The race for Europe on the men’s side will go down to the final day on April 23 after Surbiton beat Wimbledon and so will the battle to avoid relegation after University of Exeter claimed a priceless win over Beeston.

Hampstead & Westminster secured European hockey with a 3-1 win over East Grinstead on a turbulent day in the Vitality Women’s Premier Division.

Three teams were separated by three points at the start of the final round of games in the Top 6, all in the hunt for the second automatic European place.

Wimbledon could guarantee second with a win but they could only draw 1-1 at Surbiton, who were crowned champions last week.

Surbiton hotshot Darcy Bourne opened the scoring on 39 minutes, converting a penalty stroke for a 19th goal of the season that sees her end 2021/22 as the Premier Division’s top scorer.

Eliza Brett cancelled that out with a well-taken effort ten minutes from time but events at Paddington Rec meant that would not be enough for the top flight debutants to bag a European berth.

Hampstead & Westminster took advantage of those dropped points with a 3-1 victory over East Grinstead on an  afternoon overshadowed by a serious head injury to a visiting player.

The teams were locked at 1-1 when the game was paused for two hours due to the injury. The player was brought to her feet by paramedics.

After the resumption, internationals Grace Balsdon and Holly Hunt scored to drive Hampstead & Westminster to victory.

Elsewhere, fifth-placed Beeston and sixth-placed Clifton Robinsons shared an entertaining 3-3 draw.

The hosts controlled the early stages and Paige Gillot bundled home from a penalty corner routine to establish a half-time lead.

The game sparked into life in the third quarter and Clifton twice dragged themselves level through Catherine MacAulay and then Phoebe Richards.

Izzy Webb gave them an unlikely lead just past the half-hour mark but Lucy Millington bagged her second of the afternoon, four minutes from time, to preserve a draw.

With Swansea already relegated, Bottom 5 sides have no further fear of the drop and that produced a free-flowing 3-2 win for Holcombe over University of Birmingham.

Holcombe took a two-goal lead through Ivi Pessina and Marta Fuentes but were teetering when Jess Davis got a goal back for the hosts from a penalty corner on 35 minutes.

Emma Bandurak restored the advantage, with Amelie Green’s late strike coming too late to spark another comeback, as Holcombe claimed their sixth win of the season.

Meanwhile, Buckingham’s superb run of late-season form continued with a pulsating 2-1 victory over Loughborough Students.

After a noon push back at Stowe School, the visitors struck first when Hannah Irwin fired her side ahead on 11 minutes.

Buckingham were frustrated by the Students’ stubborn rearguard but a pair of penalty corner strikes from Kitty Higgins completed a rousing comeback and earned the hosts a fifth win in six matches.

• Beeston 3-3 Clifton Robinsons
• Hampstead & Westminster 3-1 East Grinstead
• Surbiton 1-1 Wimbledon

Bottom 5

• Buckingham 2-1 Loughborough Students
• University of Birmingham 2-3 Holcombe

With thanks to England Hockey

Their crown was technically wrapped up before they had even hit a ball, as nearest challengers Hampstead & Westminster – the only team who could still reel in the leaders – went down 2-0 at home to Beeston earlier in the day.

But Surbiton were determined to complete the job in style on the pitch and, fittingly, Darcy Bourne was the player who scored the all-important goal.

Bourne, who scored three consecutive hat-tricks earlier this year and received her first senior England cap in March, found the net on eight minutes and a resolute defensive display ensured Surbiton held on for the 14^th win of their latest triumphant season.

Hampstead & Westminster had ended Surbiton’s hopes of an unbeaten campaign last weekend but were brought back down to earth by Beeston’s latest impressive display.

The Nottinghamshire side, who downed Wimbledon last time out, toppled another European hopeful as second-half goals from Cerys Miller and Hannah Grieve saw them leave the capital with all three points.

A Fiona Burnet-inspired Wimbledon took advantage to surge into the second European spot courtesy of a 6-1 win over Clifton Robinsons.

Burnet bagged a hat-trick and Eliza Brett, Harriet Naismith and Sarah Jones also found the target, with Claire Jones responding for the visitors.

Wimbledon now sit a point clear of Hampstead & Westminster in the race for Europe but face a tricky trip to the champions next weekend to round off their campaign.

Elsewhere in the top flight, relegated Swansea claimed their second victory of the season as they won 2-1 at Holcombe.

Katrin Gierak and Jessica Lea struck either side of Emma Bandurak’s equaliser to earn a morale-boosting success for a side who are ending a difficult season strongly.

University of Birmingham ensured they will finish as the best-placed of the Bottom 5 after sharing the spoils with Buckingham in a 1-1 draw.

Jemima Copeman opened the scoring in the second half but Madeleine Newlyn’s last-gasp leveller secured a point for the visitors.

• East Grinstead 0-1 Surbiton
• Hampstead & Westminster 0-2 Beeston
• Wimbledon 6-1 Clifton Robinsons

Bottom 5

• Holcombe 1-2 Swansea
• University of Birmingham 1-1 Buckingham

Division 1 North

University of Nottingham secured promotion last week and played with title-winning freedom at Brooklands Poynton, sweeping to a 7-2 win to end their season in style. Nike Lorenz and Sally Sime each scored braces for the champions, who finish with a six-point lead over Bowdon after the runners-up let a two-goal lead slip in their draw with Durham University. Olton & West Warwickshire won the battle of the two relegated teams, beating Belper 2-1, while Ben Rhydding edged past Leicester City 3-2 and Stourport downed Gloucester City 4-1.

• Ben Rhydding 3-2 Leicester City
• Bowdon 2-2 Durham University
• Brooklands Poynton 2-7 University of Nottingham
• Olton & West Warwicks 2-1 Belper
• Stourport 4-1 Gloucester City

Division 1 South

Champions Reading finished their memorable season on a high, Emma Thomas’ double securing a 2-1 win over Wimbledon 2s. Second-placed Sevenoaks put six past Trojans without reply to consign their hosts to relegation. Harleston Magpies and Cambridge City therefore retained their Division 1 status and finished their season with contrasting draws, the Magpies sharing eight goals with Canterbury and Cambridge finishing goalless against Slough. Isca & University of Exeter overcame Surbiton 2s 4-2 and climbed a place to fifth as a result.

• Cambridge City 0-0 Slough
• Harleston Magpies 4-4 Canterbury
• Isca & University of Exeter 4-2 Surbiton 2s
• Reading 2-1 Wimbledon 2s
• Trojans 0-6 Sevenoaks

Conference East

Bromley & Beckenham’s relegation was confirmed after they went down 1-0 at home to Horsham – a result which, combined with scores elsewhere, saw their fate sealed. Fellow relegated side Canterbury were beaten 4-0 at home by Hampstead & Westminster 2s while at the other end of the table, champions Barnes picked up their 15^th win in 18 matches with a 4-2 victory at Ipswich. Southgate beat East London 3-1 and London Wayfarers earned a 2-0 success against Chelmsford.

• Bromley & Beckenham 0-1 Horsham
• Canterbury 2s 0-4 Hampstead & Westminster 2s
• Ipswich 2-4 Barnes
• London Wayfarers 2-0 Chelmsford
• Southgate 3-1 East London

Conference Midlands

Sutton Coldfield stalwart Charlotte Cross ended her incredible tenure at the club in style, scoring her side’s second in the 3-0 win over St Albans which completed an unbeaten campaign. The champions finish with 50 points from a possible 54, the perfect way for Cross to sign off after 32 years with the West Midlands outfit. Broxbourne ensured they did not finish bottom by winning 1-0 at University of Birmingham 2s, with Khalsa Leamington bringing up the rear after going down 3-0 at Loughborough Students 2s. Oxford University ended their season on a high, beating runners-up Bedford 2-1, and Beeston 2s won by the same score at Cannock.

• Cannock 1-2 Beeston 2s
• Loughborough Students 3-0 Khalsa Leamington
• Oxford University 2-1 Bedford
• Sutton Coldfield 3-0 St Albans
• University of Birmingham 2s 0-1 Broxbourne

Conference North

Pendle Forest sealed survival in dramatic fashion, winning 3-1 at Didsbury Northern to finish on 20 points and earn a reprieve as the best of the ninth-placed teams across the Conferences. Alderley Edge and Timperley also survived, the former claiming a 3-1 victory at Doncaster and Timperley drawing 3-3 at Fylde. Neston were therefore relegated after a 4-2 defeat at Durham University 2s consigned them to the foot of the table. Champions Leeds edged past West Yorkshire neighbours Wakefield 1-0 in the battle of the top two, who end the season separated by 12 points.

