Vitality Women's Hockey League Week 3 2022 Preview

League leaders Surbiton welcome the University of Nottingham newcomers to Sugden Road for their first top-flight match outside the Nottingham Hockey Centre. Surbiton looking to maintain their perfect start to the campaign.

Second-place Clifton Robinsons, the only other team in the Premier Division with a 100% record, travel to the University of Birmingham looking to win their first three games of the season for the very first time in the Premier Division.

Reading, looking to bounce back from last week's defeat to Clifton Robinsons, travel to The Nottingham Hockey Centre to take on a Beeston side who have never scored versus Reading at home.

Beeston's opposition from last week, Buckingham, travel to Holcombe with confidence, having lost only once in their previous six visits to Holcombe Park. Having taken points from Hampstead & Westminster at home for the first time last week, Holcombe are looking to correct their poor form at home.

Hampstead & Westminster welcome Wimbledon, to Paddington Recreation Ground, in this week's Match of the Week for only the second time in top-flight hockey. Fiona Burnet scored the only goal to give Wimbledon all three points.

East Grinstead, who lost to Surbiton last week, travel to Loughborough Students looking to repeat the only previous meeting in Leicestershire when East Grinstead won 6-0 in February 2020.

Bowdon, sitting at the top of the division after the opening two matches, welcomes Durham University, struggling for form, to Manchester. With two wins from two this season, Bowdon will be looking to extend the run further.

Stourport, hot on the heels of the leaders, also with two wins from two line up against Leeds, who narrowly lost 2-1 against Gloucester City last time.

Swansea are the visitors to the Oxstalls Sports Park this week, looking to pick up their first win of the season, having drawn twice, whilst the hosts, Gloucester City, will be searching for consecutive home wins.

After last week's 0-0 draw with Swansea, Leicester face Sutton Coldfield on Saturday evening, with both sides looking to get back to winning ways. Sutton Coldfield drawing 2-2 with Ben Rhydding, who returns home to face Brooklands Poynton.  

The only team in the division with a perfect record, Canterbury, travels to West London to face unbeaten Barnes. Barnes are looking for their second home win after defeating Sevenoaks 2-1 last weekend. Sevenoaks welcome second-placed Isca & Exeter University to Holly Bush Lane. The home side is looking to go one better than last season's 3-3 draw to get back to winning ways.

Slough travel to Cambridge City, having drawn last week versus Isca & Exeter University. Having drawn 0-0 the last time the two sides met, Cambridge City is still searching for their first points of the season. The only other side still searching for their first points is Witney, who travel to Suffolk to face the Harleston Magpies.

Wimbledon 2's line up against Surbiton 2's having drawn the last time the two sides met Raynes Park.

With one loss in their last 18 matches, high-scoring Southgate make the short trip to Spencer looking to continue their unbeaten run, with early pace setter Guildford.

Guildford entertains East London at Broadwater School, looking to keep the pressure on leaders Southgate.

Losing to East London last week, struggling Chelmsford, one of three teams without a point, travels to Bishop Stortford. With both sides without a point this season, at least one side's poor run will end. Horsham, the other pointless side in the division, has a tough home match against Hampstead & Westminster 2's.

The University of Oxford travels for a varsity match when they take on the University of Birmingham 2's. Currently in second place, the University of Oxford hopes to stay hot on the heels of leaders Rugby & Was Warwickshire.

Rugby & East Warwickshire are having a start to their Conference campaign they will remember. Sitting at the top of the division with a 100% record, Rugby & East Warwickshire welcomes Bedford to Hart Field, still searching for their first win. Belper will be looking to climb off the foot of the table when they travel to Loughborough Students. With their opponents just one point above them, a win for Belper, and things going in their favour elsewhere, could see them move up to 7th. Olton & West Warwickshire head to Cannock, looking to maintain their unbeaten status. Whilst St Albans and Beeston meet in a midtable clash that could see either side rise in the rankings.

League leaders Timperley travel to Doncaster in what is expected to be a tough evening fixture. Doncaster will be looking for a repeat of last season, winning 3-2 when the visitors were last in town.

Durham University 2's, without a point so far this season, welcomes second-placed Harrogate, whilst fellow struggling side Liverpool Sefton line up against Pendle Forest. Both Durham University and Liverpool Sefton, along with the only other side without a point, Alderley Edge, will be looking for home advantage to kickstart their season. Alderley Edge welcomes Fylde to The Edge, having won the last time the two sides met at home.

Didsbury Northern heads to Wakefield, looking to maintain their unbeaten run against the host side.

In the closest division, in the Vitality Women's Hockey League, leaders Reading are separated by only one point with 7th placed Team Bath Buccaneers. It's very much all to play for to set the early pace and for someone to pull away from the pack.

With the top five level on points, Exe welcomes Reading to St James High School, where one side will pull away from their opponents with a win. The Oxford Hawks face Isca & University of Exeter 2's in Devon, whilst the final team currently on four points, Penarth welcomes Bristol Firebrands to Sophie Gardens.

Team Bath Buccaneers welcome Trojans to the University of Bath, knowing that a win for the home side will see them climb the table. Basingstoke at the foot of the table will fall back on last season's memories as they encounter Cheltenham in Essex. Unbeaten in both matches last season, Basingstoke will be looking for their first points of the season.