Source: Andrew Smith

Second half comeback earns Birmingham Uni Premiership lead

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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