• Didsbury Northern 1-3 Pendle Forest
• Doncaster 1-3 Alderley Edge
• Durham University 2s 4-2 Neston
• Leeds 1-0 Wakefield
• Timperley 3-3 Fylde

Conference West

Witney secured promotion with a 4-2 win over Clifton Robinsons 2s, which in turn relegated their visitors. Witney were a point ahead of Team Bath Buccaneers going into the final day and finished four clear after Bath blew their chances by going down 1-0 at home to Bristol Firebrands. Cita Haines netted a hat-trick as Oxford Hawks sealed third spot with a 5-2 win at Basingstoke, while Exe ended on a high as they beat Cheltenham 3-1. Penarth had a successful trip over the Severn Bridge, winning 2-1 at relegated University of Bristol.

• Basingstoke 2-5 Oxford Hawks
• Cheltenham 1-3 Exe
• Team Bath Buccaneers 0-1 Bristol Firebrands
• University of Bristol 1-2 Penarth
• Witney 4-2 Clifton Robinsons 2s

With thanks to England Hockey

Surbiton went into the late kick-off knowing just a point would be enough to seal their eighth successive title following defeats for Wimbledon and East Grinstead but fell behind early on to a Grace Balsdon goal.

Lucy Hyams added another in the second half as the visitors moved into second – they are now the only team who can mathematically catch the leaders, who need a point from their final two matches to lift the trophy.

East Grinstead slipped to third following their 3-1 reverse at Clifton Robinsons, who ended their 10-match winless run in the process.

Claire Jones, Catherine Macaulay and Livvy Hoskins put the hosts three up inside 40 minutes and after Sophie Bray pulled one back, Clifton held firm to seal an impressive win.

Beeston were equally impressive in beating Wimbledon by the same scoreline, getting off to a flyer through Lucy Millington’s third-minute opener.

Sophie Robinson doubled the advantage and though Sarah-Jayne Thorburn halved the deficit just past the hour mark, Beeston hit straight back as Millington’s second sealed the points.

At the other end, Swansea’s relegation was confirmed as they went down 3-0 at home to University of Birmingham.

The Welsh outfit had breathed fresh life into their survival hopes with a first win of the season last weekend but had no answer to their Midlands-based visitors as goals from Millie Attwell, Lily Walker and Delyth Thomas consigned the hosts to Division 1 hockey next season.

Holcombe overcame Loughborough Students in an entertaining game, going 4-0 up by half-time courtesy of goals from Candice Manuel, Tania Escaich, Harriet Pittard and Ivi Pessina.

Izzy Petter and Beth Alexander responded for Loughborough after the break but the hosts withstood the fightback to earn all three points.

Beeston 3-1 Wimbledon
Clifton Robinsons 3-1 East Grinstead
Surbiton 0-2 Hampstead & Westminster
Holcombe 4-2 Loughborough Students
Swansea 0-3 University of Birmingham

Division 1 North

University of Nottingham secured their place in next season’s Premier Division with a game to spare after overcoming Bowdon Hightown 3-2 in the title decider. The game lived up to the occasion, with Bowdon coming from 2-0 down to draw level before Katie Curtis struck with a minute remaining to cap a memorable week for the hosts, who also claimed the BUCS crown on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Durham University sealed third spot courtesy of a 2-1 win over Stourport while Leicester City were convincing 6-1 victors against relegated Olton & West Warwickshire. Belper, whose fate has also been sealed, lost 2-0 at home to Ben Rhydding and Brooklands Poynton came away from Gloucester City with a 5-2 win.

Belper 0-2 Ben Rhydding
Durham University 2-1 Stourport
Gloucester City 2-5 Brooklands Poynton
Leicester City 6-1 Olton & West Warwickshire
University of Nottingham 3-2 Bowdon Hightown

Division 1 South

Reading will join University of Nottingham in the top flight after securing the point they needed thanks to a 1-1 draw at Surbiton 2s, Liv Saligoi netting for the visitors. They now sit an unassailable five points clear of Slough, who beat Harleston Magpies 1-0 and leapfrogged Sevenoaks into second following the Kent side’s 3-3 draw at home to Isca & University of Exeter. Trojans drew 1-1 at Wimbledon 2s, who secured their own safety in the process, and are now within just a point of both Cambridge City, beaten 2-1 at Canterbury, and Harleston Magpies – an anxious weekend is in store for all three next time out with just the team finishing bottom to go down.

Canterbury 2-1 Cambridge City
Sevenoaks 3-3 Isca & University of Exeter
Slough 1-0 Harleston Magpies
Surbiton 2s 1-1 Reading
Wimbledon 2s 1-1 Trojans

Conference East

Barnes wrapped up the title in some style, netting 13 without reply against Canterbury 2s – Aleesa Ferguson scoring five of them. Southgate will finish as runners-up following their 1-0 win at Chelmsford while Bromley & Beckenham kept alive their hopes of surviving as the best of the ninth-placed team with a battling 2-2 draw at Hampstead & Westminster 2s. Horsham beat Ipswich 2-1 while East London were beaten by the same scoreline at home by London Wayfarers.

Barnes 13-0 Canterbury 2s
Chelmsford 0-1 Southgate
East London 1-2 London Wayfarers
Hampstead & Westminster 2-2 Bromley & Beckenham
Horsham 2-1 Ipswich

Conference Midlands

Khalsa Leamington and Broxbourne saw their relegations confirmed, with Khalsa going down 4-0 at home to champions Sutton Coldfield and Broxbourne drawing 2-2 with Loughborough Students. Both have 12 points but can no longer finish as the best ninth-placed team across the four Conferences. Bedford and Cannock drew 1-1, as did St Albans and University of Birmingham 2s, and Oxford University were narrow 1-0 winners at Beeston 2s.

Bedford 1-1 Cannock
Beeston 2s 0-1 Oxford University
Broxbourne 2-2 Loughborough Students
Khalsa Leamington 0-4 Sutton Coldfield
St Albans 1-1 University of Birmingham 2s

Conference North

The relegation battle will go down to the wire in Conference North, with three teams still in danger. Alderley Edge claimed a vital 2-1 win over Durham University 2s to move two points clear of Pendle Forest, who ran champions Leeds close before going down 3-2, and three clear of Neston, who went down 2-1 at home to Timperley. Pendle Forest are currently the best placed of the teams in ninth so their destiny is in their own hands ahead of next weekend. Elsewhere, shares were spoiled between Wakefield and Didsbury Northern (0-0) and Fylde and Doncaster (1-1).

Alderley Edge 2-1 Durham University 2s
Fylde 1-1 Doncaster
Neston 1-2 Timperley
Pendle Forest 2-3 Leeds
Wakefield 0-0 Didsbury Northern

Conference West

The only Conference title left up for grabs will be decided on the final weekend of the season after Team Bath Buccaneers closed the gap on Witney to a single point. Bath were 1-0 winners at Penarth while Witney drew 1-1 at third-placed Oxford Hawks, who are now out of the title running. At the other end, Clifton Robinsons claimed a precious 2-1 win over relegated University of Bristol to move above Basingstoke – who lost 2-1 at Exe – on goal difference. Both sit on 16 points and whoever finishes second bottom is at risk of going down. The mid-table clash between Bristol Firebrands and Cheltenham was convincingly won 4-0 by the visitors.

Bristol Firebrands 0-4 Cheltenham
Clifton Robinsons 2s 2-1 University of Bristol
Exe 2-1 Basingstoke
Oxford Hawks 1-1 Witney
Penarth 0-1 Team Bath Buccaneers

With thanks to England Hockey

The leaders stretched their advantage at the summit to seven points with just three games to play as their comfortable 3-0 win over Clifton Robinsons was combined with defeats for their two nearest challengers, East Grinstead and Hampstead & Westminster.

The in-form Darcy Bourne was again in ruthless mood for Surbiton, notching a quickfire brace either side of the interval to open up a two-goal cushion.

Meg Dowthwaite added a third for the hosts, who could now seal the title if they beat Hampstead & Westminster next weekend.

