After putting three past Leicester on the opening day of the season, the University of Birmingham are on the road against Reading in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday.
The two sides battled to the end in search of a place in the top four last season, with Reading making it to Finals Weekend by just one point.
“Going to Reading is always tough,” said University of Birmingham Head Coach Phil Gooderham. “They play some good hockey and I like to think we do too, and it’s always a good quick open game. We’ve had quite a few players come and go, but I think we’ve got some good experience here now, so I would like to think we are capable of getting a result. We won at their place last year but lost at home, so we’re looking to tighten up when they come to us.”1
In other Premier Division action Leicester take on Holcombe. With both sides unable to get on the scoresheet last weekend, they will be looking to kick-start their seasons on Saturday.
The team that Holcombe drew with last weekend, Canterbury are on the road again, this time visiting a Clifton outfit who beat Bowdon Hightown 2-1 on Saturday.
Bowdon Hightown face a battle if they are to claim their first points of the season, as they entertain champions Surbiton. But with newcomers East Grinstead having held them to a draw last week, anything is possible.
Finally, East Grinstead go to Buckingham with both sides hoping to claim their first victories of the season.
In the Investec Conference East, the top two in the early table face off with leaders St Albans playing host to Slough. And following their 4-3 win at Maidenhead last weekend, Hampstead and Westminster play Harleston Magpies, while Cambridge City entertain Sevenoaks hoping to make it two wins out of two.
Following victories on the opening day of the season, Loughborough Students and Liverpool Sefton face each other in the Investec Conference North, while the only other side to win their opening match, Wakefield head to Beeston.
Early leaders Gloucester – who put five past the University of Bristol last weekend – will want to keep their great start to the season going in the Investec Conference West. They head to Stourport, who also won their opening league fixture last weekend.
* Photo above shows University of Birmingham celebrate a goal against Leicester on the opening day of the season
Investec Women’s Hockey League Fixtures: Saturday, September 19 2015
Investec Premier Division
Clifton v Canterbury 13:00
Buckingham v East Grinstead 12:00
Reading v Univ of Birmingham 13:30
Bowdon Hightown v Surbiton 13:45
Leicester v Holcombe 14:00
Investec Conference East
Chelmsford v Ipswich 12:00
Cambridge City v Sevenoaks 12:30
Slough v St Albans 13:00
Hampstead and Westminster v Harleston Magpies 13:30
Wimbledon v Maidenhead 14:00
Investec Conference North
Loughborough Students v Liverpool Sefton 12:30
Brooklands Poynton v Springfields 11:45
Univ of Durham v Belper 12:00
Beeston v Wakefield 12:00
Ben Rhydding v Whitley Bay and Tynemouth 13:30
Investec Conference West
Oxford Hawks v Isca 12:00
Trojans v Olton and West Warwicks 12:00
Swansea City v Univ of Bristol 12:00
Sutton Coldfield v Bristol Firebrands 14:00
Stourport v Gloucester City 18:00
Report courtesy of England Hockey
