After going top of the table last weekend the University of Birmingham will be looking to hold on to the lead in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division when they go to East Grinstead on Saturday.
Victory over Clifton Robinsons – coupled with Surbiton being held to a draw by Bowdon Hightown – put Birmingham one point ahead, but they will need to be on form if they are to beat fourth-placed East Grinstead.
“We’ve had a good couple of results over the last few weeks so it’s nice to be top,” said the University of Birmingham head coach Phil Gooderham. “But for us it’s good to be able to score plenty of goals and also to keep a clean sheet because our style of play is liable to see us conceding a few.
“East Grinstead is always a difficult place to go down to. They are a very well organised side who know how to win and they have got some experienced players in their group. But we will play as we want to and hopefully come away with the win.”
Elsewhere Surbiton head to Clifton Robinsons as they aim to get back to winning ways and potentially retake the lead, while the Bristol side are also desperate for points as they bid to avoid getting drawn into the relegation fight.
Holcombe are hosting Buckingham in a battle of two teams chasing a play-off spot, while Bowdon Hightown are at home against a Canterbury side which lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with a win over Buckingham last weekend.
Runaway leaders Beeston head to the University of Durham in the Investec Conference North on Saturday, while second-placed Brooklands-Poynton are at home against bottom of the table Liverpool Sefton.
Leaders Hampstead & Westminster head to Barnes in the Investec Conference East while second-placed Wimbledon are at home against St Albans. At the other end of the table Southgate are hosting Chelmsford in a match crucial to both side’s hopes of avoiding the drop.
Second-placed Stourport go to third-placed Reading in the Investec Conference West, with both sides still within touching distance of leaders Trojans who go to Swansea City on Saturday.
* The lead photo shows the University of Birmingham’s Rosie Henderson in action.
Fixtures
Saturday, February 24 2018
Investec Women’s Hockey League
Investec Premier Division
Clifton Robinsons v Surbiton 13:00
East Grinstead v Univ of Birmingham 13:30
Bowdon Hightown v Canterbury 13:45
Holcombe v Buckingham 18:00
Investec Conference East
Barnes v Hampstead & Westminster 12:00
Harleston Magpies v Cambridge City 14:00
Southgate v Chelmsford 14:00
Wimbledon v St Albans 14:00
Sevenoaks v Bedford 15:00
Investec Conference North
Brooklands-Poynton v Liverpool Sefton 12:00
Univ of Durham v Beeston 12:00
Wakefield v Fylde 12:00
Sutton Coldfield v Loughborough Students 12:30
Ben Rhydding v Timperley 13:30
Investec Conference West
Isca v Olton & West Warwicks 12:00
Oxford Hawks v Gloucester City 12:00
Swansea City v Trojans 12:00
Team Bath Buccaneers v Cannock 12:30
Reading v Stourport 13:30
Sunday, February 25 2018
Investec Conference North
Univ of Durham v Wakefield 13:30
All the latest news and results via www.englandhockey.co.uk
Report courtesy of England Hockey by Snowdon Sports.