Their cause was helped by East Grinstead slipping up at home to Beeston, who earned an impressive 3-2 win at the high-flyers.

Alex Malzer gave the home side an early lead but Beeston roared back through strikes from Mads Newitt, Alice Huddlestone and Lauren Burrell.

Sophie Bray set up a grandstand finish but the visitors held on for a notable win.

The race for the second Euro Hockey League spot looks set to go down to the wire with Wimbledon now just a point behind East Grinstead following their 1-0 derby success at Hampstead & Westminster.

Fiona Burnet’s 56th-minute goal was all that separated the two London sides as the visitors leapfrogged their cross-capital rivals into third.

In the Bottom 5, Swansea picked up their first win of the season at the 14th attempt as they prevailed 2-1 at Loughborough Students.

Abigail Romig and Betsan Thomas were on target for the visitors, who dug in to claim all three points after Jen Park halved the deficit with 10 minutes remaining.

Eight points now separate the two sides while Holcombe were unable to put distance between themselves and the bottom two after going down 2-1 at Buckingham.

The strugglers took the lead through Tania Escaich but goals from Madeleine Newlyn and Olivia Strickland turned the game in favour of the hosts, who are now five points clear of danger.

• East Grinstead 2-3 Beeston
• Hampstead & Westminster 0-1 Wimbledon
• Surbiton 3-0 Clifton Robinsons
• Buckingham 2-1 Holcombe
• Loughborough Students 1-2 Swansea
• University of Birmingham 1-0 Swansea

Division One North

Nike Lorenz delivered a dazzling five-star display to extend University of Nottingham’s winning run at the top of the table.

Lorenz, who also grabbed a double in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Ben Rhydding, netted five of her side’s goals in their 9-0 triumph over Olton & West Warwickshire as the East Midlands outfit geared up for next weekend’s showdown against fellow high-flyers Bowdon Hightown in style.

The result also officially condemned Olton & West Warwickshire to relegation as they now lie nine points adrift of safety with just two games remaining.

And the same fate applied to Belper, who went down 1-0 at Leicester City to leave them with a similarly unassailable margin to haul back heading into the conclusion of the season.

At the other end of the table, Bowdon Hightown will also arrive at their title decider against University of Nottingham in red-hot form after Sophia Crawshay’s hat-trick propelled them to a 5-0 victory over third-bottom Gloucester City.

Olton & West Warwickshire and Belper’s defeats ensure Gloucester’s place in the division remains secure while elsewhere, Brooklands Poynton clinched a surprise 2-1 triumph at fourth-place Stourport.

• • Ben Rhydding 1-2 Durham University
  • Bowdon Hightown 5-0 Gloucester City
  • Leicester City 1-0 Belper
  • Olton & West Warwicks 0-9 University of Nottingham
  • Stourport 1-2 Brooklands Poynton

Division One South

Reading’s place in next season’s Vitality Women’s Premier Division is all-but confirmed after their 0-0 draw at Slough in a Berkshire derby.

A win for Reading, coupled with Sevenoaks failing to win at Harleston Magpies, would have confirmed Reading’s promotion and after those two sides drew 1-1, Reading’s point means they lie six points clear at the summit with a vastly superior goal difference heading into the final two games.

Slough remain one point behind Sevenoaks in third while at the bottom, Trojans grabbed a vital victory over Canterbury to throw themselves a lifeline in the race for survival.

Trojans are now just two points adrift of Cambridge City – who lost 2-0 at home against Isca & University of Exeter – and Harleston Magpies heading into a crucial deciding two games over the next fortnight.

Elsewhere, Surbiton 2s beat Wimbledon 2s 3-1 to cut the gap on Slough to just five points.

• • • Cambridge City 0-2 Isca & University of Exeter
    • Sevenoaks 1-1 Harleston Magpies
    • Slough 0-0 Reading
    • Surbiton 2s 3-1 Wimbledon 2s
    • Trojans 1-0 Canterbury

Conference East

The champagne will remain on ice for Barnes as they failed to claim the win at London Wayfarers which would have clinched the Conference East title.

A 0-0 draw, coupled with Southgate’s 3-1 victory against Horsham, means the leaders hold a five-point lead over their rivals heading into the final two matches.

Elsewhere, already-relegated Canterbury 2s went down 4-0 at home to Chelmsford in a result that lifted the Essex side above Horsham in the battle for survival.

Chelmsford now lie five points clear of second-bottom Bromley & Beckenham, whose 4-2 defeat against Ipswich leaves them with a four-point gap to overturn on Horsham – who they play on the final day – with two games remaining.

Hampstead & Westminster 2s beat East London 2-1 as the league’s fourth and fifth-place outfits did battle in the capital.

• • • Bromley & Beckenham 2-4 Ipswich
    • Canterbury 2s 0-4 Chelmsford
    • Hampstead & Westminster 2s 2-1 East London
    • London Wayfarers 0-0 Barnes
    • Southgate 3-1 Horsham

Conference Midlands

Sutton Coldfield soared into Division One as their 2-1 win against Oxford University, combined with Bedford’s 4-2 defeat at Loughborough Students 2s, meant the West Midlands team were officially crowned champions.

St Albans beat Broxbourne 5-0 to remain third while at the bottom, the battle to beat the drop remains intense as those defeats for Oxford University and Broxbourne leave them embroiled in a scrap with Khalsa Leamington to secure their survival.

Broxbourne are bottom on 11 points, Khalsa Leamington sit one place above on 12 – after their 4-0 defeat against Cannock – while Oxford University lie two points clear of safety on 14.

In the other game of the day, Beeston 2s toppled University of Birmingham 2s 1-0 in a rare Conference Midlands clash that did not have ramifications at either end of the table.

• • • Cannock 4-0 Khalsa Leamington
    • Loughborough Students 4-2 Bedford
    • St Albans 5-0 Broxbourne
    • Sutton Coldfield 2-1 Oxford University
    • University of Birmingham 2s 0-1 Beeston 2s

Conference North

Leeds marched into Division One in style as they breezed past Neston 6-1 to secure the Conference North title.

That result extended their lead over second-place Wakefield to an unassailable seven points at the summit – despite their 1-0 win at home against relegation-threatened Pendle Forest.

Pendle Forest still lie one point clear of the drop after bottom of the table Neston’s loss and Alderley Edge’s 2-1 defeat at Didsbury.

And Timperley remain in a similarly precarious position after their 3-2 defeat at Doncaster also leaves them on 17 points, level with Pendle Forest and one clear of both Neston and Alderley Edge.

In the other game of the day, Fylde completed an impressive 2-0 win at Durham University to reduce the gap on the north-east side – who are fourth – to just a solitary point.

• • • Didsbury Northern 2-1 Alderley Edge
    • Doncaster 3-2 Timperley
    • Durham University 0-2 Fylde
    • Leeds 6-1 Neston
    • Wakefield 1-0 Pendle Forest

Conference West

The Conference West title remains far from decided as Witney, Team Bath Buccaneers and Oxford Hawks continue to duel it out at the summit.

Witney won a 4-3 thriller at Exe to remain top on 33 points, while Hawks won 2-1 at Cheltenham to capitalise on Team Bath Buccaneers’ inability to beat Clifton Robinsons 2s and move three points behind them – and six behind Witney – in third.

Hawks know a win against Witney on home soil next weekend would deliver a dagger blow to their Oxfordshire rivals in the title race, while Team Bath Buccaneers will hope to beat Penarth – who beat Basingstoke 2-1 on Saturday – to reel the table-toppers in.

Penarth’s triumph means Basingstoke were unable to climb further clear of the drop, lying three points above Clifton Robinsons 2s in second-bottom and already-relegated University of Bristol, who grabbed a surprise win and first points of the season with a 1-0 triumph over Bristol Firebrands on Saturday.

• • • Basingstoke 1-2 Penarth
    • Cheltenham 1-2 Oxford Hawks
    • Exe 3-4 Witney
    • Team Bath Buccaneers 0-0 Clifton Robinsons 2s
    • University of Bristol 1-0 Bristol Firebrands

With thanks to England Hockey

Having scored hat-tricks in her past two matches, she scored four as Surbiton extended their unbeaten run to 16 matches. Georgie Twigg, Maddie Long and Alice Sharp were also on the scoresheet for Surbiton while Lucy Millington was on target for the hosts.

