute after that Darrington scored her second from a penalty corner. Just as the final whistle approached, Helen Richardson scored from the penalty spot to make the final score 6-1. Although this result leaves Old Loughtonians planted at the bottom of the table, they will not meet many sides stronger than this one, and on to todays performance they should have a reasonable season. However, they need to urgently look at the state of their pitch which is almost unplayable in places due to algae. England and GB Head Coach, Danny Kerry, who was watching the match, must have had nervous moments watching members of his squad playing on this potentially dangerous surface. The Tina Cullen show visited Olton and West Warwickshire this afternoon and came away 4-2 winners, with Cullen scoring a hat-trick. The other scorer for Bowdon was Liz Chaffey. The two newly promoted teams had a bad day. Clifton were hosts to Canterbury and went down 3-2, whilst Poynton’s visit to Ipswich resulted in a 2-1 defeat.
Women’s Premier Division:
Chelmsford 1 – 5 Slough
Clifton 2 – 3 Canterbury
Ipswich 2 – 1 Poynton
Old Loughtonians 1 – 6 Leicester
Olton & West Warwickshire 2 – 4 Bowdon
In the Men’s Premier Division Cannock consolidated their lead at the top by beating visitors Havant 5-4. Bowdon are finding life in the top division difficult with some hard opening matches. They don’t come much harder than Loughborough Students who won the match 2-1. Surprisingly, East Grinstead found themselves in bottom place this afternoon after going down 3-0 at home to a revitalised Surbiton.
Men’s Premier Division
Cannock 5 – 4 Havant
East Grinstead 0 – 3 Surbiton
Loughborough Students 2 – 1 Bowdon
Reading L – L Hampstead & Westminster
Canterbury 2 – 5 Beeston
RESULTS AND LEAGUE POSITIONS WILL BE UPDATED LATER THIS EVENING
If you want to see goals, go and watch 