Bowdon Hightown are preparing to make the trip south to Holcombe as the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division continues to provide some mouth-watering clashes.
A raft of big-name summer signings have boosted Bowdon Hightown’s hopes for the 2017-18 campaign, with GB and England stars Sam Quek and Kirsty Mackay having joined the club as well as Wales and GB Under-23 midfielder Julie Whiting.
But having won one, drawn one and lost one of their first three games, Bowdon Hightown are yet to find top gear.
“We’re looking forward to playing Holcombe,” said Bowdon Hightown’s First XI Manager Sam Leckey. “It has been a good start on the whole, but we consider ourselves unlucky not to have more points given the chances we’ve created.
“We’ve had a good influx of players into the club at all levels, a bit of a Rio effect! We’ve picked up some great talent, especially at first XI level.
“We’re definitely targeting the play-offs. The last couple of seasons have been a bit difficult, but we think we’ve got enough talent to push for the top four.”
Elsewhere, leaders Surbiton head to the University of Birmingham as they bid to continue their unbeaten run, while second-placed Slough are also playing away at East Grinstead.
The bottom two in the early table come up against each other as Canterbury host Clifton Robinsons on Saturday, while Leicester are at home against Buckingham.
Two of the three teams with 100% records play each other in the Investec Conference North, with Brooklands Poynton at home against Beeston, while the other side to have won all three, Sutton Coldfield, are at home against Fylde, who have made an unbeaten start to their campaign too.
In the Investec Conference East, Hampstead and Westminster go to Bedford as they bid to make it four out of four, while Sevenoaks are similarly on a 100% record so far and they head to Harleston Magpies.
Early Investec Conference West leaders Stourport are at home against Gloucester City on Saturday evening, while Trojans host Swansea City as they bid to maintain their strong 100% start.
* The lead photo shows Bowdon Hightown preparing for a penalty corner during the play-offs last season.
Saturday, October 14 2017 – Fixtures
Investec Women’s Hockey League
Investec Premier Division
East Grinstead v Slough 13:30
Canterbury v Clifton Robinsons 14:00
Holcombe v Bowdon Hightown 14:00
Leicester v Buckingham 14:00
Univ of Birmingham v Surbiton 14:15
Investec Conference North
Brooklands Poynton v Beeston 12:00
Univ of Durham v Timperley 12:00
Liverpool Sefton v Wakefield 12:30
Sutton Coldfield v Fylde 12:30
Ben Rhydding v Loughborough Students 13:30
Investec Conference East
St Albans v Cambridge City 13:00
Barnes v Chelmsford 13:30
Harleston Magpies v Sevenoaks 14:00
Wimbledon v Southgate 14:00
Bedford v Hampstead & Westminster 14:30
Investec Conference West
Olton & West Warwicks v Isca 12:00
Trojans v Swansea City 12:00
Cannock v Oxford Hawks 12:30
Team Bath Buccaneers v Reading 12:30
Stourport v Gloucester City 18:00
Report courtesy of England Hockey via Snowdon Sports
