Source: Peter Smith

Investec Women’s Hockey League, Sept 26-27 2015 Preview

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After battling to a draw with champions Surbiton, Bowdon Hightown are preparing to face early leaders the University of Birmingham in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday.

Sally Walton’s late goal clinched Bowdon’s first point of the new campaign last weekend, and they will be hoping to add to their tally further at Edgbaston.

“It’s going to be an interesting game, both for the club and for me personally,” said Bowdon Hightown’s manager Roger Hunt, whose daughter Holly Hunt will be playing for the University of Birmingham on Saturday, while his younger daughter Lauren is in Bowdon’s first team squad.

“The University of Birmingham have a lot of young talented players who have gelled very quickly so it will be a challenge for us. But we’re buoyed by our result against Surbiton last weekend and we have a good mix of youth and experience, with Sally Walton inspiring our younger players and Tina Cullen on the sidelines as assistant coach.”

If the University of Birmingham fall to Bowdon Hightown, Canterbury and East Grinstead are poised to take over top spot. Canterbury are at home against Reading, while East Grinstead take on Leicester at Saint Hill.

Beaten by Leicester last weekend, Holcombe take on Clifton in Rochester, while Surbiton play host to Buckingham in the weekend’s other top flight match.

In the Investec Conference East, leaders Slough face fellow unbeaten outfit Cambridge City, who lie second in the early table on goal difference only.

Meanwhile, the only other team with a 100 per cent record are Hampstead and Westminster who travel to Sevenoaks.

Table-topping Wakefield are at home against Springfields in the Investec Conference North, while Loughborough Students will be aiming to preserve their 100 per cent start to the season when they entertain Brooklands Poynton.

With 11 goals from their opening two matches, leaders Sutton Coldfield will be aiming to add further to their tally when they play at bottom club University of Bristol in the Investec Conference West.

Elsewhere, second-placed Swansea City are at home against Trojans, while Oxford Hawks are on the road at Gloucester City.

 

* The photo above shows Bowdon Hightown’s Sally Walton celebrating a goal. Photo: .

 

Investec Women’s Hockey League (Saturday, September 26 2015)

 Investec Premier Division

Holcombe v Clifton 12:00

Univ of Birmingham v Bowdon Hightown 12:30

East Grinstead v Leicester 13:30

Surbiton v Buckingham 14:00

Canterbury v Reading 16:00

Investec Conference East

Chelmsford v Wimbledon 12:00

Sevenoaks v Hampstead & Westminster 13:30

St Albans v Maidenhead 13:00

Slough v Cambridge City 13:00

Ipswich v Harleston Magpies 14:30

Investec Conference North

Loughborough Students v Brooklands Poynton 12:30

Whitley Bay and Tynemouth v Univ of Durham 12:30

Liverpool Sefton v Beeston 12:30

Ben Rhydding v Belper 13:30

Wakefield v Springfields 13:30

Investec Conference West

Swansea City v Trojans 12:00

Gloucester City v Oxford Hawks 12:00

Olton and West Warwicks v Stourport 12:00

Univ of Bristol v Sutton Coldfield 13:00

Isca v Bristol Firebrands 14:00

 

Report courtesy of England Hockey via Snowdon Sports.