England: Review of the Premier Division Week Nine

In the Men’s Premier Division Old Georgians made it 10 wins out of 10 with a 3-0 win against Surbiton, their nearest rivals going into Saturday’s penultimate round of 1st stage fixtures. OGs led at half time with goals from Sam Ward and James Carson. Surbiton’s efforts came to nought in the second period and a late Phil Roper goal condemned them to their first defeat of the season.

Surbiton’s loss means that Holcombe go above them in second place. Kwan Browne’s return to Southgate saw the home side match Holcombe for much of the game but a Rob Field corner with nine minutes left earned Holcombe a 2-1 win.

Wimbledon and Hampstead & Westminster both enjoyed 5-0 wins on the road. Wimbledon won at Richmond, extending their unbeaten run to nine games, and Hampstead at Oxted. There was some good news for Oxted though as they held on to sixth place with their nearest rivals Beeston unable to take advantage of their loss as they were beaten too, by visiting Bowdon. Ex-Bee Ollie Rogerson opened the scoring for Bowdon and although Henry Croft equalised before half time the winner wouldn’t come for Beeston who were then hit on the break and Jack McAuliffe made it 2-1 to Bowdon with three minutes to go. There were no late heroics for Beeston this week and Bowdon held on for their first points of the campaign.

Elsewhere Cardiff & Met and East Grinstead drew 0-0, the first goalless draw in the Division for over two years, which keep both their hopes of a top-six finish alive but Oxted are in the driving seat for this and know a win at Richmond this Saturday would secure sixth place.

The Review of the rest of the league will be out tomorrow. The Goals of the Week will be out on Wednesday and the EHL Premier Preview podcast, looking ahead to next Saturday’s games lands on Thursday evening. Also see our new league web pages here.

Fixtures – Saturday 23 November:

Cardiff & Met v Bowdon, 18:00

East Grinstead v Southgate, 18:00

Holcombe v Beeston, 18:00

Old Georgians v Wimbledon, 18:00

Richmond v Oxted, 18:00

Surbiton v Hampstead & Westminster, 18:00

Top Scorers (16 Nov):

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

Reading stay unbeaten at the top of the Women’s Premier Division after a narrow win against their closest rivals, East Grinstead. Annie Wilson and Mia Moore gave them a 2-0 lead at half time and when Caroline Spence made it three early in Q3 it looked all over, but EG fought back through Carlota Gomez and Biba Mills to make it 3-2, but Reading held on for the points.

Second place Hampstead were 2-0 winners at Bowdon who have now gone four matches without a win and over 3 ½ hours with a goal. This was another clean sheet for Miriam Pritchard; Hampstead have only conceded five goals in ten games. Surbiton go third thanks to a 5-1 defeat of bottom of the table Sutton Coldfield, all of Surbiton’s goals coming in the first half hour. Freya Duchars ended Sutton Coldfield’s 213 minute goal drought when she scored their consolation in added on time from a penalty corner.

Wimbledon made sure of a top six finish with a hard fought 3-1 win at Nottingham University Becky Manton scored twice for Wimbledon who have put together a good six match unbeaten run since mid-October.

Elsewhere any of five teams could take sixth place in the last round of games.

Loughborough Students made a strong claim after moving into sixth thanks to a 2-0 win at Birmingham University who they now lead by a point. Jess Dyson gave Loughborough a 4th minute lead, the fourth time they’ve opened the scoring within the first seven minutes in their last four league games, and Beth Alexander made it 2-0 with a stroke at the start of Q4. Clifton moved up to eighth, trailing Birmingham on goal difference, thanks to a 2-0 defeat of Holcombe. Nottingham University and Bowdon are two points further back but could still overhaul Loughborough if results go their way.

Fixtures – Saturday 23 November:

Birmingham University v Surbiton, 14:00

East Grinstead v Clifton Robinsons, 14:00

Holcombe v Nottingham University, 14:00

Loughborough Students v Bowdon Hightown, 14:00

Reading v Hampstead & Westminster, 14:00

Sutton Coldfield v Wimbledon, 14:00

Top Scorers (16 Nov):

Maddie Axford (Nottingham University) 8

Biba Mills (East Grinstead) 8

Lucy Hyams (Hampstead & Westminster) 7

Mia Moore (Reading) 7