East Grinstead sit just four points behind Surbiton after a significant 2-1 win over Wimbledon. Sophie Bray put East Grinstead ahead before Olivia Chilton’s leveller, only for Bray to score a second to see her side claim victory.

Meanwhile, there was also a crucial win for Hampstead & Westminster, who triumphed 5-1 over Clifton Robinsons for just their second win since the league resumed.

Jasmine Clark, Fran Tew, Lauren Turner, Lucy Hyams and Grace Balsdon all struck for the visitors, with Livvy Hoskins scoring a consolation for Clifton Robinsons.

In the Bottom 5, Swansea are still yet to win after falling to a 3-0 defeat to Buckingham. Lottie Porter struck twice for the hosts, with Lauren Thomas also on target as Buckingham move to 15 points.

They are just two points behind University of Birmingham, who were also victorious with a 3-1 win over Loughborough Students. Becky Manton and two Lexie Clark efforts sealed a comfortable win, the visitors grabbing a consolation through Ellie Mackenzie.

Vitality Women’s Premier Division – ‘Top 6’

• Beeston 1-7 Surbiton
• Clifton Robinsons 1-5 Hampstead & Westminster
• Wimbledon 1-2 East Grinstead

‘Bottom 5’

• Buckingham 3-0 Swansea
• University of Birmingham 3-1 Loughborough Students

Division One North

University of Nottingham maintained their slender lead at the top of the table with a 3-1 win over Ben Rhydding, a tenth win in a row for the side. However, they remain only one point ahead of Bowdon who defeated Belper 3-0. Durham University picked up a comfortable 4-0 win on their visit to Brooklands Poynton, while Leicester City defeated Stourport 2-0 as Gloucester City and Olton & West Warwickshire contested a 1-1 draw. Those results for Belper and Olton & West Warwickshire leave them all but mathematically relegated.

• Belper 0-3 Bowdon
• Brooklands Poynton 0-4 Durham University
• Gloucester City 1-1 Olton & West Warwickshire
• Stourport 0-2 Leicester City
• University of Nottingham 3-1 Ben Rhydding

Division One South

Reading now hold a six-point lead in the league after a comfortable 4-0 win over bottom side Trojans. Closest rivals Sevenoaks fell to a shock 3-2 defeat to Cambridge City, who had not scored in four matches prior to the contest. Slough moved to within one point of Sevenoaks after a 5-2 win over Wimbledon 2s while Surbiton 2s defeated Harleston Magpies 4-2. Isca & University of Exeter and Canterbury contested a 0-0 draw.

• Cambridge City 3-2 Sevenoaks
• Harleston Magpies 2-4 Surbiton 2s
• Isca & University of Exeter 0-0 Canterbury
• Reading 4-0 Trojans
• Wimbledon 2s 2-5 Slough

Conference East

A 3-0 defeat to Bromley & Beckenham meant Canterbury 2s have been relegated in what was a must-win match. Meanwhile, league leaders Barnes were comfortable 3-1 winners over East London to extend their unbeaten run to 12 matches, and now hold a seven-point lead after closest rivals Southgate and London Wayfarers played out a 2-2 draw. Elsewhere, Ipswich ended Chelmsford’s five-match unbeaten run with a 3-0 victory while Hampstead & Westminster 2s defeated Horsham 3-0.

• Barnes 3-1 East London
• Canterbury 2s 0-3 Bromley & Beckenham
• Horsham 0-3 Hampstead & Westminster 2s
• Ipswich 3-0 Chelmsford
• Southgate 2-2 London Wayfarers

Conference Midlands

Sutton Coldfield maintained their six-point lead at the top of the table with a 3-1 win over University of Birmingham 2s, though closest rivals Bedford eased past Broxbourne 8-2. Broxbourne are now winless in seven matches and are bottom of the table after Khalsa Leamington beat Beeston 2s 1-0. Loughborough Students 2s defeated Cannock 4-2 while there was a welcome 2-1 win for Oxford University against St Albans.

• Beeston 2s 0-1 Khalsa Leamington
• Broxbourne 2-8 Bedford
• Loughborough Students 2s 4-2 Cannock
• Oxford University 2-1 St Albans
• University of Birmingham 2s 1-3 Sutton Coldfield

Conference North

A 2-0 win for Leeds against Alderley Edge extended their unbeaten run to seven games as they remain seven points clear at the top of the Conference North, with their closest contenders Wakefield picking up a 1-0 win over Doncaster. Pendle Forest picked up a crucial 3-0 win against Timperley in their fight for survival, with league rivals Neston losing 4-2 to Fylde. Elsewhere, Durham University 2s picked up a 1-0 victory over Didsbury Northern.

• Durham University 2s 1-0 Didsbury Northern
• Leeds 2-0 Alderley Edge
• Neston 2-4 Fylde
• Timperley 0-3 Pendle Forest
• Doncaster 0-1 Wakefield

Conference West

Team Bath Buccaneers moved just one point from the top of the table thanks to a 5-1 win over already-relegated University of Bristol, with league leaders Witney held to a 3-3 draw by Basingstoke. Bristol Firebrands are just four points off the summit after a narrow 3-2 win over Exe, while Cheltenham were also 3-2 winners in their contest against Penarth. Elsewhere, Clifton Robinsons 2s were comfortable 3-0 winners over Oxford Hawks.

• Bristol Firebrands 3-2 Exe
• Cheltenham 3-2 Penarth
• Clifton Robinsons 2s 3-0 Oxford Hawks
• Team Bath Buccaneers 5-1 University of Bristol
• Witney 3-3 Basingstoke

With thanks to England Hockey

Premier Division

Darcy Bourne’s second hat-trick in as many weeks helped Surbiton strengthen their grip on top spot in the Vitality Women’s Premier Division with a 4-2 win at fellow title-chasers Hampstead & Westminster.

Bourne struck twice in the space of six first-half minutes to open up a cushion for the visitors but the hosts, who started the day second, halved the deficit through Lucy Hyams.

Maddie Long restored the visitors’ two-goal advantage before Bourne completed her hat-trick, ensuring Hayley Turner’s late goal was little more than a consolation for H&W.

The victory takes Surbiton four points clear at the top and East Grinstead are now their nearest challengers after rising to second courtesy of a 6-0 win over Clifton Robinsons.

Laura Unsworth opened the scoring for the hosts before Sophie Bray’s quickfire double opened up a comfortable lead by the break.

The hosts continued to look in a ruthless mood after the interval, Guadalupe Fernandez Lacort and Ellie Rayer adding second-half goals either side of Bray completing her treble.

Wimbledon remain in touch, five points adrift of the leaders, after a comfortable 4-0 home success over Beeston.

Sarah Jones and Hollie Pearne-Webb put Wimbledon two to the good inside the opening five minutes and the former put the icing on the cake after Fiona Burnet had also added her name to the scoresheet.

In the Bottom 5, Buckingham claimed a vital 3-2 win at Loughborough Students to give their survival hopes a shot in the arm.

Maddie Newlyn struck twice for the victors, with Lottie Porter also on target, to take the second-bottom side to within just a point of their hosts – for whom Lorna Mackenzie and Charlotte Watson found the net.

Holcombe and University of Birmingham played out a 1-1 draw, with Coca Hall’s early strike for the visitors cancelled out by Ivi Pessina.

Vitality Women’s Premier Division – ‘Top 6’

• East Grinstead 6-0 Clifton Robinsons
• Hampstead & Westminster 2-4 Surbiton
• Wimbledon 4-0 Beeston

‘Bottom 5’

• Holcombe 1-1 University of Birmingham
• Loughborough Students 2-3 Buckingham

Division One North

University of Nottingham remain a point clear at the summit after a convincing 7-0 win at Leicester City, Maddie Axford leading the way with a hat-trick. Bowdon Hightown remain on their coattails following a 2-0 win over Brooklands Poynton, while University of Durham and Stourport enjoyed comfortable wins – Durham winning 4-1 at home to Belper and Stourport coming back from Olton & West Warwickshire with a 5-2 success. Ben Rhydding climbed above Gloucester City into seventh following a 1-0 win in a clash between two sides who still have plenty of breathing space above the two relegation spots.

