Men's Hockey League Week 6 2022 Preview

With Hockey returning across the country, we have some big games ahead in Week 6 of the Men's Hockey League. 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.

In our 'Match of the Week', Old Georgians host Hampstead & Westminster at St George's College in a second Vs fifth battle with the sides separated by 3 points in OG's favour. Due to their participation in the Euro Hockey League, Old Georgians and Wimbledon have a game in hand over the rest of the division. With the two clubs meeting on three occasions last season, Old Georgians have the bragging rights, having been victorious in all meetings, Hampstead, however, have tasted victory at St George's College, beating their opponents 3-1 in the 2019-20 season.

League leaders Surbiton welcome Reading for their 23rd meeting in the Premier Division at Sugden Road, dating back to the 1996-97 season. With Fred Newbold still missing for the visitors, away on international duty with GB under 21's, the job of taking points off the leaders for only the second time this season has got more challenging.

They say history repeats itself; if that is the case, then we would expect a Wimbledon home win when Beeston come to town. Beeston won on their first two visits to Wimbledon, with the same scoreline of 3-1 in 2013 and 2014. However, they haven't won since, losing three and drawing three of the last six meetings. Those six matches followed the same pattern of a Wimbledon win followed by a score draw, so as the previous meeting in South West London was a score draw, should we expect a Wimbledon win? Or will Beeston break that pattern and take points from their host, who are one of two sides with a 100% record this season in the Premier Division?

East Grinstead's last encounter with Holcombe ended in a 7-4 win for the Kent club on the last day of the season. Since then, Holcombe have one defeat in five, whereas home side East Grinstead have one win in five. Saint Hill, however, hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Holcombe over the years, winning just once at East Grinstead since winning promotion to the Premier Division in 2015/16.

Oxted head to Brooklands for only the second time in their history in the national league. Before last season, the teams had only met in the Promotion Tournament at the University of the West of England in Bristol in 2009, Brooklands winning 5-2.

In this week's varsity battle, the University of Nottingham welcomes the University of Exeter to the Nottingham Hockey Centre. With four points apiece, and players missing from both sides due to the Sultan of Johar Cup in Malaysia, the battle of the Louis' could be the deciding factor. With Tipper and Ridge being the top goal scorers for Nottingham and Exeter, respectively.

Across the divisions, there is a lot of focus on the top of Division One North, with five teams level at the top on nine points. Third-placed Durham University welcome Loughborough University in second, whilst Cambridge City and Bowdon, fourth and fifth, respectively, meet in Manchester at the Bowdon Club.

In Division One South, Chigwell, Essex plays host to the top-of-the-table encounter, as free-scoring Southgate, under the tutelage of Kwan Browne, ready themselves for battle against their hosts Old Loughtonians to defend their 100% record this season.

It's top vs bottom in the Conference East as Hampstead & Westminster 2's, at the foot of the table, welcome Richmond to the Paddington Recreation Ground. 

Having won their opening five matches, the City of Peterborough, sitting second in the table, await the arrival of Norwich City in what, on paper, should be their toughest test so far.

Brooklands Manchester University 2's meet Didsbury Northern at the Brooklands Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club in a Conference North encounter. With both sides languishing around the relegation zone on one point, a win for either side will see them put some light between them and the bottom two.

Third-placed Isca makes the short trip to face the University of Exeter 2 in the Conference West. Leading the pack by two points, the University of Exeter 2's will need nothing but a win to ensure they stay ahead of the chasing pack.

Image by Andy Crayford - Crayford Media

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