Bowdon Hightown lost their unbeaten record and their lead at the top of the Slazenger EHL Premiership this afternoon, when they lost 2-3 to Olton & West Warwicks. Tina Cullen opened the scoring for Bowdon within the first minute, but goals from Lucilla Wright and Rachel Walker put Olton in front. A penalty corner conversion on half time off the stick of Sally Walton meant that the sides went into the break on even terms, but Lucilla Wright scored her second from a penalty corner just after the re-start to give Olton the win. Slough’s 5-0 victory over Chelmsford puts them at the top of the table, two points ahead of Bowdon. The nearest chasing club, Leicester, who are in third place but six points adrift, played bottom place Old Loughtonians. Goals from Hannah Macleod (2), Lucy Brown, and Kate Sharland gave them the 4-0 win. Poynton, one up from the bottom, managed a useful draw against Ipswich, the Poynton goals coming from Cath Linaker, Nicola White and Jane Ambler.
Slazenger England Hockey League Women’s Premier Division:
Bowdon Hightown 2 – 3 Olton & West Warwicks
Canterbury 4 – 1 Clifton
Leicester 4 – 0 Old Loughtonians
Poynton 3 – 3 Ipswich
Slough 5 – 0 Chelmsford
In Women’s Division One the two front runners, Sunderland and Trojans, both recorded wins, as did Sutton Coldfield. Reading could only draw at University of Birmingham and slip to fourth place. There is no change in the National South Division, whilst in the North, third-placed Nottingham Highfield’s 4-0 win over Rover Oxford and leaders Cannock’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool Sefton means that Nottingham are within striking distance of the lead.
In the Men’s National South, Sevenoaks short lived lead was lost when they went down 3-1 to neighbouring Oxted. University of Exeter move back into the lead after their 6-0 win at Robinsons. The North Division remains unchanged.