• Ben Rhydding 1-0 Gloucester City
• Bowdon 2-0 Brooklands Poynton
• University of Durham 4-1 Belper
• Olton & West Warwickshire 2-5 Stourport
• Leicester City 0-7 University of Nottingham

Division One South

Reading emerged victorious in the crunch game between the top two, Mia Moore’s second-half double inspiring the leaders to a 2-0 triumph which moved them three points clear. Slough missed the chance to apply further pressure on the two teams above them as they were held 1-1 at Canterbury while at the other end, Harleston Magpies climbed out the bottom two thanks to a 1-0 win over Wimbledon 2s. Cambridge City replace them in the relegation spots following a 2-0 defeat at Cambridge City while Trojans remain bottom after they were beaten 3-2 by Isca, who then drew 2-2 with Wimbledon 2s on Sunday.

• Canterbury 1-1 Slough
• Harleston Magpies 1-0 Wimbledon 2s
• Reading 2-0 Sevenoaks
• Surbiton 2s 2-0 Cambridge City
• Trojans 2-3 Isca & University of Exeter
• Isca & University of Exeter 2-2 Wimbledon 2s (Sunday)

Conference East

Barnes’ advantage at the top has been cut to five points after the leaders were held to a 2-2 draw at Chelmsford, who in turn moved five points clear of the bottom two. Southgate took advantage of Barnes dropping points, Jess Olorenshaw’s hat-trick setting up a 4-0 win at Hampstead & Westminster 2s, while third-placed London Wayfarers eased past Horsham 3-0. Despite their impressive result against the leaders, Chelmsford dropped a place to eighth following Ipswich’s 6-2 win over Canterbury 2s, who remain cut adrift at the bottom. Fellow strugglers Bromley & Beckenham went down 2-0 at East London in the day’s late game.

• Chelmsford 2-2 Barnes
• East London 2-0 Bromley & Beckenham
• Hampstead & Westminster 2s 0-4 Southgate
• Ipswich 6-2 Canterbury 2s
• London Wayfarers 3-0 Horsham

Conference Midlands

Sutton Coldfield dropped points for just the second time this season as Loughborough Students earned a point at the leaders in a six-goal thriller. Sutton’s lead at the top now stands at six points following second-placed Bedford’s 3-0 win over University of Birmingham 2s. At the other end, Khalsa Leamington breathed fresh life into their survival hopes with a 3-1 win at home to Broxbourne, one of two teams now just two points ahead of the bottom side. The other are Oxford University, who were beaten 2-1 at Cannock, while St Albans overcame Beeston 2-0.

• Bedford 3-0 University of Birmingham 2s
• Cannock 2-1 Oxford University
• Khalsa Leamington 3-1 Broxbourne
• St Albans 2-0 Beeston 2s
• Sutton Coldfield 3-3 Loughborough Students

Conference North

Leaders Leeds remain six points clear after a 2-0 win at Fylde, who then dropped into the relegation spots after Neston’s 1-0 win in a crunch clash at bottom side Pendle Forest. They were out of them again by the time the weekend was over, however, thanks to an impressive 2-0 win over promotion-chasing Wakefield, who missed the chance to move within four points of the leaders. Pendle Forest also enjoyed a Sunday pick-me-up, beating Alderley Edge 2-1 to move just two points adrift of safety. That completed a tough weekend for Alderley Edge, who lost 4-2 to Wakefield on Saturday and are now second-bottom, while University of Durham 2s beat Timperley 3-1 and Didsbury Northern overcame Doncaster 3-0.

• Alderley Edge 2-4 Wakefield
• Didsbury Northern 3-0 Doncaster
• Fylde 0-2 Leeds
• Pendle Forest 0-1 Neston
• Timperley 1-3 University of Durham 2s
• Fylde 2-0 Wakefield (Sunday)
• Pendle Forest 2-1 Alderley Edge (Sunday)

Conference West

Witney extended their lead at the top to three points with a 3-0 win at University of Bristol, who remain without a point to their name this season. Exe lost ground as they were beaten 5-3 in an entertaining game at Penarth and found themselves leapfrogged into second by Team Bath Buccs, who were 1-0 winners at Oxford Hawks. Basingstoke and Cheltenham each moved a point nearer safety after sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw – Clifton Robinsons 2s are now six points adrift of the former following a 4-3 defeat against neighbours Bristol Firebrands.

• Basingstoke 2-2 Cheltenham
• Clifton Robinsons 3-4 Bristol Firebrands
• Oxford Hawks 0-1 Team Bath Buccs
• Penarth 5-3 Exe
• University of Bristol 0-3 Witney

The nature of this new Phase 2 ‘Top 6’ format has given the Vitality Women’s Premier Division an almost weekly billing of crucial matches in the race for Europe.

And that will be no different on Saturday at Paddington Rec for Hampstead & Westminster. They play host to Surbiton in another top-of-the-table encounter, with Kate Richardson-Walsh and Sarah Kelleher’s side having got their second half of the season back on track last weekend with a first win in five.

Surbiton, unbeaten in 14, prevailed at home 3-2 in the pair’s last encounter in November – a win which also ended Hampstead & Westminster’s nine-game winning streak – and now both are aiming for championship honours, as well as enhancing their chance of a European spot.

Hampstead’s co-coach Richardson-Walsh said: “It should be a great match. We will try to stamp our authority on the game, show what we can do and try and get a bit more positive momentum into the second half of our season.”

Hampstead & Westminster welcome back England international Grace Balsdon into the fold after missing last week’s match, while the Londoners are now missing Kate McCaw to a hamstring tear and Meg Byass to a suspected ACL. “We have to use a big squad like every season and it’s great that ourselves and the 2s are closely linked,” added Richardson-Walsh.

After their 6-0 defeat last weekend against Surbiton, East Grinstead will hope to rely on home comforts and a return to goalscoring form against Clifton Robinsons.

Their away defeat to the champions was East Grinstead’s biggest in the Premier Division and they now take on the Bristol side sitting sixth and who last won on November 6. East Grinstead have racked up five wins from seven home fixtures this season.

In the third Top 6 match of the weekend, Wimbledon face Beeston. The London side remain in fourth, with in-form Fiona Burnet having scored five goals in her last three games. Beeston return to Raynes Park on Saturday aiming to atone for their 6-0 defeat last October.

2pm East Grinstead v Clifton Robinsons
2pm Hampstead & Westminster v Surbiton
2pm Wimbledon v Beeston

Premier Division

In the Bottom 5, Buckingham head to Loughborough Students, with both sides buoyed by victories last weekend. The Students moved level on points and behind on goal difference with University of Birmingham at the top of the mini league following a 1-0 win over basement side Swansea, while Buckingham also won away (2-0) at Holcombe.

With Swansea in a precarious position at the bottom on two points, a win for Buckingham – who sit above the Welsh side – will keep the pressure on the three sides above them in the Bottom 5.

Buckingham have lost their two previous matches at Loughborough – but did win 1-0 at home against Brett Holland’s side in October.

In the second match of the day, Holcombe take on University of Birmingham, unbeaten in three. The two sides drew 2-2 at Holcombe back in September. In the previous five visits to the Medway, Birmingham had lost by a 3-1 scoreline each time.

2pm Holcombe v University of Birmingham
2pm Loughborough Students v Buckingham

Division One North

Maddie Axford’s 20th goal of the season during a 5-0 defeat of Gloucester City last weekend kept University of Nottingham at the top of Division 1 North. This is a huge month for the university side, as well as for second-placed Bowdon, ahead of the two clubs’ eagerly-anticipated meeting at the end of the month.

Nottingham, who have won eight in a row, start March with a trip to fifth-placed Leicester City, who now look out of the reckoning for a promotion berth.

Nottingham’s season-long rivals Bowdon have a home fixture against Brooklands Poynton. Their only defeat this season came at home to the league leaders in November.

12pm Olton & West Warwickshire v Stourport
12pm Durham University v Belper
1:30pm Bowdon v Brooklands Poynton
1:30pm Ben Rhydding v Gloucester City
3:30pm Leicester City v University of Nottingham

Division One South

It’s a table-topper to savour this weekend which sees new leaders Reading take on Sevenoaks at Sonning Lane in Division One South and the battle for promotion to the women’s top flight.

The two sides are level on points, with Reading holding the better goal difference, while the pair couldn’t be separated when they drew 3-3 back in October.

