CANTERBURY SURPRISE CRITICS WITH A SIX GOAL WIN. A round-up of today’s matches in the national league.

Funny game hockey. Men's Premier Division Canterbury, who we were writing off last weekend, won their second match out of three this afternoon, by beating Loughborough Students 6-0. The Students had given Surbiton a bit of a roasting last week, and looked too good to get beaten by that sort of margin.
Beeston continue to hold the top spot with a 5-1 win at Hampstead & Westminster, which also gives them a useful goal difference. East Grinstead, who are playing Hampstead & Westminster, have a late start. Other results in the Premier Division all ended in draws, 1-1 between Cannock and Reading, and 4-4 between Southgate and Surbiton.
In the Premier Division of the Women's Investec Hockey League, Surbiton are top after a 2-1 win over Olton & West Warwickshire. Both goals had 'Bryant' written on them, the first from Amy Bryant and the second from Vicky. Surbiton's cause was helped by Clifton only being able to achieve a 2-2 draw at Leicester, and Canterbury drawing 3-3 at Sutton Coldfield. Clifton and Canterbury are now second the third respectively separated on goal difference. Bowdon Hightown won their first match of the season by beating University of Birmingham 4-0.
Because the Women's Premier Division match between Slough and Reading has been switched to tomorrow (Sunday), TalkHockeyRadio found itself at Havant for their Men's West Conference match against Team Bath Buccaneers. Can we quickly say that we have a certain affection for the Hampshire club, as they are very hospitable and have ambitions. But, if they play like they did this afternoon, their ambitions will be limited to surviving in the England Hockey League. Sloppy passing, and more turnovers than you'll find in a cake shop, are not the sort of things you are going to get away with against a team of Buccs' quality and they were punished accordingly. To rub salt in the wound, it was a recent export from Havant to Bath, Tim Davenport, who scored a hat-trick to top off Bath's 5-0 win. An entertaining, if a little noisy, match, but we fear for Havant's future.
The result leaves Havant at the bottom of the table, on nil points. This was Bath's second win of the season so far, and they rise to a relatively modest third place. After only three matches, nobody in the West Conference has a 100% record. The table is headed by Guildford, who could only draw 1-1 at Cheltenham, with Exeter University one point behind.
PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE HAVANT v TEAM BATH BUCCANEERS MATCH ARE ON OUR PICTURES WEB SITE AT www.HockeyImages.co.uk.
In the North Conference, both Belper and University of Durham have 100% records and lead the table in that order. Recently relegated Bowdon were knocked off the top spot by new boys Khalsa in a match that ended 2-2.
New boys to the East Conference, Richmond, were given a bit of a reality check by Wimbledon, who beat them 7-1. Wimbledon currently lead the table.
In the Women's Conferences, Sevenoaks lost their 100% record in the East, by losing 2-0 to Oxford Hawks. The table is now lead by Harleston Magpies, who beat the new girls from Bromley and Beckenham 1-3. That results leaves the Beccs at the bottom of the table on nil points.
Beeston are another side that lost their 100% record this afternoon. Their North Conference match at University of Durham ended 4-3 to the University and they are now top of the division.
In the West, Buckingham and Gloucester City head the table. Buckingham beat Staines 5-0, whilst Gloucester beat Barnes Hounslow Ealing by a single goal.
FULL RESULTS AND TABLES FROM THE INVESTEC WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE CAN BE FOUND ON OUR MAIN WEB SITE AT www.TalkHockeyRadio.co.uk. There are some late starts in the Men's England Hockey League and tables and results will be available later.

STUDENTS SHOW NO LITTLE SKILL. A round-up of today’s matches in the Men’s England Hockey League

In our report of last weekend's matches we expressed doubts as to whether newly promoted Canterbury and Booklands MU have what it takes to stay in the Men's Premier Division, and this afternoon saw our worst fears come true.

Canterbury travelled to Beeston, where they were on the receiving end of a comprehensive beating. Simon Egerton found the net four times, in their 7-1 defeat. Brooklands fared slightly better at home to Cannock, losing 1-3. Brooklands, two games into the season, are wedged at the bottom of the table on zero points. Canterbury are in a more flattering seventh place, thanks to last weekend's win against the Manchester side.

