England Hockey League 2023/24: Weekend 11 Review

There were a small number of postponed games played this weekend but with significant action at the top of Women’s Division One North. Leaders Buckingham were beaten for the first time this season, with second placed Sutton Coldfield 2-1 winners at Stowe School. Emma McCabe gave the visitors a 43^rd minute lead with Jo Day cancelled out a quarter of an hour later. It looked like stalemate until Mollie Beeton converted a last gasp penalty corner. The result moved Sutton to within a point of Buckingham with a game in hand. At the other end of the table Olton moved out of the bottom two thanks to a 4-1 defeat of Wakefield which sees them slip to ninth.

In Women’s Division One South leaders Surbiton 2s goes into Christmas with the only 100% record in the league after a 4-2 win at Team Bath Buccaneers. Hannah Denison netted a hat-trick in their ninth consecutive win.

Women’s Conference Midlands front-runners Repton extended their advantage at the top of the table to four points after taking the honours in the Derbyshire Derby with a 4-1 win at Belper. In Conference West Witney moved to the top thanks to a 2-1 win at Fareham, they now lead Bristol Firebrands on goal difference but have played a game more. Newcastle University missed the chance to go top of Conference North going down 1-0 at Bowdon 2s, their first loss of the season.

There were only two Men’s games. In Division One North Leeds remain bottom of the table after a 3-1 loss at Olton. Lindum regained top spot in Conference North, going three points clear of Timperley thanks to a 4-2 win at Wakefield.

The other matches that were postponed from the last weekend in November and first weekend in December are rescheduled for January, see www.englandhockey.co.uk for details.