Reading and Sevenoaks both head into the clash with one defeat to their name this season.

Meanwhile, it’s third against fourth, with Slough – five points behind the leaders – aiming to close the gap on the top when they travel to Canterbury.

There’s a double header for Wimbledon 2 this weekend as they play Harleston Magpies on Saturday, before taking on Isca & University of Exeter the following day. This has come about following a postponement on the weekend of 22 February. England Hockey is grateful to everyone involved for rearranging this match.

12pm Trojans v Isca & University of Exeter
1:30pm Harleston Magpies v Wimbledon 2
1:30pm Surbiton 2 v Cambridge City
2pm Canterbury v Slough
4:30pm Reading v Sevenoaks

Sunday 6 March
12pm Isca & University of Exeter v Wimbledon 2

Conference East

Barnes last conceded a goal seven matches ago, in late October against East London, and the tightest defence in the Conference head into their weekend encounter on the back of four 1-0 victories.

The league leaders face an away test against Chelmsford, who are unbeaten since the restart following a run of four matches unbeaten in the Conference East.

Second-placed Southgate’s defence is also on song and last shipped a goal three matches ago. They face Hampstead & Westminster 2, who have lost three of their last four.

Matches are running out for basement side Canterbury 2. On the back of an 8-2 defeat to East London, the Kent side travel to eighth-placed Ipswich.

12pm Hampstead & Westminster 2 v Southgate
12:30pm London Wayfarers v Horsham
2pm Ipswich v Canterbury 2
3:30pm Chelmsford v Barnes
6pm East London v Bromley & Beckenham

Conference Midlands

Sutton Coldfield have lost just once in two years and their form in the Conference Midlands 2021/22 season has now seen them open up an eight-point gap at the top.

The team with the meanest defence in the division host mid-table Loughborough Students 2 on Saturday, having also surpassed 50 goals for the season.

Chasers Bedford, meanwhile, play host to University of Birmingham, who are matching Sutton Coldfield as the league’s form team after four straight wins.

Six points is the difference from Cannock in seventh to bottom side Khalsa Leamington in 10th. Khalsa are at home to Broxbourne in a crucial basement encounter.

1pm St Albans v Beeston 2
12pm Sutton Coldfield v Loughborough Students 2
12pm Khalsa Leamington v Broxbourne
1:30pm Cannock v Oxford University
1:30pm Bedford v University of Birmingham 2

Conference North

Leeds, unbeaten in five, hold a six-point lead over Didsbury Northern and travel to Fylde this weekend intent on extending the gap at the top of Conference North.

However, Nicky Kellett has notched five goals in her last three games for Didsbury Northern – who take on Doncaster at home – as they look to close the gap on Leeds.

At the other end, Pendle Forest’s recent form has contributed to six without a win as they stay bottom. The Lancashire outfit play Cheshire side Neston, who sit two points above.

Four teams have two games this weekend as it is the slip date for matches postponed on the weekend of 22 February. England Hockey is grateful to teams, officials and umpires and those responsible for appointments for their support in rearranging these matches.

11:30am Pendle Forest v Neston
12pm Didsbury Northern v Doncaster
1:30pm Fylde v Leeds
2pm Alderley Edge v Wakefield
4pm Timperley v Durham University 2

Sunday 6 March
11:30am Pendle Forest v Alderley Edge
12pm Fylde v Wakefield

Conference West

Ellie Brooks failed to score for only the third time this season but that did not deter Exe from keeping up the pressure on Conference West leaders Witney last weekend.

Exe, following their tight 3-2 home win over Clifton Robinsons 2, are one point behind Witney, who are still unbeaten since the opening day of the season when they lost 6-5 against Bristol Firebrands.

Both are on the road this weekend, with Witney heading to University of Bristol, who have leaked 20 goals in their last four matches.

Meanwhile Exe face an away trip to Penarth, the only team in the league to have won their last two matches after a fine restart to the campaign.

11:30am Clifton Robinson 2 v Bristol Firebrands
12pm Oxford Hawks v Team Bath Buccaneers
12:30pm Penarth v Exe
1pm University of Bristol v Witney
2pm Basingstoke v Cheltenham

With thanks to England Hockey

Premier Division

Darcy Bourne’s dazzling hat-trick fired Surbiton to an emphatic 6-0 victory over East Grinstead to extend their unbeaten record at the summit in the ‘Top 6’ of the Vitality Women’s Premier Division.

A super Saturday of action saw the division’s top two sides meet at Sugden Road and Bourne’s brilliant treble, bolstered by Sophie Hamilton’s double and Taz Cookman’s strike, saw Surbiton deliver a dominant statement of intent on home soil.

It took the resurgent hosts almost half an hour to break the deadlock before Hamilton’s goal from a penalty corner got the ball rolling in south west London.

And it didn’t take long for the table-toppers to turn the second-half screw, with Bourne and Hamilton netting twice in quick succession to intensify the hosts’ grip on the contest.

Bourne soon completed her hat-trick with a penalty corner and penalty stroke before Cookman ensured East Grinstead were hit for six in a seismic ‘Top 6’ clash.

That briefly extended Surbiton’s lead at the summit to four points while later in the day, Emily Douglas’ double helped propel Hampstead & Westminster to a pulsating 4-2 victory at Beeston.

Alice Huddlestone and Paige Gillott netted for the hosts but Douglas’ pair of strikes, coupled with Lauren Turner and Sarah Robertson’s goals, ensured Hampstead & Westminster capitalised on East Grinstead’s defeat to leapfrog them into second in the table and three points behind Surbiton.

Elsewhere on an entertaining Saturday of ‘Top 6’ action, Fiona Burnet’s brace helped Wimbledon battle to a hard-fought 2-1 triumph at Clifton Robinsons.

Phoebe Richards scored for the hosts but Wimbledon, who went down 1-0 to Surbiton last time out, held on to bounce back from that setback.

In the lower tier of the Vitality Women’s Premier Division, Charlotte Watson’s strike proved the difference as Loughborough Students beat Swansea 1-0.

And in the other game of the day, it was Buckingham who sprung a surprise at Holcombe as Jo Pinner’s brace meant the hosts were unable to put the pressure on high-flying University of Birmingham in their absence of a Saturday fixture.

Vitality Women’s Premier Division – ‘Top 6’

• Beeston 2-4 Hampstead & Westminster
• Clifton Robinsons 1-2 Wimbledon
• Surbiton 6-0 East Grinstead

Vitality Women’s Premier Division

• Holcombe 0-2 Buckingham
• Swansea 0-1 Loughborough Students

Division One North

University of Nottingham powered to an emphatic 5-0 victory at Gloucester City to maintain their lead at the top of the table.

Jordan Homann netted twice for the East Midlands side as Gloucester City slipped to their third defeat on the spin.

Just behind the students at the Division One North summit, Jane Donnelly’s goal was the difference as Bowdon Hightown battled to a resilient 1-0 triumph over Leicester City.

That leaves them just a single point behind University of Nottingham while elsewhere, Durham University breezed past Olton & West Warwickshire 4-1.

They remain level on points with Stourport after their 6-1 win at Ben Rhydding, while Belper held Brooklands Poynton to a 2-2 draw at Trent College to pick up their third point of the season.

• Belper 2-2 Brooklands Poynton
• Ben Rhydding 1-6 Stourport
• Bowdon Hightown 1-0 Leicester
• Durham University 4-1 Olton & West Warwickshire
• Gloucester City 0-5 University of Nottingham

Division One South

It’s hotting up at the top after Lizzie Gittens’ two goals catapulted Reading to an impressive 4-0 win at Cambridge City.

Mia Moore and Beth Marriott were also on the scoresheet as the Berkshire side extended their winning run.

And that meant they replaced Sevenoaks at the summit of the table as the pace-setters were held to a 1-1 draw by Surbiton 2s in the day’s late game.

Elsewhere, Isca soared to a 5-1 win at home against Harleston Magpies, while Slough remain third after a 2-1 win against bottom side Trojans.

And Canterbury beat Wimbledon 2s 1-0 to stay fourth in the division and recover from their recent run of two straight defeats.

