The University of Birmingham are the new leaders of the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division after a second half comeback saw them earn a 2-2 draw at home to Canterbury.
Lucy Hyams gave Canterbury the lead two minutes before the break, one that they visitors doubled a minute after the restart thanks to Hannah Griggs’ effort.
Birmingham hit back when Freya Bull (pictured) converted a penalty corner on 49 minutes and the comeback was complete as Lydia Macdonnell struck seven minutes later to earn the hosts a point.
As a result, the University of Birmingham move above former leaders Surbiton on goals scored after the defending champions were held to a goalless draw at ninth-placed Bowdon.
East Grinstead were the only side in the top division to pick up maximum points on Saturday, moving third in the standings after a 3-1 victory at Buckingham.
Natasha Brennan opened the scoring for the visitors after just six minutes, before Georgie Blackwood converted a penalty corner on 29 minutes to double East Grinstead’s lead at the break.
Buckingham were back in it just two minutes after the restart, Phoebe Richards’ goal halving the deficit but the points were secured when Pippa Chapman made it 3-1 eight minutes later, East Grinstead now just a point behind the leading sides.
Katie Long’s fourth of the campaign earned Leicester a point after a 1-1 draw at home to Holcombe.
Dirkie Chamberlain had put the visitors ahead on four minutes, but Long struck ten minutes from time to earn Leicester a share of the spoils.
Meanwhile, Amy Sheehan hit a brace as Slough twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at home to Clifton Robinsons.
Lisa Daley opened the scoring for Clifton after eight minutes but Sheehan’s first three minutes later tied the game.
Lizzy Totten converted a penalty corner three minutes after the restart to restore the visitors lead but Sheehan struck again six minutes from time to earn Slough a point.
Investec Conference East
Hampstead & Westminster made it nine straight wins after a 2-1 win at Sevenoaks in the game of the day in the Investec Conference East.
Both sides went into the game with 100% records but a brace from Emily Maguire was enough to give the visitors the points, Maddie Thompson had levelled in the first half for Sevenoaks.
Wimbledon were back to winning ways after a 3-0 home victory over Barnes, Eliza Brett scored two whilst Crista Cullen bagged her 12th of the season.
First half goals from Helen Richardson-Walsh and Heidi Baber were enough to give Cambridge City a 2-1 win at Bedford, and Emma Lee-Smith scored two as Harleston Magpies beat Southgate 3-0.
Meanwhile in the battle of the bottom two it was St Albans that picked up a crucial three points, Briony Anyon and Alexis Hamilton on target in their 2-0 win at Chelmsford.
Investec Conference North
Beeston stretched their winning streak to nine games and their lead at the top of the Investec Conference North to six points after a comfortable 7-0 victory over Timperley.
Fenella Scutt hit a brace with Paige Gillott, Lauren Burrell, Rosy Stephens, Eloise Stenner and Nina Apoola all on target.
Brookland Poynton lost ground on the leaders after they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Ben Rydding, Rachel Doherty scoring the game’s only goal for the hosts.
The University of Durham stay third after a 3-0 win over Liverpool Sefton, whilst Wakefield moved off the bottom with a crucial 2-1 win at Fylde, Hannah Norman with a goal in each half.
Elsewhere, a Maria Andrews double helped Loughborough Students to a 5-1 win over Sutton Coldfield, Olivia Clark also saving a penalty stroke for the hosts.
Investec Conference West
Trojans are the new leaders of the Investec Conference West after they won 4-1 at Team Bath Buccaneers whilst Reading lost for the first time this season.
Kathryn Petch scored the day’s fastest goal after just one minute for Trojans, and despite Vikki Warwick’s equaliser, goals from Cat Horn, Rebecca Treharne and Lauren Anning sent the visitors top.
Reading went down 2-1 at Stourport, Hannah Corcoran and Claire Pearson on target for the hosts who themselves sit just two points off the top of the table.
Isca won for only the second time this season to pull away from the bottom of the table, Meg Crowson netting twice in their 4-1 victory at Cannock.
Meanwhile, Jessica Thomas struck with a minute to go as Gloucester City defeated Olton & West Warwicks 2-1, whilst Oxford Hawks and Swansea City drew 1-1.
* The lead photo shows University of Birmingham scorer Freya Bull in action against Canterbury’s Lucy Hyams.
Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division
Results, Saturday 18 November 2017 to Sunday 19 November 2017
| Home Team | HT | FT | HT | Away Team | ||
| Bowdon | (0) | 0 | – | 0 | (0) | Surbiton |
| Buckingham
Phoebe Richards (FG37) |
(0) | 1 | – | 3 | (2) | East Grinstead
Natasha Brennan (FG6), Georgie Blackwood (PC29), Pippa Chapman (FG45) |
| Leicester
Katie Long (FG60) |
(0) | 1 | – | 1 | (1) | Holcombe
Dirkie Chamberlain (FG4) |
| Slough
Amy Sheehan (FG11) (FG64) |
(1) | 2 | – | 2 | (1) | Clifton Robinsons
Lisa Daley (FG8), Lizzy Totten (PC38) |
| University of Birmingham
Freya Bull (PC49), Lydia Macdonell (FG56) |
(0) | 2 | – | 2 | (1) | Canterbury
Lucy Hyams (FG33), Hannah Griggs (FG36) |
League table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | University of Birmingham | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 17 |
| 2 | Surbiton | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 17 |
| 3 | East Grinstead | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 16 |
| 4 | Buckingham | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 15 |
| 5 | Holcombe | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 14 |
| 6 | Clifton Robinsons | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 18 | -1 | 11 |
| 7 | Slough | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 11 |
| 8 | Leicester | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 8 |
| 9 | Bowdon | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 8 |
| 10 | Canterbury | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 18 | -8 | 6 |
Investec Women’s Hockey League Conference North
Results, Saturday 18 November 2017
| Home Team | HT | FT | HT | Away Team | ||
| Ben Rhydding
Rachel Doherty (FG49) |
(0) | 1 | – | 0 | (0) | Brooklands-Poynton |
| Beeston
Paige Gillott (PC21), Lauren Burrell (PC37), Rosy Stephens (FG42), Fenella Scutt (FG44) (FG47), Eloise Stenner (PC61), Nina Apoola (PC66) |
(1) | 7 | – | 0 | (0) | Timperley |
| University of Durham
Penny Joyce (FG28), Connie Vickers (FG29), Claire Dobison (PC43) |
(2) | 3 | – | 0 | (0) | Liverpool Sefton |
| Fylde
Rachel Greenwood (FG4) |
(1) | 1 | – | 2 | (1) | Wakefield
Hannah Norman (PC25) (FG60) |
| Loughborough Students’
Jane Kilpatrick (FG13), Hannah Bloy (FG30), Maria Andrews (FG42) (FG64), Sophie Byrne (FG59) |
(2) | 5 | – | 1 | (0) | Sutton Coldfield
Jane Sixsmith (FG56) |
League table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Beeston | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 4 | 37 | 27 |
| 2 | Brooklands-Poynton | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 9 | 22 | 21 |
| 3 | University of Durham | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 19 |
| 4 | Ben Rhydding | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 16 |
| 5 | Sutton Coldfield | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 22 | -2 | 12 |
| 6 | Loughborough Students’ | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 21 | -4 | 9 |
| 7 | Wakefield | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 31 | -23 | 9 |
| 8 | Fylde | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 19 | -9 | 8 |
| 9 | Timperley | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 27 | -16 | 6 |
| 10 | Liverpool Sefton | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 31 | -24 | 6 |
Investec Women’s Hockey League Conference West
Results, Saturday 18 November 2017 to Sunday 19 November 2017
| Home Team | HT | FT | HT | Away Team | ||
| Cannock
Jodie Beddow (FG42) |
(0) | 1 | – | 4 | (3) | Isca
Rebecca Manton (FG16), Megan Crowson (FG27) (FG34), Emily Davies (FG64) |
| Gloucester City
Sarah Jennings (FG33), Jessica Thomas (FG69) |
(1) | 2 | – | 1 | (0) | Olton & West Warwicks
Harriet Payne (PC58) |
| Oxford Hawks
Sandra Roche (FG32) |
(1) | 1 | – | 1 | (1) | Swansea City
Kathryn Mee (PC30) |
| Stourport
Hannah Corcoran (PC9), Claire Pearson (PC42) |
(1) | 2 | – | 1 | (0) | Reading
Keelie Perham (FG49) |
| Team Bath Buccaneers
Vikki Warwick (PC22) |
(1) | 1 | – | 4 | (3) | Trojans
Kathryn Petch (FG1), Cat Horn (FG24), Rebecca Treharne (PC26), Lauren Anning (FG55) |
League table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Trojans | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 6 | 19 | 21 |
| 2 | Reading | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 20 |
| 3 | Stourport | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 11 | 15 | 19 |
| 4 | Gloucester City | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 17 |
| 5 | Swansea City | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 15 |
| 6 | Olton & West Warwicks | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 19 | -4 | 11 |
| 7 | Cannock | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 19 | -10 | 9 |
| 8 | Oxford Hawks | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 27 | -16 | 8 |
| 9 | Isca | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 18 | -6 | 7 |
| 10 | Team Bath Buccaneers | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 24 | -20 | 1 |
Investec Women’s Hockey League Conference East
Results, Saturday 18 November 2017 to Sunday 19 November 2017
| Home Team | HT | FT | HT | Away Team | ||
| Bedford
Kate Costin (PC62) |
(0) | 1 | – | 2 | (2) | Cambridge City
Helen Richardson-Walsh (PC10), Heidi Baber (PC13) |
| Chelmsford | (0) | 0 | – | 2 | (2) | St. Albans
Briony Anyon (PC17), Alexis Hamilton (FG25) |
| Harleston Magpies
Victoria Findlay (FG26), Emma Lee-Smith (FG37) (FG54) |
(1) | 3 | – | 0 | (0) | Southgate |
| Sevenoaks
Maddie Thompson (FG19) |
(1) | 1 | – | 2 | (1) | Hampstead & Westminster
Emily Maguire (PC15) (PC59) |
| Wimbledon
Eliza Brett (FG41) (FG69), Crista Cullen (PC68) |
(0) | 3 | – | 0 | (0) | Barnes |
League table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Hampstead & Westminster | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 6 | 33 | 27 |
| 2 | Sevenoaks | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 3 | 24 | 24 |
| 3 | Wimbledon | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 37 | 5 | 32 | 21 |
| 4 | Cambridge City | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 16 |
| 5 | Harleston Magpies | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 17 | -11 | 10 |
| 6 | Barnes | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 16 | -6 | 9 |
| 7 | Bedford | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 21 | -10 | 8 |
| 8 | Southgate | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 31 | -23 | 8 |
| 9 | St. Albans | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 20 | -10 | 5 |
| 10 | Chelmsford | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 40 | -36 | 1 |
Report courtesy of England Hockey via Snowdon Sport