The other club on zero points is Surbiton. TalkHockeyRadio was at Sugden Road to see them entertain Loughborough Students. In torrential rain Surbiton got off to an encouraging start with an eighth minute goal from Robert Schilling. But the writing was on the wall for Surbiton as the Students won penalty corner after penalty corner. Their reward came just before half time when Simon Faulkner scored from a corner just before half time. Showing no little skill, many of Loughborough's attacking moves were broken down by some ill judged passing but their reward came just before the final whistle when Faulkner found the net again from a penalty corner. Final score, 1-2 to Loughborough Students. The three points moves the Students into third place. Photographs from this match will appear on our pictures site at www.HockeyImages.co.uk soon.

The other games in the Premier Division saw a close tussle between Reading and East Grinstead, with Reading going into the second half with a 2-1 lead. Reading then suffered a four goal blitz from 'Grinstead and, despite staging a late rally with goals from Darren Cheesman and Richard Mantell, they ran out 4-5 losers. East Grinstead are in second place in the table, separated on goal difference from Beeston.

After two matches, only Wimbledon in the East Conference has a 100% record. Wimbledon played their match against Teddington yesterday, which they won 3-4. Richmond lost their opportunity to join them at the top when their match was abandoned after seven minutes due to rain.

In the North Conference there is no shortage of clubs enjoying a 100% record, with Bowdon, Sheffield Hallam, University of Durham and Belper all winning this afternoon. University of Durham's victims were newly promoted Khalsa, who they beat 1-3, leaving Khalsa with zero points.

In the West Conference, only one side has maximum points. Guildford snatched their second win of the season with a 1-4 scoreline against Whitchurch. The local derby between Havant and Fareham ended 2-6 to Fareham, which places Fareham second on four points, but leaves Havant propping up the table.

Full result and tables can be found on our main web site at www.TalkHockeyRadio.co.uk.

CLIFTON LEAD THE PREMIER DIVISION. A round-up of today’s matches in the Investec Women’s League.

Two games into the 2012-2013 Investec Women's Hockey League season and only three Premier Division clubs have held onto their 100% record.

Clifton lead the Premier Division on goal difference after a comprehensive 5-0 win over Olton & West Warwicks, with goals from Dawn Mitchell (2), Zoe Leach, Elizabeth Sinton and Els Mansell. New girls Surbiton managed to stay with the leaders after snatching three points with a 60^th minute winner from Abi Robinson at Sutton Coldfield. Final score there 2-3 in favour of Surbiton.

Canterbury is in third place behind Surbiton after entertaining Slough at home. Amy Turnbull scored an early goal for Slough, but Susannah Townsend, Mel Clewlow and Eliza Brett all scored for Canterbury, giving the Kent side a 3-1 win. Today's matches leave both Slough and Olton without a point.

The other two Premier Division matches ended in draws, with Katie Long's 53^rd minute goal for Leicester wiping out Bowdon Hightown's early lead, and a late goal by Faye Curran for University of Birmingham robbing Reading of their lead. Both matches ended 1-1.

Sevenoaks v St Albans is a late start, but currently they are the only two clubs in the Women's Conference East who can end the day on maximum points. Horsham could only achieve a goalless draw at Old Loughtonians, as did Harleston Magpies when they played at home to Wimbledon.

In the North Conference, Beeston lead the charge on maximum points after a comprehensive 0-7 win away at relegated Cannock. They are ahead of University of Durham on goal difference after Durham beat Loughborough Students 0-2 away.

The West Conference has three sides on maximum points. Gloucester City had a good win over debutantes Taunton Vale, scoring five for no reply. Behind them on goal difference is Buckingham, whose 2-0 win over Isca keeps them in the running, whilst Barnes Hounslow Ealing's 3-0 win over Staines puts them third in the table, but leaves Staines without a point.

Full results and tables can be found on our main web site at www.TalkHockeyRadio.co.uk.

 

FAULKNER RESIGNS FROM ENGLAND HOCKEY

England and Great Britain's Performance Director, David Faulkner, is to resign. The full text of the England Hockey press release is as follows:

 

Following seven and a half years of dedicated service David Faulkner has decided to leave his position as Performance Director with England Hockey and Great Britain Hockey at the end of 2012. 

