Review of the Premier Division Week 11

The Women's Premier Division restart saw Hampstead & Westminster, leaders after the first phase, continue where they left off with a 2-1 win over Loughborough Students in the Top 6. However, as the result suggests, the Students, who are sixth and didn’t concede a goal in their last three games, are no pushovers and had levelled through Olivia Breed with 10 minutes to go after Lucy Hyams opened the scoring. However a Catherine Ledesma goal in the 64th minute settled the outcome in  Hampstead’s favour.

It was a good day for Hampstead who are now four points clear at the top as their nearest rivals Surbiton and Reading played out a 2-2 draw. Alice Sharp and Izzy Petter twice gave Surbiton the lead only for Georgia Howe and Georgia Jones to peg them back. East Grinstead carried their good indoor form over the break into the outdoor league with 4-2 win at Wimbledon. Biba Mills (2) netting for the sixth successive game, Carlota Gomez and Grace Balsdon scored for EG before last quarter consolation goals for Wimbledon from Lydia Macdonell and Lucy Holder.

In the Lower 6 teams are aiming for the two finals play-off spots and avoiding the relegation pool and with only a point separating five of the teams it promises to be a tight four more rounds of fixtures.

Birmingham University are now top after earning a point in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham University thanks to a 69^th minute equaliser from Lily Sokhi. Clifton Robinsons, leading before Saturday, went down 2-1 at Bowdon, who arrested a five game losing streak in the process. Holcombe beat Sutton Coldfield 2-0 to move them up into the pack and leave the Midlanders adrift at the foot of the table.

FIXTURES SATURDAY 08 MARCH
Womens Premier Division Top 6

Hampstead & Westminster v East Grinstead, 14:30

Reading v Loughborough Students, 17:00

Wimbledon v Surbiton, 16:00

Womens Premier Division Lower 6

Nottingham University v Sutton Coldfield, 12:00

Bowdon v Holcombe, 13:30

Clifton Robinsons v Birmingham University, 12:15

TOP SCORERS

Biba Mills (East Grinstead) 11

Lucy Hyams (Hampstead & Westminster) 9

Maddie Axford (University of Nottingham) 8

Becky Manton (Wimbledon) 8

Mia Moore (Reading) 8

Madi Ratcliffe (Hampstead & Westminster) 8

CLEAN SHEETS

Miriam Pritchard (Hampstead & Westminster) 5

Mila Welch (East Grinstead) 4

Nicola Cochrane (Reading) 3

Molly Smith (Loughborough Students) 3

Amber Walton (Surbiton) 3

The Men's Premier Division sees a full restart on Saturday. The teams take their place in Phase 2 in the Top or Lower 6s depending on their standings at the end of Phase 1. For the teams in the Top 6 there is a prize of a European place for the team top going into the finals phase. In the Lower 6, there are still two finals play-off places up for grabs as well as needing points on the board to avoid relegation

Old Georgians followed up their 100% record in the first half of the season with domestic and European indoor success. They start their Top 6 campaign with a home game against Holcombe who were second, five points behind them at the break. Third placed Surbiton host Oxted whilst Hampstead & Westminster make the short trip to Wimbledon.

The Lower 6 saw one game played at the weekend – Cardiff & Met and Southgate bringing their game forwards from a double header weekend later this month. It was a good evening for Southgate who came from 2-0 down to win 3-2, only their second win of the season and putting some daylight between themselves and the bottom two.  They host East Grinstead on Saturday whilst Cardiff will be looking to bounce back when they entertain Bowdon. Richmond make their third trip to Beeston having had to replay their first game which was abandoned.  

FIXTURES SATURDAY 08 MARCH
Men's Premier Division Top 6

Surbiton v Oxted, 18:00

Old Georgians v Holcombe, 18:00

Wimbledon v Hampstead & Westminster, 18:00

Men's Premier Division Lower 6

Cardiff & Met v Bowdon, 18:00

Southgate v East Grinstead, 18:00

Beeston v Richmond, 18:00

TOP SCORERS

Sam Ward (Old Georgians) 21

Struan Walker (Surbiton) 16

Henry Croft (Beeston) 12

Alan Forsyth (Old Georgians) 11

Teague Marcano (Holcombe) 11

Tom Carson (Old Georgians) 10

Matt Ramshaw (Holcombe) 10

CLEAN SHEETS

Ore Ogunlana (Wimbledon) 3

James Mazarelo (Surbiton) 2

Mark Philpot (Cardiff & Met) 2

George Pinner (Old Georgians) 2

Toby Reynolds-Cotterill (Hampstead & Westminster) 2