Divisions One and Two of the Indoor England Hockey League play their first matches this weekend. In Men’s Division One at Eastleigh, Doncaster are the only side on maximum points, having beaten St. Albans 5-4 and Sheffield University Bankers 4-2. Local boys, Havant, were involved in two high scoring matches and are in second place. They drew their first match, sharing the goals with Stourport in a fourteen goal thriller, and then beating Barford Tigers 11-7 in the last match of the day. All but two teams in this division have won at least one of their two matches, leaving Guildford at the bottom of the table without a point and Stourpoint on the one point earned against Havant.
In Division Two North in Birmingham, Bowdon and Birmingham University are on maximum points, with Leak and Peterborough still unable to record a point. In Division Two South, Bath Buccaneers lead the table having won both their matches, whilst Winchester hold up the division with no points.
It is still very open in Women’s Division One at the KC Stadium at Hull. Liverpool Sefton recorded a 4-2 win over Harrow, which they followed up with an 11-0 win over Leicester. Aldridge beat Barnes 5-4 and Leicester 9-2. Bradford’s first match of the day ended in a 4-3 win over Lansdown and they were the 6-3 victors in their meeting with Barnes later in the day. Liverpool Sefton, Aldridge, and Bradford, lead the table, separated by goal difference, whilst Barnes, Harrow, and Leicester have yet to record a point.
In Women’s Division Two North in Worcester, Birmingham University and Loughborough Students have earned six points from their two matches, with Cannock and Firebrands still needing to record a point. Divison Two South at Croydon, is split between teams that have one both matches and those who have lost. Trojans, Harleston Magpies, and Reading are all currently on six points.
Play resumes tomorrow and we hope to have photographs from one of the venues to show you tomorrow evening.
BURLINGTON CUP UPDATE
After the end of play in Vienna we now know who England’s opponents will be tomorrow. England’s women will play Slovakia, who finished third in Pool B. The men will play RotWeiss Munchen from Pool B. Both matches are to decide the 5th/6th place. The women’s final will be between HC Wels of Austria and Scotland, whilst the men’s final will be between Austria and Poland A.
