Men's Hockey League Week 7 2022 Preview

After some big games in Week 6 of the Men's Hockey League, week 7 continues in the same vain. Jade Bloomfield of Hockey World News previews what is to come in the Premier Divison and picks out the top matchups in Division One and the Conferences.

The Men's Hockey League Premier Division sees two matches being played on Saturday evening as East Grinstead welcome Old Georgians and Surbiton hosts the University of Nottingham.

East Grinstead, without a win since the season's opening day, are waiting to score their first top-flight goal against Old Georgians, having met on four occasions in the Premier Division. Old Georgians, having had their 100% record ended last week by Hampstead & Westminster, have won both previous meetings in West Sussex by a 5-0 scoreline and also have a 10-0 advantage at St. George's College, having won 3-0 in March and 7-0 in October 2021.

The University of Nottingham have an arduous task ahead of them when they travel to Sugden Road to face Surbiton. Since the 2-2 draw on the opening day, Surbiton have secured five consecutive wins, amassing a chart-topping 24 goals in the process.

Wimbledon travel to Kent to face a resurgent Holcombe side looking for their fourth consecutive win. With honours even between the two sides at Holcombe Park, three wins each and a draw, Holcombe will need to be at their best to stop the only remaining side with a 100% record. Nick Bandurak, who has scored in the last four meetings between the two sides in Kent, will be a key figure along with Phil Roper, who meets his former club for the first time.

Beeston welcome Brooklands Manchester University to the Nottingham Hockey Centre in a bottom-of-the-division clash. Brooklands, last meeting at the Nottingham Hockey Centre was their first victory away to Beeston in the Premier Division since 26 November 2017.

Oxted and Reading have never met in the National League. When Oxted were promoted to the Premier Division in 2019-20, Reading were relegated to Division One South. Only in 2022-23, after Reading's promotion last season, will the teams face each other in the England Hockey League. With Oxted, on 7, leading Reading by a single point and three above the relegation zone, avoiding defeat is vital for both sides to avoid being dragged into the early season fight at the bottom.

The University of Exeter, one of three teams on four points, prepares to host Hampstead & Westminster. Having ended Old Georgians' 100% record for the season, Hampstead, who have gone unbeaten since losing their opening two matches, have won on all five trips to Devon to play the University of Exeter.

In Division 1 North, the bottom two sides face off as the Deeside Ramblers welcome Belper. Without a point so far this season, Belper will be targeting this fixture to kickstart their season.

A top-of-the-table clash awaits In Division 1 South as Team Bath Buccaneers head to Trent Park to face league leaders Southgate. Averaging over five goals a game, Southgate are the only side in Division 1 with a 100% record.

Having played on Wednesday evening Vs Indian Gymkhana in the Conference East, Oxford University head back to the capital for a Saturday evening match at the Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre. Picking up their first win of the season in the rearranged game due to a match abandonment, Oxford will face a Wapping side with three consecutive draws.

Doncaster travels to Sheffield Hallam in the Conference North; both teams are tied on 10 points and sit 2nd and 3rd in the table. With the chasing pack of three sides on nine points, a defeat for either team could see them tumble down the standings.