• Cambridge City 0-4 Reading
• Isca 5-1 Harleston Magpies
• Sevenoaks 1-1 Surbiton 2s
• Slough 2-1 Trojans
• Wimbledon 2s 0-1 Canterbury

Conference East

Barnes racked up their 12th win from 13 games as a 1-0 victory over Hampstead & Westminster 2s further outlined their superiority at the top of the table.

East London turned on the style to secure a stunning 8-2 win over Canterbury 2s, while Southgate remain in second after a fluent 4-0 win at Bromley & Beckenham.

Third-place London Wayfarers navigated their way to a 3-2 win at home to Ipswich, while Chelmsford and Horsham drew one apiece in Essex in one of the day’s mid-table clashes.

• Barnes 1-0 Hampstead & Westminster 2s
• Bromley & Beckenham 0-4 Southgate
• Canterbury 2s 2-8 East London
• Chelmsford 1-1 Horsham
• London Wayfarers 3-2 Ipswich

Conference Midlands

Sutton Coldfield maintained their scintillating unbeaten streak with a 3-1 win over Beeston 2s at Wyndley Leisure Centre.

The West Midlands side have only failed to win on a single occasion this term and remain eight points clear at the top despite Bedford’s 5-0 win over Khalsa Leamington.

St Albans succumbed to a 4-1 defeat at Loughborough Students 2s, University of Birmingham 2s beat Oxford University 2-1 while Cannock and Broxbourne drew 1-1 and remain above Khalsa Leamington at the bottom of the table.

• Bedford 5-0 Khalsa Leamington
• Cannock 1-1 Broxbourne
• Loughborough Students 2s 4-1 St Albans
• Oxford University 1-2 University of Birmingham 2s
• Sutton Coldfield 3-1 Beeston 2s

Conference North

It was a day for the home teams in the Conference North as no side playing away was able to muster anything better than a draw.

Table-toppers Leeds beat Timperley 2-1, while second-placed Didsbury Northern toppled struggling Neston 3-1 in the day’s early game.

Wakefield were held 2-2 at home by Durham University 2s but it was home wins for Doncaster and Alderley Edge as they beat Pendle Forest and Fylde to continue their solid seasons.

• Alderley Edge 2-1 Fylde
• Didsbury Northern 3-1 Neston
• Doncaster 2-0 Pendle Forest
• Leeds 2-1 Timperley
• Wakefield 2-2 Durham University 2s

Conference West

A thrilling battle at the top of the Conference West is unfolding and those fireworks continued on another intriguing Saturday.

Witney, Exe, Oxford Hawks and Team Bath Buccaneers all won their matches as just three points separate the division’s top four sides.

That meant defeats for Cheltenham, Clifton Robinson 2s, University of Bristol and Basingstoke while in the day’s other game, Penarth won 2-0 at Bristol Firebrands to move to within just two points of their opponents in the table.

• Basingstoke 1-4 Team Bath Buccaneers
• Bristol Firebrands 0-2 Penarth
• Exe 3-2 Clifton Robinsons
• Oxford Hawks 8-0 University of Bristol
• Witney 3-2 Cheltenham

With thanks to England Hockey

The only unbeaten team in their division, Surbiton’s women are at home to East Grinstead on Saturday knowing they will pull four points clear of the West Sussex outfit with a win. Both Hampstead & Westminster and Wimbledon will aim to keep the pressure on the top two with victories of their own.

Premier Division – ‘Top 6’

Surbiton have emerged as the only team left unbeaten after the winter break in the Vitality Women’s Premier Division ‘Top 6’.

The leaders hold a one-point advantage over East Grinstead, with the two set to meet in an eagerly anticipated affair on Saturday and England women’s FIH Hockey Pro League stars set to return to the fray.

East Grinstead will also be returning to the ground where they played their first Premier Division match nearly seven years ago.

East Grinstead, who beat Surbiton at Sugden Road in October 2020, are firmly in the race for a top two finish and a coveted berth at the Euro Hockey League, but coach Mary Booth admits that there remains a long run-in, starting with a likely tight battle on Saturday.

Booth said: “It should be an exciting and competitive game. It may not be high scoring as we both defend well. They do have the defensive record and I suspect it will be nip and tuck.

“It’s always close between the two sides and I think it will come down to a mistake. It’s almost a six pointer between us but there is still a long way to go in the league.”

Beeston, unbeaten in two matches, face a home tie against Hampstead & Westminster – who were hit by injuries and Covid last weekend, including the dangerous Lauren Turner – as they aim to keep their form intact after holding Surbiton to a draw earlier this month.

Surbiton’s derby win last weekend kept Wimbledon in fourth place in the top flight, five points off the pace set by Brett Garrard’s side. The Londoners now head to Clifton Robinsons this weekend, the Bristol side without a win in six matches.

Surbiton v East Grinstead – 13:30
Beeston v Hampstead & Westminster – 14:00
Clifton Robinsons v Wimbledon – 14:00

Premier Division

In the bottom tier, Buckingham – who returned from EuroHockey Indoor action in Turkey earlier this week – are set for an away encounter against Holcombe. They’ll be buoyed by recent history against the side from Kent, having won their last two matches in the Medway.

Meanwhile, Swansea are at home to Loughborough Students. The structure of the league – with two sides facing relegation – means that every point matters for the four competing sides on Saturday.

Swansea v Loughborough Students – 12:00
Holcombe v Buckingham – 14:00

Division One North

University of Nottingham, who last dropped points in October, continue their promotion bid against Gloucester City on Saturday.

Hosts Gloucester have lost four of the last five and face a rampant Nottingham side featuring the goalscoring talents of Maddie Axford – who has netted in every game she’s played this season – and German international Nike Lorenz.

Former Premier Division sides Bowdon Hightown and Leicester City also meet this weekend, the former remaining just one point behind Nottingham with six match days remaining in the battle for promotion.

Both Belper and Olton & West Warwicks are still searching for their first league wins of the season as they take on Brooklands Poynton and University of Durham respectively, with Stourport hoping to return to winning ways against Ben Rhydding.

University of Durham v Olton & West Warwicks – 12:00
Gloucester City v University of Nottingham – 13:00
Ben Rhydding v Stourport – 13:30
Bowdon Hightown v Leicester City – 13:30
Belper v Brooklands Poynton – 14:00

Division One South

Susie Rowe will be eyeing her 10th goal in nine games this weekend when leaders Sevenoaks host Surbiton 2s.

The Kent outfit remain two points clear of promotion rivals Reading, who are on a winning run of five matches ahead of their encounter with Cambridge City, who haven’t secured three points since early October.

At the bottom, Trojans’ winning run was halted last time out and they now face third-placed Slough, the Berkshire outfit who are still in the chase for promotion.

Following on from two losses in a row, Canterbury will hope to return to winning ways against an in-form Wimbledon 2s and Harleston Magpies travel to Isca searching for a much-needed win in the battle to avoid relegation.

Isca v Harleston Magpies – 12:00
Cambridge City v Reading – 12:30
Slough v Trojans – 12:30
Wimbledon 2s v Canterbury – 14:00
Sevenoaks v Surbiton 2s – 17:00

Conference East

Barnes remain in control of Conference East ahead of their home clash against Hampstead & Westminster 2s.

Second-placed Southgate got back to winning ways last weekend courtesy of their 9-0 victory over Canterbury 2s and take their recent scoring prowess – 15 goals in three games since Christmas – to Bromley & Beckenham.

London Wayfarers had captain Nicki Mollison to thank for her seven goals in four games before two defeats in a row left their title bid stuttering. The Londoners host Ipswich, who remain third from bottom.

A win for Chelmsford will move them level on points with their opponents this weekend in Horsham as Canterbury 2s try to get their season back on track at home to East London.

Barnes v Hampstead & Westminster 2s – 12:00
Bromley & Beckenham v Southgate – 12:30
London Wayfarers v Ipswich – 12:30
Canterbury 2s v East London – 14:00
Chelmsford v Horsham – 17:00

Conference Midlands

Emma McCabe has scored in all but two of Sutton Coldfield’s 12 matches this season. And with 22 goals, she has also led her side’s searing charge towards promotion. Unbeaten Sutton Coldfield face fourth-place Beeston 2s, who are also on a roll in Conference Midlands after two wins and three draws in their last five matches.

Bottom side Khalsa Leamington’s pivotal win last weekend will hold them in good stead when they travel to second-placed Bedford on Saturday.