David has given his all to the role since he joined England Hockey in 2005, leading the national teams through their most successful period in more than two decades.  During his time in charge, he has led England's men's and women's teams from world rankings of 11th to their current positions of fourth and under his leadership Great Britain won its first Olympic medal in 20 years this summer.

During his tenure England and Great Britain have won medals at the World Cup, European Championships, Commonwealth Games, Champions Trophies and most recently the Olympic Games. Highlights have included the England men winning the European Championships for the first time in 2009 and silver at the Champions Trophy in 2010, and the Great Britain women winning silver at the Champions Trophy and bronze at the Olympic Games in 2012. 

In addition to his role as Performance Director, David has played a hugely important role as an Executive Director of the England Hockey Board. He has been integral to many of the major decisions and successes off the pitch, including the introduction of the Single System talent development pathway, the successful hosting of the Women's Champions Trophy in 2010 and the successful bid to bring the European Championships to London's Olympic legacy facility in 2015.

Sally Munday, England Hockey Chief Executive, said "We are very disappointed to be losing David as he has provided fantastic leadership of our performance programmes but we recognise that the demands of the Performance Director role require a unique dedication in terms of time and energy.  David has put England and Great Britain Hockey ahead of everything for the last seven and a half years and I completely respect his decision to move on."

Philip Kimberley, Chairman, said "I have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with David since we set out in 2005 to rebuild the reputation and results of hockey. He has played a hugely important role in our recent success on the pitch and in re-establishing our reputation off it; for that I thank him and wish him well in the future."

The recruitment process to appoint a new Performance Director will begin shortly.

2012-2013 SEASON STARTS HERE

The first day of the 2012-2013 national league season saw all teams in action, with the exception of Old Loughtonians and Richmond from the Men's Conference East. They play tomorrow (Sunday).

The Men's Premiership saw Beeston get off to a cracking start with an 2-8 win away at Cannock, with Simon Egerton scoring four of Beeston's goals. There was a high scoring match at Hampstead & Westminster too, where visiting Reading put seven past the home side for a reply of two. The score included a hat-trick of penalty corners from Richard Mantell and a goal from new boy Darren Cheesman. Surbiton got off to an encouraging start at East Grinstead, where a hat-trick from James Tindall gave them a 3-0 lead, only to lose the match 4-3.

TalkHockeyRadio was at Canterbury to see the two newly promoted sides play each other. It was difficult to separate the sides on the early exchanges but Canterbury started to take control of the match and were rewarded with goals from Liam Foster and Kwan Browne. But in the second half, Brooklands managed to get back into the game with two goals in five minutes, the first from Sam French and the second from Nick Giles. The game appeared to be slipping away from Canterbury when Devohn Teixeria converted a penalty corner, and a penalty stroke awarded shortly after was netted courtesy of the evergreen David Matthews. Final score 4-2 in Canterbury's favour.

It is difficult to judge the two newly promoted sides on this performance but we were left with the impression that both need to up their game considerably to survive against the betting sides in the division. One unusual feature of this match was the presence of retired international umpire Andy Mair assisting with the coaching!

After one match, Beeston lead the Premiership on goal difference, followed by Reading and Canterbury.

The Women's Premiership saw new girls, Surbiton, put their mark on the division with an emphatic win over Reading. Sarah Page, Chloe Strong, Natalie Bell and Bethan Jenkins were the scorers in their 4-0 win.

Slough need a bit of a health check as they have been haemorrhaging players before the season started, and the signs do not look good as they went down 1-3 at home against Clifton. Champions, Leicester, came away from Olton & West Warwicks with three points after a 1-2 win. Sutton Coldfield find themselves in the heady heights of third in the table after a 0-2 win at University of Birmingham.

FULL SCORES AND TABLES CAN BE FOUND ON OUR MAIN WEB SITE. PICTURES FROM THE MATCH BETWEEN CANTERBURY AND BROOKLANDS MU WILL APPEAR ON OUR PICTURES PAGES SOON.