Week 12 Review of the England Hockey League

Men's Division One North saw the form guide almost completely torn up with a number of surprise results. Leaders Loughborough Students had Tom Ferris to thank for a later equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Olton & West Warwicks, while second placed Brooklands MU were unable to take advantage losing 2-1 at Harborne. Ninth placed Lindum earned a point in a 3-3 draw with Durham University whilst bottom of the table Stourport beat Deeside Ramblers 4-3. The only game to go to form saw Nottingham triumph 3-2 in the University battle with Birmingham.

The top two in Division One South both got off to a winning restart. Two early Charlie Ellison goals got leaders Reading off to a great start and saw them beat bottom of the table Canterbury 4-2. Daman Bansal hit a hat-trick in second placed Indian Gymkhana’s 5-3 win over Exeter University. Willem Owens overtime corner clinched a 3-2 win for Bristol University over Sevenoaks and they also moved out of the bottom two on the back of this, replaced by Team Bath Buccaneers who went down 3-1 at Havant. Teddington won 2-1 at Old Loughtonians.

The top two in Conference Midlands also won with Repton beating Banbury 2-0 and St Albans winning 3-1 at Barford Tigers. Third placed Chelmsford were also victorious in a 4-1 win over Norwich City. Nottingham triumphed 3-1 in the University 2s battle with Birmingham and in the battle of the bottom two Cambridge City beat Harleston Magpies 5-3. Connor Anand scored three of Cambridge’s goals and they go three points clear of Harleston and level on points with Birmingham.

A Connor Miller brace helped Conference North leaders Timperley to a 5-1 win at Brooklands MU 2s and their lead at the top of the table is extended to six points as second placed Leeds lost 2-1 at Didsbury Northern. Doncaster are now ten points off the top after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Durham University 2s. A 3-0 defeat at Sheffield leaves Wakefield five points adrift at the foot of the table. Oxton’s 2-0 win over Ben Rhydding gives them bit of breathing space from the relegation places.

A 4-1 win against bottom of the table West Herts saw Conference East leaders Surbiton 2s start where they left off. Their nearest rivals London Wayfarers lost 2-0 against Brighton & Hove who move to within two points of safety thanks to this result. Third placed Spencer could only draw 0-0 with Hampstead & Westminster 2s. Wimbledon 2s beat Tunbridge Wells 4-3 and Bromley & Beckenham won 2-1 at Old Cranleghan. Only four points separate Brighton in ninth and Hampstead in fourth.

Goals from Raphael Boulanger and Sammy Dowds gave Guildford a 2-0 win at Ashmoor which keeps them top of Conference West. They are three points ahead of Clifton Robinsons who won by the same score line at Team Bath Buccaneers 2s who are bottom of the table. Reading moved out of the bottom two after picking up a point in a 2-2 draw with Oxford Hawks. Isca slip to ninth having lost 5-3 to Fareham despite a hat-trick from Jonathan Wright. Exeter University 2s won 4-2 at Chichester.

Women's Division One leaders, Barnes, saw their lead at the top of the table cut by a point after a losing start to the second part of the season. They were beaten 4-2 at Southgate, Aleesa Ferguson and Lara Tegner gave Barnes a first half lead only for Lorna Cruickshank and Ellie McIntyre to peg the home-side back. Ellie Robinson netted to give Southgate the advantage at the break and Cruickshanks’ second secured a 4-2 win. Barnes’ disappointment will be tempered by their nearest rivals both dropping points in 0-0 draws. Exeter University at Harleston and Guildford at Sevenoaks. Surbiton 2s moved closer to the top with a 3-2 win over Slough who slip to ninth as Bristol Firebrands go above them after a 1-0 win at bottom of the table Wimbledon 2s.

The Division One North leaders, Durham University, also lost. Their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Beeston was their first dropped points of the season. Goals from Rosy Stephens, Katie Mason and Hannah Grieve proved decisive with Lizzy Pocknell grabbing Durham’s only goal. The result leaves Beeston just three points behind the leaders. Buckingham are two points further back after a 6-0 win over bottom of the table Wakefield, Sophia Crawshay and Jo Day both scoring twice. More bad news for Wakefield was ninth placed Leicester City winning 1-0 at Repton. Gloucester City are just above Leicester thanks to their 4-1 win at Olton & West Warwicks. Pendle Forest put daylight between themselves and the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Ben Rhydding.

Gloucester City have been deducted a point in line with league regulations after they did not travel to Durham University on the scheduled slip date before Christmas, the game is awarded to Durham as a 5-0 win.

Goals from Suzie Carter and Lily Beer gave Conference Midlands leaders Loughborough Students a 2-0 win over Oxford Hawks. They stay four points clear of Cambridge City who won 5-1 at bottom of the table Bedford with Emily McStea netting a hat-trick. Struggling Cannock were denied all three points by St Albans’ Rebecca Ellis whose 70th minute corner levelled it up at 3-3. Birmingham University 2s and Beeston drew 0-0 and Stourport won 2-1 at Cambridge University.

Fylde top Conference North after a hard fought 2-1 win over Whitley Bay & Tynemouth. The North East side had downed promotion hopefuls Leeds in last week’s rearranged game but Leeds bounced back with a 7-1 win at Didsbury Northern including a hat-trick for Anna Rutherford. Bowdon 2s stay in the hunt too thanks to a 3-1 win at Newcastle University. Harrogate sit firmly in tenth after a 6-2 defeat by Alderley Edge who scored five goals in the last thirteen minutes. Doncaster, in ninth, went down 2-0 at Durham University 2s.

Reading 2s continued where they left off in Conference West with a 4-1 win over Exeter. They are six points clear of Clifton Robinsons 2s who won 5-1 at Team Bath Buccaneers. Tenth placed Witney are now 11 points from safety after a 1-0 defeat by Swansea. Cheltenham had a narrow 1-0 win in their derby with Lansdown and Marlow edged past Trojans 4-3.

Conference East leaders Teddington stay top after a 2-0 win at Old Loughtonians. They are three points clear of Hampstead & Westminster who were held 3-3 by Spencer. London Wayfarers are a point further back thanks to their 2-1 win at Wapping. In the battle of the bottom two Sevenoaks 2s edged past East London 2-1 to go level with Wapping, four points ahead of East London. Canterbury picked up important points in the battle to avoid the drop with a 4-2 win at Old Georgians.

Spencer have been deducted five points for fielding an ineligible player in matches in the first half of the season.