Vitality Women's Hockey League Week 1 2022 Preview

Hampstead & Westminster, the early joint leaders in the Premier Division, travel to Kent to face a Holcombe side looking to get their season up and running after losing 0-2 at Clifton Robinsons last weekend. Hampstead, however, with a thumping 5-0 win against Loughborough Students will be high in confidence as they go to Holcombe Park, having been victorious in all their previous meetings.

Surbiton, who also sit level on points and goals, entertain visitors East Grinstead having picked up their first win in their last five matches, thanks to a 70th-minute winner from Chloe Brown. The division's top goal scorer, Sophie Hamilton, will be a threat in front of the East Grinstead goal, where she scored twice in the corresponding fixture last season, as Surbiton look to replicate the 6-0 scoreline.

The University of Birmingham, on the receiving end of Chloe Brown's last-minute winner on the opening weekend of the campaign, travel to the Nottingham Hockey Centre to face the University of Nottingham for the first time in the Vitality Women's Hockey League. However, both sides have met numerous times in the BUCS Hockey League. The University of Nottingham will be itching to get started in their first 'home' game of the season, having drawn 2-2 with local rivals Beeston on the opening day.

Beeston, unbeaten in their last five matches (4 wins & 1 draw), travel to Stowe School, where they won 1-0 last season. Having their seven-match unbeaten run ended in crushing style last week, Buckingham will be determined to return to winning ways.

Tenth placed Loughborough Students head to the Capital seeking retribution for the 8-0 defeat suffered last season at the hands of their hosts, Wimbledon. The task gets all the harder when you look at the history books, going back to 3 Apr 2005 for the last time Loughborough Students won away at Wimbledon - Wimbledon 1 (Fiona Champness) Loughborough Students 2 (Claire Gavin, Carolyn Steele) (Premier 2)

Reading, who suffered opening day defeat against Wimbledon, welcome third-placed Clifton Robinsons to Sonning Lane. Alex Danson on the scoresheet the last time they met back in 2017.  

League leaders Bowdon make their shortest away journey of the season as they head five miles North to Brooklands-Poynton.  Brooklands-Poynton, who have not won at home for four matches, will be looking to end that run and, more impressively, Bowdon's ten games without defeat.

Ben Rhydding, Bowdon's last opponents, travel to Sutton Coldfield with both sides seeking their first points of the season. Sutton Coldfield will be looking to recover the form that served them so well in the Conference Midlands last year and return to winning ways, after going unbeaten in their promotion-winning season.

With just one away loss since October '21, Stourport heads to Durham University, who are unbeaten in their last eight matches. After an opening day draw against Durham University, Swansea welcomes Leicester City to the King George V Playing Fields. Visitors Leicester City, fresh from opening day victory over Gloucester City, will be keen to inflict more pain in Swansea's hope of an immediate return to the Premier Division.

Without a win in their last nine, Gloucester City faces a newly promoted Leeds, who will have confidence after their opening day victory in Division One North.

Early league leaders Sevenoaks travel to West London to face a Barnes side who have won their last seven at home and are unbeaten in their previous sixteen, dating back to October '21 when they lost 1-0 away at Horsham.

Suffering a 4-0 loss away at Sevenoaks on the opening weekend, Wimbledon 2 are on the road once again as they head to Witney. With one win in nine, Wimbledon 2 will be hoping to end that unwanted run against one of the division's newest sides.

After a 2-0 win at home against Witney, Isca & Exeter University travel up the M4 to Slough. Searching for their fifth consecutive clean sheet, Slough will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to twelve, having won 2-0 against Harleston Magpies last week.

The Harleston Magpies will be on the road early as they make the 60-mile journey to Cambridge for the day's early start. With both sides experiencing defeat on the season's first weekend, an unwanted run will surely end. Harleston Magpies have not won away from home since the 2020/21 season, and Cambridge City has just one win in Seventeen.

With an opening round 4-1 win versus Cambridge City, Canterbury will be looking to reverse their opening day result from last season when Surbiton 2 travelled to Polo Farm, winning 4-0. With one loss in seven, Canterbury will need to be at their best to stop Surbiton 2, who are also on a streak, with just one defeat in nine.

With no win at home for six games, Chelmsford welcomes an East London side who have lost their last five in the league.  

Early pace-setters Southgate, fresh from an opening day 5-0 win over Chelmsford, return home to face Horsham unbeaten in eight. Having lost both fixtures last season, Horsham have a challenging task ahead.

Spencer and Guildford meet at the Spencer Club, with both sides enjoying their first foray into Conference East. Having beaten Horsham in the previous week, Spencer faces a tough Guildford side who are full of confidence after overcoming a resilient Bishop Stortford.

After the loss at Guildford, Ipswich are the next opponents for Bishop Stortford. Ipswich will be battling to reverse the tides and end their run of poor form with three losses in a row.

After beating Ipswich on the opening day, Hampstead & Westminster 2 head to the King's House Sports Ground to take on an in-form London Wayfarers who are unbeaten in seven.

Oxford University entertains Olton & West Warwickshire in the day's first game. With Olton & West Warwickshire beating Bedford 2-0, they will need to be at their defensive best to secure another clean sheet, with Oxford University having scored in every game since the 2020'21 season.

Bedford face a travelling Loughborough Students 2; with both sides suffering 2-0 losses in the previous week, stakes are high for one side to gain their first points of the season.

With a 2-0 victory away at Loughborough, Rugby & East Warwickshire will be confident of extending Cannock's run of five away matches without a win.

The University of Birmingham 2 travels to St Albans, looking to inflict the second defeat of the season on their hosts. Whilst Beeston 2 entertain Belper with both sides suffering opening day losses.

Harrogate, who took to their start in the National Leagues like a duck to water, as they inflicted a 6-0 defeat to Liverpool Sefton, welcome fellow Yorkshire side Wakefield to the Harrogate Hockey Club. Finishing last season in second place, Wakefield will be looking to maintain their sequence of away results (L, W, L, W, L) with a win this weekend.

Liverpool Sefton travels to Timperley, looking to put last weekend's 6-0 defeat behind and stretch the winless run at home for their hosts to six games.

Durham University 2 will be hoping to maintain their recent run of good form against Pendle Forest, having won both matches last season, to return to winning after defeating Fylde last time.

Fylde will be hoping to hand Doncaster their fifth consecutive away game without a win as when they meet at Mill Farm. Having beaten Didsbury Northen on the open day, Doncaster will be happy to return to winning ways.

After their defeat last weekend, Didsbury Northern will be looking for home advantage against Alderley Edge to give them a boost and continue their run of one defeat in seven.

Having been promoted into the National Leagues last season, Reading 2 and Cheltenham meet at the National League level for the first time. With mixed fortunes in the opening weekend, Cheltenham will be looking to bounce back from the defeat to Isca & Exeter University 2. While Reading 2's will be seeking their second victory of the season, having beaten Trojans at home.

Also gaining promotion last season, Trojans welcome an Oxford Hawks side flying high to the South coast after their 4-2 victory over Team Bath Buccaneers.

It's derby day for Team Bath Buccaneers as they play hosts to the travelling Firebrands from Bristol. Firebrands. Winning 1-0 last time the two teams met at Bath University, Firebrands will be looking to add to last week's 2-2 draw with Exe with a win over their hosts.

Exe, unbeaten in three, entertain Essex-based Basingstoke at St James High School. With four losses in a row, Basingstoke will be keen to turn around their form from last week against Penarth with a Victory in Devon.

Also in Devon, Isca & Exeter University 2's face a Penarth side seeking their third consecutive away win.