England Hockey Leagues
10 February 2023

EHL Hockey League Week 12 Matchday Preview

The winter break is over, and hockey is back on the field.

This is the first week of Phase Two of the England Hockey Leagues. The Premier Division for men and women has split into the Top six and Lower six leagues. Eight teams will progress to the postseason and Phase Three playoffs. With all six teams in the Top 6 already qualified, the fight for the league winners and the automatic European spot is up for grabs. While in the Lower 6, the sides finishing 7th & 8th will join their Top 6 counterparts in the playoffs for the crown of English Champions.

Jade Bloomfield of Hockey World News previews the first weekend's action in Phase Two.

: This weekend also sees the return of the exciting matches from the Vitality Women's Hockey League.
Beeston will play East Grinstead in a top-six matchup at the Nottingham Hockey Center. A 3-3 tie in their previous meeting augurs well for another close contest between these two squads.
Hampstead & Westminster will take on Clifton Robinsons at the Paddington Recreation Ground. When these two teams last squared off, Hampstead came out on top, 5-1. Both squads will be playing to make a statement, so expect an exciting game.
The league leaders, Surbiton, will host second-placed Wimbledon on their home turf. In their most recent matchup, Wimbledon prevailed 2-1 to hand Surbiton their first and only loss of the season. Both squads are loaded with talent, so expect a close contest.
Reading will be hosting Holcombe at Sonning Lane in a match between two teams from the bottom six. The previous meeting between these two teams resulted in a scoreless draw, so both sides will be looking to break the tie this time around.
Buckingham will visit the University of Birmingham in pursuit of back-to-back wins. The previous meeting between these two sides resulted in a 2-0 Buckingham victory.
Finally, the University of Nottingham will welcome the Loughborough Students to the Nottingham Hockey Centre. The previous encounter between these two teams ended in a 4-4 draw, setting the stage for another exciting match.
This weekend's games will be a treat for hockey fans and a display of the sport's best players. Every match presents difficulties and rewards, from tense showdowns to intense battles. This weekend is going to be packed with thrilling hockey action.
: At the Paddington Recreation Ground, Hampstead & Westminster will play Reading. Hampstead won the previous meeting between these two sides, 4-3. Both teams will be gunning for a win to get off to a good start to phase two, so expect a close contest.
At St. George's College, the league-leading Old Georgians will take on the second-place Surbiton in a top-six match that promises to be a showstopper. Old Georgians won the previous meeting between these two teams 2-1. This match is shaping up to be a tough one to call, thanks to the fact that both squads bring an abundance of talent to the table and are intent on making a statement with their performance and early push for the European spot on offer.
At Raynes Park, Wimbledon will host Holcombe in a top-6 matchup. The previous match between these two teams ended in a 2-2 tie, setting the stage for another tightly contested game. Fans can look forward to an exciting matchup with both teams having such potent offences, including the Hockey Writers' Club Player of the Year, Nick Bandurak, who retains his crown for only the second time in history.
At the Brooklands Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club, Manchester University's Brooklands side will take on Beeston, who just missed out on Top 6 hockey. Beeston won their previous matchup, 1-0. The strength and determination of the Brooklands team will be put to the test as they fight for the upper hand in this match and seek their first win of the season.
East Grinstead will play local rivals Oxted at Saint Hill. This game promises to be a ferociously contested contest. East Grinstead defeated Oxted 3-1 in their previous meeting, ending the latter's top-six hopes. The outcome of this matchup between two equally committed squads has fans on the edge of their seats.
The weekend will conclude with a matchup between rival universities, Exeter and Nottingham, which will be played at Exeter. Nottingham won 3-2 the last time these two teams met. Both teams in this university hockey game want to prove their worth on the national stage and climb out of the bottom three.