England Hockey League 2023/24 Premier Division Weekend 3 Preview

A rare Thursday night push back will take place in Kent when unbeaten Holcombe entertain champions Old Georgians in the Men’s Premier Division tonight (20:30).

The rearranged match is taking place due to both teams’ participation in next month’s Euro Hockey League KO16.

Old Georgians hold the upper hand in previous meetings, having won both last season’s encounters, while Holcombe last picked up three points at home in 2020.

It looks set to be a tough weekend in all for the two teams, who both play again less than 48 hours later.

Old Georgians will again face an away trip, this time to Wimbledon (6pm), with the Londoners, who have welcomed back Duncan Scott after a lengthy period recovering from concussion, also enjoying a fine start to the season after two opening wins.

Before Surbiton won 3-2 at Old Georgians last Saturday, Wimbledon were the last team, in April 2022, to beat Old Georgians in the top flight.

Holcombe’s table-topping credentials will also be tested when Barry Middleton’s side visit Surbiton (also 6pm).

Mark Pearn’s squad have won their last five regular season Premier Division matches, including a 7-1 win last April and a 6-4 success this time two years ago.

While Holcombe, Surbiton and Wimbledon all have two from two, East Grinstead and University of Nottingham, who meet at Saint Hill on Saturday (6pm), have yet to open their account for the season.

Nottingham have won two of their three meetings (all last season).

Hampstead & Westminster, who travel to Reading (18:30) as part of the club’s double header, also have form against Saturday’s opponents.

The Londoners have won their last five away matches at Reading. The hosts last beat Hampstead at home in 2015, while this weekend’s match will mark 10 years next month since Reading routed H&W 11-1.

Meanwhile, Cardiff & Met and Oxted (6pm) meet for the first time in the National League in the Welsh capital.

Southgate will aim to beat Beeston for the first time in nearly 20 years when the two meet in Nottingham (6pm).

It will be the first Premier Division encounter since February 2015 when Beeston won 2-1 at Nottingham.

Unbeaten Beeston and Clifton Robinsons meet in Nottingham (4pm) as both sides eye the Vitality Women’s Premier Division summit heading into October.

Beeston, with a 100 percent record so far this season, host a Clifton side who have only won once in Nottingham, in 2015, with Beeston winning their last meeting (4-0 in March).

While Beeston have made hay with their early season form, East Grinstead have yet to win a point after two opening losses.

The West Sussex side became the first reigning champions to lose their first two league matches of the following season since Hightown in 2000-01. 

They will hope to make amends when University of Nottingham (4pm) visit Saint Hill on Saturday. East Grinstead beat Nottingham 5-1 at home last season, thanks in part to Sophie Bray’s hat-trick.

It will be first against third when leaders Reading host Hampstead & Westminster (16:30) at Sonning Lane.

Hampstead & Westminster won their only National League meeting, 3-0, last season. With the Londoners’ rise to the top flight and Reading spending five years out of the Premier Division, the two sides have rarely been pitted together due to being in different Conference leagues.

Reading manager Richard Dixon said: "Against Surbiton we won in the 67th minute and Loughborough in the 62nd, in games which battled to the end. But Reading have shown some real mentality and strength of spirit to win in the last few minutes and it's great to be sitting two games in on six points."

Surbiton travel to University of Birmingham (14:30) on the back of a 6-1 victory over Isca & University of Exeter last weekend.

“It was great to have all our England internationals back and it has been a tricky few weeks trying to integrate everyone in,” said Surbiton coach Dave Beckett.

“It was a top performance from the girls so hopefully we can build on that against Birmingham, another university side which will test the physicality of the side and the effort they will bring.”

Surbiton have won eight out of 10 matches at Birmingham, while the students' sole victories against last season’s runners-up have come at home, in 2017 and 2019.

Wimbledon, with one point from their opening two games, host Loughborough Students (4pm), with the Londoners unbeaten in their only two previous Premier Division fixtures.

Meanwhile, there will be a first National League meeting between Bowdon and Isca & University of Exeter (13:30) on Saturday, a clash featuring the two newly-promoted sides.

*Stats kindly provided by Colin Pike