Bowdon Hightown face a tough double-header weekend, as they bid to avoid relegation danger in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division.
Play-off hopefuls Holcombe host the Cheshire side on Saturday, and are desperate for points to climb into the top four and make it to the League Finals weekend on April 16-17 at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London.
But Bowdon will then have 24 hours to recover before they go to Surrey to take on Surbiton.
“We’ve been playing well, but just not getting the results,” said Bowdon Hightown manager Roger Hunt. “Winning against Leicester last weekend was encouraging, not only because we kept a clean sheet but because we scored two good goals which has been our downfall sometimes.
“We’re being really positive and we want to get at least one win from the two games, which will enable us to keep on the tails of Reading and Leicester above us.”
Prior to Sunday’s clash with Bowdon Hightown, Surbiton are hosting play-off hopefuls Clifton on Saturday afternoon.
Also hoping to clinch a spot in at the Finals Weekend are East Grinstead, who face a tough match at top of the table University of Birmingham. Canterbury are already assured of a place in the top four, and they travel to bottom of the table Buckingham for a match which could see them go top of the table.
Also in with a chance of reaching the top four are Leicester and Reading, and they play each other at Leicester Grammar School on Saturday. The loser could see themselves drawn into a relegation battle, depending on the results of Bowdon Hightown’s two matches.
In the Investec Conference East, Slough could wrap up the title and a place in the promotion play-offs if they beat visitors Wimbledon on Saturday. Second-placed Cambridge City will be hoping they can beat Ipswich at home, and their rivals lose, to maintain their slim hopes of taking the title.
Any one of four teams could still take the title in the Investec Conference North, with Wakefield top and four points ahead of second-placed Beeston.
Wakefield head to Liverpool Sefton this Saturday, while Beeston go to fourth-placed Ben Rhydding and Brooklands Poynton entertain Loughborough Students in the hope of maintaining their promotion hopes.
Leaders Sutton Coldfield are at home against Oxford Hawks as they bid to wrap up the Investec Women’s Conference West title and secure their place in the promotion play-off. Stourport could pip them though, and they head to Gloucester City.
The photo above shows Bowdon Hightown’s Lisa Garbutt celebrating a goal against Leicester.
FIXTURES – Saturday, March 5
Investec Women’s Premier Division
Holcombe v Bowdon Hightown 12:00
Buckingham v Canterbury 12:00
University of Birmingham v East Grinstead 12:30
Surbiton v Clifton 14:00
Leicester v Reading 14:00
Investec Women’s Conference East
Chelmsford v St Albans 12:00
Cambridge City v Ipswich 12:30
Slough v Wimbledon 13:00
Hampstead and Westminster v Sevenoaks 13:30
Maidenhead v Harleston Magpies 13:30
Investec Women’s Conference North
Belper v Springfields 12:00
University of Durham v Whitley Bay and Tynemouth 12:00
Brooklands Poynton v Loughborough Students 12:00
Liverpool Sefton v Wakefield 12:30
Ben Rhydding v Beeston 13:30
Investec Women’s Conference West
Bristol Firebrands v Isca 11:00
Trojans v Swansea City 12:00
Gloucester City v Stourport 12:00
University of Bristol v Olton and West Warwicks 13:00
Sutton Coldfield v Oxford Hawks 14:00
FIXTURES – Sunday, March 6
Investec Women’s Premier Division
Surbiton v Bowdon Hightown 14:00
All the latest news and results via England Hockey
League Finals weekend now on sale
The next big event in the club calendar is the League Finals Weekend on the 16th and 17th April – this year the Men’s and Investec Women’s Hockey Leagues Finals and playoffs are combined into one action-packed weekend at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre so drama is guaranteed!
League Finals Weekend tickets are on sale now here. Knockout Finals tickets will also go on sale soon on this page.
Report courtesy of England Hockey via Snowdon Sports
