Premier Division Review Week 2

There’s a familiar look to the top of the Mens Premier Division table with last year’s league finalists occupying the top two. Champions Old Georgians lead the way on goal difference after an 8-1 defeat of Southgate. Sam Ward hit a hat-trick and two from Alan Forsyth amongst their scorers. 

Surbiton also scored eight but conceded none on their short trip to Richmond. Struan Walker netted a treble and Luke Taylor two as Surbiton warmed up for this weekend’s Euro Hockey League KO16 which they are hosting.

Holcombe are the other team with a 100% record. They came away from Cardiff & Met with a 4-1 win, the home side still searching for that elusive first Premier Division win  at WIS since promotion in September 2023.

Wimbledon who are also in EHLKO16 action this weekend bounced back from an opening day loss to beat Bowdon 6-0, in the teams’ first ever league meeting. Liam Ansell, who has returned to Wimbledon after a season for Amsterdam, scoring twice. Oxted also recorded a first win, overcoming local rivals East Grinstead 4-2, their third successive victory over the Sussex side.     

Kei Kaeppeler denied Beeston a win on the road at Hampstead & Westminster. Hampstead had taken keeper Toby Reynolds Cotterill off as they chased an equaliser, trailing 2-1 to a 57^th minute Henry Croft goal and Kaeppeler scored with a minute to go.

Beeston might have been worried about déjà vu on Sunday as they came from behind to lead Richmond 2-1 in their rearranged game. Richmond took off keeper Will Burns but this time the extra man didn’t count and Croft had an easy 68^th minute tap-in for his second of the game to seal a 3-1 win.

We will have a round-up of the other EHL Divisions on Tuesday, the Goals of the Week clips will be out on Wednesday and the EHL Premier Preview podcast, looking ahead to next Saturday’s games lands on Thursday evening.

This Saturday’s games

Beeston v Cardiff & Met, 1800 hrs

Bowdon v East Grinstead, 1830 hrs

Hampstead & Westminster v Holcombe, 1800 hrs

Old Georgians v Richmond, 1800 hrs

Southgate v Oxted, 1800 hrs

Surbiton v Wimbledon is postponed due to the teams being in EuroHockey League action and will be played on Thursday 7 November.

Top Scorers:

Sam Ward (Old Georgians) 5

Struan Walker (Surbiton) 4

Alan Forsyth (Old Georgians) 3

Henry Croft (Beeston) 3

Luke Taylor (Surbiton) 3

Tom Carson (Old Georgians) 3

Clean Sheets (2):

James Mazarelo (Surbiton) 1

@ Richmond 28 Sep

Ore Ogunlana (Wimbledon) 1

v Bowdon 28 Sep

Surbiton lead the Women’s Premier Division on goal difference as one of four teams with 100% records after two games. Izzy Yonge again opened the scoring and was on target twice in a 6-1 defeat of Nottingham University. 

Caroline Spence also netted a brace in Reading’s 3-0 win over Clifton Robinsons that puts them second. It was the same scoreline at Sutton Coldfield where Biba Mills was another on the double for third placed East Grinstead, with the clean sheet Mila Welch’s second of the season.

Holcombe came back from Bowdon with all three points thanks to a solitary Olivia Shannon goal that means they too are two wins out of two whilst Bowdon, who started last season in fine style, have yet to pick up a point this time round.

Jessica Dyson was the saviour for Loughborough Students as they drew 1-1 at Wimbledon. Dyson cancelled out Phoebe Barnett’s first half goal with 12 minutes left to earn a point on the road. Anna Moore’s 9^th minute strike was the only goal of the game as Hampstead & Westminster beat Birmingham University 1-0.

We will have a round-up of the other EHL Divisions on Tuesday, the Goals of the Week clips will be out on Wednesday and the EHL Premier Preview podcast, looking ahead to next Saturday’s games lands on Thursday evening.

This Saturday’s games include a late start for Surbiton v Wimbledon at Sugden Road after their men’s counterparts have been in EuroHockey League action earlier in the day.

Clifton Robinsons v Bowdon, 12:15

Hampstead & Westminster v Holcombe, 16:00

Surbiton v Wimbledon, 20:00
Sutton Coldfield v Loughborough Students, 12:00

University of Birmingham v Reading, 14:30

University of Nottingham v East Grinstead, 12:00

Top Scorers:

Hannah Pearce (University of Birmingham) 3

Isabelle Yonge (Surbiton) 3

Biba Mills (East Grinstead) 2

Caroline Spence (Reading) 2

Olivia Shannon (Holcombe) 2

Clean Sheets (8):

Mila Welch (East Grinstead) 2

v Hampstead 21 Sep; v Sutton Coldfield 28 Sep