Men's England Hockey League Week 4 2022 Preview

With the Premier Division matches split across the weekend, Saturday evening's table will look very different.

Third-placed Wimbledon have the chance to go top, albeit an overnight lead, as they welcome the University of Exeter to Raynes Park High School. The University of Exeter do not have fond memories of their two trips to South London to face Wimbledon in the Premier Division, having failed to score in both games and suffered a 12-0 defeat in October 2019

Holcombe will look to put pressure on the leaders and move to second in the table overnight when they travel to Reading in the 'Match of the Week'. Holcombe were 6-2 victors the last time the two sides met back in February 2020 at Holcombe Park.

In the other Saturday fixture, East Grinstead are the opponents for the travelling Hampstead & Westminster. Hampstead & Westminster have won on their last two visits to Saint Hill, but historically, East Grinstead have been more dominant in West Sussex, winning 9-3 in 2013-14 and 11-1 in 2011-12.

Sunday's fixtures have league leaders Surbiton travelling to Brooklands Manchester University. Surbiton have had the upper hand over Brooklands Manchester University in recent seasons, with a 9-1 home win in October 2021 in their only meeting of the season and a 12-0 win on their last trip to Manchester in September 2019.

Old Georgians head to the Nottingham Hockey Centre looking to continue the dominance over Beeston. Since Old Georgians won promotion to the Premier Division via the Promotion Tournament in 2018-19, they have won all three meetings against Beeston, the most recent on the opening day of the 2021-22 season when they won 4-0 at home. 

Oxted welcome the University of Nottingham to Caterham School for their first National League meeting; With only one point separating 5th to 11th, a win for either 8th placed Oxted or 11th placed UON could see the victors finish the weekend in the top half of the table.

Table toppers Bowdon are in action on Saturday as they look to make it four wins from four when second-placed Loughborough Students head to Manchester.

Cambridge City and the Deeside Ramblers face off in a Saturday evening fixture at the Cambridge University Sports Ground. Home side Cambridge City will be looking for their third consecutive win of the season.

In Sunday's fixtures, the University of Birmingham, who hit the Barford Tigers for six last week, meet Cardiff & Met, who are also seeking their third successive win.

The Barford Tigers entertain Olton & West Warwickshire, who are level on points going into match day four.

Durham University, looking to bounce back from their defeat to Bowdon last week, await the arrival of a struggling Belper side looking for their first points of the season.

With 17 goals in three games, league leaders Southgate entertain an Oxford Hawks side who have not picked up points since the opening weekend. Whilst second-placed Old Loughtonians, level on nine points, travel to the Polo Farm to take on sixth-placed Canterbury.

Old Cranleighan and Brighton & Hove meet in a bottom-of-the-table battle, with both sides searching for their first win, in the last of the Saturday evening fixtures.

Third-placed Sevenoaks are looking to pick up their first home win of the season when the University of Bristol head to Holly Bush Lane.   Team Bath Buccaneers eagerly await the arrival of Teddington, with both sides looking to spread some light between the two, who are level on points and separated by just one goal.

With the top seven separated by two points, any slip-up on the pitch will significantly affect the table.

Leaders Richmond travel to Surbiton 2's, looking to pick up their first points away from home, whilst Surbiton 2's, tied on six points, have a 100% home record.

Second Placed Guildford travel to the London Wayfarers just one point ahead in the table. Wayfarers, one of two unbeaten sides in the table, will be hoping home advantage can help them leapfrog their opponents.

Bottom side Hampstead & Westminster 2's have a tough fixture as Spencer travel to the Paddington Recreation Ground. With the visitors sitting in fourth place, level on points with Richmond, Hampstead 2's will have their work cut out to pick up their first points of the season.

Oxford University, just one point above Hampstead, welcomes Indian Gymkhana to Iffley Road. With the visitors yet to pick up points away from home, Oxford University hopes to continue their form where they are yet to concede at home.

Bromley & Beckenham, the other unbeaten side in the table, await the arrival of a Wapping side looking to pick up their first win since the opening day.

The only division in the Men's Hockey League to have all their matches played on Sunday. The University of Birmingham 2's get us started with the early fixture versus Bedford.

Having lost at Bedford last week, the Harleston Magpies return home to face the City of Peterborough fresh from their goal fest with the University of Nottingham.

On the wrong end of that eight-goal thriller, the University of Nottingham will have to pick themselves up as they welcome Norwich City, who are on a high after winning their first-ever home National League match last weekend. St Albans dust themselves down from the Norwich defeat to defend their unbeaten home record when they entertain league leaders Harborne who have three wins from three.

Two teams on zero points, Lichfield and Loughborough Town, meet at the Lichfield Sports Club, where at least one side will get their season up and running with points on the board.

Second-placed Leeds travels to Didsbury Northern in the only Saturday fixture in the Men's Conference North, looking to put the pressure on leaders Ben Rhydding and Doncaster in third, all level on seven points.

Ben Rhydding travel to Sheffield Hallam whilst Doncaster welcome Preston to the John S Marshall Arena, with all three leading sides expecting nothing less than three points.

With both sides hot on the heels of the leaders, trailing by just one point, Beeston 2's travel to Wakefield.

Brooklands Manchester University 2's welcome Timperley to the Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club, eager to get their first win of the season on the board.

Saturday evening sees a big rival battle in the Hampshire Derby as Fareham make the 10-mile journey down the A27 to table toppers Havant.

Clifton Robinsons, trailing Havant on goal difference, welcome Chichester to Bristol. A win for the Chichester will see them level on points with their opponents.

University of Exeter 2's entertain Cardiff & Met 2's who return to Exeter University for the second consecutive week after their 4-1 victory over Isca last weekend.

Travelling in the opposite direction, Isca head to the Talybont Astro to take on a Cardiff University side searching for their first points of the season.

Two unbeaten sides meet at the King Edward VI Community College as Ashmoor welcomes Plymouth Marjon.