Cannock and Broxbourne clash in what could be a deciding fixture near the foot of the table while third-placed St Albans travel to Loughborough Students 2s and University of Birmingham 2s travel to Oxford University.

Cannock v Broxbourne – 12:00
Sutton Coldfield v Beeston 2s – 12:00
Loughborough Students 2s v St Albans – 12:30
Oxford University v University of Birmingham 2s – 12:30
Bedford v Khalsa Leamington – 13:30

Conference North

Timperley’s hat-trick of recent defeats has left their promotion bid on the rocks ahead of their trip to Leeds on Saturday. Their 2-1 win over the current league leaders in October gives them some hope but Leeds have found their vigour since then, pulling five points clear at the top of the table.

Wakefield will be back in action after last week’s cancelled trip at Fylde. It’s also second against third as they are at home to University of Durham 2s.

Neston could make it four wins in a row if they win away to Didsbury Northern. They moved out of the relegation zone last week at the expense of Alderley Edge, who host Fylde, while Pendle Forest – currently bottom – face Doncaster.

Didsbury Northern v Neston – 12:00
Doncaster v Pendle Forest – 12:00
Alderley Edge v Fylde – 14:00
Leeds v Timperley – 14:00
Wakefield v University of Durham 2s – 15:30

Conference West

Leaders Witney’s three draws in their last five matches have given their Conference West rivals reason for optimism.

Exe look to be the biggest challenger to Witney – who host Cheltenham – on current form but, with none of the top five able to pick up three points last weekend, the Conference West remains tantalisingly tight at the top. They are at home against Clifton Robinsons 2s, who also play a rescheduled game against Basingstoke on Sunday.

The only team to lose amongst the top sides, third-placed Oxford Hawks host bottom side University of Bristol. Currently fourth and fifth in the table, victories for Bristol Firebrands and Team Bath Buccs over Penarth and Basingstoke respectively will keep them well in the title hunt.

Oxford Hawks v University of Bristol – 12:00
Witney v Cheltenham – 12:30
Bristol Firebrands v Penarth – 13:00
Exe v Clifton Robinsons 2s – 13:30
Basingstoke v Team Bath Buccs – 14:00
Clifton Robinsons 2s v Basingstoke – 11:00 (Sun 27 Feb)

With thanks to England Hockey

The storylines continue to bubble in the race for Europe and Wimbledon continue to be the form team in the Vitality Women’s Premier Division ‘Top 6′ after accruing their fifth win in succession last weekend against a depleted East Grinstead side.

The Londoners now face a derby clash against leaders Surbiton and could go top come Saturday tea-time if results fall their way.

Surbiton, back at the summit, and Wimbledon drew in the first half of the season, which also marked the clubs’ first encounter in league competition.

Clifton Robinsons and Beeston, the bottom two sides in the ‘Top 6’, kick off the weekend in Bristol, with both clubs having lost two of their last three.

Elsewhere, East Grinstead entertain a second London club in succession in the form of Hampstead & Westminster.

The West Sussex side’s failure to score in defeat to Wimbledon last weekend was the first time they had failed to do so in 35 matches.

Clifton Robinsons v Beeston – 14:00
Wimbledon v Surbiton – 15:00
East Grinstead v Hampstead & Westminster – 16:00

Premier Division

There’s only game in the bottom tier of the Premier Division as Holcombe host Loughborough Students.

The side from Kent have found form of late, securing two wins and a draw from their last four matches, while this will be a first game post-Christmas for the university-based side who currently sit one point and one place above them in the table.

Loughborough Students v Holcombe – 14:00

Division One North

The race for promotion between the university team aiming for the top flight for the first time and Premier Division old hands continues to be a tightly-run affair.

University of Nottingham retain a healthy goal difference should the league come down to that come April, while for now they hold a one-point lead over Bowdon Hightown. Nottingham face bottom side Belper at home, while Tina Cullen’s Bowdon face a tougher test when they travel to third-placed Stourport on Saturday.

Two of the bottom three sides face off this weekend as Olton & West Warwicks play host to Ben Rhydding, both aiming to bridge the gap to the teams above them as they look to avoid relegation.

Leicester City could make it five wins in six if they emerge victorious away to Brooklands Poynton while University of Durham travel to Gloucester City.

Brooklands Poynton v Leicester City – 11:45
Olton & West Warwicks v Ben Rhydding – 12:00
University of Nottingham v Belper – 12:00
Gloucester City v Durham University – 12:30
Stourport v Bowdon Hightown – 17:00

Division One South

Trojans’ bid for Division One South survival continues apace on Saturday with a visit to mid-table Surbiton 2s. The Hampshire side are gunning for their third straight victory and the chance to lift themselves off the bottom after a difficult first half of the season.

In addition, Harleston Magpies are at home to Cambridge City in another game that could prove crucial in the fight to stay in the league

At the top, leaders Sevenoaks host third-placed Slough, also looking for a hat-trick of victories, and Reading, in second, head to fourth-placed Canterbury.

The final games sees Wimbledon 2s make the journey down to Devon to face Isca, who are also in action the following day too as they then take on Slough.

Isca v Wimbledon 2s – 12:00
Harleston Magpies v Cambridge City – 13:30
Sevenoaks v Slough – 13:30
Surbiton 2s v Trojans – 13:30
Canterbury v Reading – 14:00
Isca v Slough – 13:00 (Sun 20 Feb)

Conference East

Barnes racked up their 10th win from 11 last weekend and head to Horsham in fine fettle with a seven-point lead at the top of the Conference East.

Chasers Southgate and London Wayfarers both lost ground with defeats last time out, with Hampstead & Westminster 2s closing the gap in fourth.

Wayfarers face a trip to second from bottom Bromley & Beckenham, while Southgate host out-of-form Canterbury 2s and Hampstead are at home to Ipswich. The early game pits East London against Chelmsford.

East London v Chelmsford – 11:30
Bromley & Beckenham v London Wayfarers – 12:30
Horsham v Barnes – 13:30
Southgate v Canterbury 2s – 14:00
Hampstead & Westminster 2s v Ipswich – TBC

Conference Midlands

Sutton Coldfield hold a six-point lead at the summit of Conference Midlands thanks to their unbeaten form. They face an away trip to Broxbourne, who have one point from three, while Bedford – who slipped up last weekend in their pursuit of Sutton – travel to Beeston 2s.

St Albans need to retain momentum to keep their hopes of promotion alive with maximum points against Cannock, who are aiming to stem a run of four straight losses.

University of Birmingham 2s will draw level on points with Loughborough Students 2s if they beat them on Saturday as Khalsa Leamington aim to stop a run of losses against Oxford University.

Khalsa Leamington v Oxford University – 12:00
University of Birmingham 2s v Loughborough Students 2s – 12:30
St Albans v Cannock – 13:00
Broxbourne v Sutton Coldfield – 13:30
Beeston 2s v Bedford – 14:00

Conference North

Leeds maintain a stranglehold at the Conference North helm, but will a challenger emerge who can hold an unbeaten run and test the Yorkshire side?

Second-placed Wakefield will look to keep the pressure on and secure welcome back-to-back victories when they face Fylde, while the leaders head to University of Durham 2s, who are also well-placed in third.

Neston’s recent victories have left relegation also hard to predict. They head to Doncaster, while a key battle will ensue between Alderley Edge and Pendle Forest. In the other game, fourth-placed Timperley play host to Didsbury Northern.

Pendle Forest v Alderley Edge – 11:30
University of Durham 2s v Leeds – 12:00
Fylde v Wakefield – 13:30
Neston v Doncaster – 13:30
Timperley v Didsbury Northern – 16:15

Conference West

Witney, who face Team Bath Buccs, hold a one-point lead over county rivals Oxford Hawks ahead of this weekend’s crunch game.

The Hawks travel to Exe on Saturday, while third-placed Bristol Firebrands, the only team to lose last weekend in the top seven, host Basingstoke.

University of Bristol, still looking for their first point of the season, are on the road to Cheltenham while second-bottom Clifton Robinsons 2s could halve the gap to Penarth by beating them.

Bristol Firebrands v Basingstoke – 12:00
Penarth v Clifton Robinsons 2s – 12:30
Team Bath Buccs v Witney – 12:30
Exe v Oxford Hawks – 13:00
Cheltenham v University of Bristol – 14:00

With thanks to England Hockey