A hat-trick from Philipa Newton helped Slough win 3-0 over Wakefield and make a great start to their bid for top-flight hockey in the Investec Women’s Promotion Tournament.
Sunday’s win puts Slough top of the early table, although Buckingham are level following their 4-3 win over East Grinstead at Cannock Hockey Club.
Goals from Jess Bloom, Zoe Shipperley and Leanne Grimsley helped Buckingham go three-nil up just before half time.
East Grinstead pulled one back through Heather Batten just before the whistle, and after Kitty Higgins and Alice Pyrgos had traded goals to make it 4-2, Batten bagged her second to narrow the gap and ensure an anxious final seven minutes.
And in the relegation play-offs, Bristol Firebrands took a step towards avoiding the drop when they beat Horsham 2-1 with goals from Georgie Field and Miranda Caillard, the latter in the final minute.
Investec Women’s Hockey League (Sunday, March 29 2015):
Investec Women’s Promotion Tournament: Buckingham 4, East Grinstead 3; Slough 3, Wakefield 0.
Investec Women’s Relegation Play-offs: Horsham 1, Bristol Firebrands 2.
* Photo above by Andy Smith shows action from the play-off match between Slough and Wakefield, March 29 2015.
