EHL Hockey League Week 18 2023 Matchday Review

The England Hockey League witnessed an action-packed weekend, with some high-scoring matches and intense battles across the pools. Old Georgians, Holcombe, Wimbledon, and Surbiton secured their places in the League Finals Weekend, while an 11-goal thriller unfolded between the University of Exeter and Brooklands Manchester University.

Old Georgians Dominate Hampstead & Westminster

Old Georgians put up an impressive performance, defeating Hampstead & Westminster 4-0. Chris Proctor opened the scoring in the 5th minute, followed by goals from Tom Carson, Sam Ward, and Lee Morton. Old Georgians showed their class and strength, securing their spot in the League Finals Weekend.

Holcombe Demolish Beeston

Holcombe's Nick Bandurak was the star of the show, scoring his second consecutive hat-trick against Beeston as the home side cruised to a 6-1 victory. Bandurak's tally of 10 goals in the Premier Division against the Bees underlines his dominance in this fixture. Jake Owen, Tom Russell, and Bandurak himself added more goals to seal the win for Holcombe. Henry Croft scored the sole goal for Beeston.

Surbiton Edge Past Reading

In a tightly contested match, Surbiton managed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over Reading, thanks to a goal from Rob Farrington in the 50th minute. This win ensured Surbiton's place in the League Finals Weekend.

Wimbledon Overpower Oxted

Wimbledon put on an attacking masterclass, defeating Oxted 6-2. Ed Horler led the charge, scoring twice, with his first goal coming from a penalty corner in the 16th and 18th minutes. Rhys Bradshaw, Sam Hooper, Jack Waller, and Rory Patterson also found the net for Wimbledon. Matt Barnett, who initially put his side in front, and Lucas Ward managed to score consolation goals for Oxted. With this victory, Wimbledon secured their spot in the League Finals Weekend.

Exeter Edge Brooklands in 11-Goal Thriller

In a nail-biting encounter, the University of Exeter triumphed 6-5 over already-relegated Brooklands Manchester University. The goal fest saw Freddy Esplen, Sam Armitage, Jacob Payton, Lewis Wilcher (twice), and Seb Ansley scoring for Exeter, while Peter Flanagan (including two penalty strokes) and Ben Wallace (twice) scored for Brooklands. The win was crucial for Exeter as they continue to fight against relegation.

Nottingham Secure Victory Over East Grinstead

The University of Nottingham celebrated a 4-2 victory over East Grinstead. Louis Tipper's brace from penalty corners and goals from Charlie Axford and Peter Caughey ensured Nottingham's win. Charlie Taylor scored twice for East Grinstead, but it wasn't enough to change the momentum of the match.

Elsewhere around the Men's Hockey Leagues: Promotions and Relegations

Alongside the gripping contests in the Men's Hockey Premier Division, there have been notable developments in other divisions and conferences, with teams achieving promotions and facing relegations.

Promotions:

Southgate demonstrated their prowess by winning Division 1 South and earning a promotion to the Premier Division. In the Conference Midlands, Harborne emerged victorious, securing a well-deserved promotion to Division 1. Havant topped the Conference West, also gaining promotion to Division 1.

Relegations:

On the other side of the spectrum, some teams faced the adversity of relegation this season. Brooklands Manchester University's journey in the Premier Division concluded with their relegation to a lower division. Loughborough Town experienced a challenging season, resulting in their relegation from Conference Midlands. Similarly, Preston faced the disappointment of relegation from Conference North.

As the Men's Hockey Leagues continue to evolve, these promotions and relegations will bring new excitement and challenges for the teams involved in the upcoming season.

Vitality Women's Hockey League Match Review: Surbiton and East Grinstead Secure Spots in League Finals Weekend

This weekend's action-packed Vitality Women's Hockey League matches witnessed some intense competition, with Surbiton and East Grinstead emerging as the first two teams to qualify for the League Finals Weekend.

Surbiton secured a 3-1 victory against Beeston, with goals from Izzy Petter, Giselle Ansley, and Darcy Bourne. Ansley's goal in the 67th minute came from a penalty corner, while Sophie Robinson scored a consolation goal for Beeston in the 60th minute.

East Grinstead triumphed over the University of Birmingham with a 3-1 win, thanks to a brace from Sophie Bray and a goal by Courtney Hansford. Millie Giglio managed to put the University of Birmingham on the scoreboard in the 60th minute.

The encounter between Clifton Robinsons and Wimbledon ended in a 1-1 draw. Olivia Chilton scored for Wimbledon in the 13th minute, while Livvy Hoskins equalized for Clifton Robinsons in the 70th minute. With points shared, the teams faced a shootout for a bonus point, a new component for the 2022/23 season for League Finals draws; Clifton went on to win 3-1 and secure the additional point.

Hampstead & Westminster crushed the University of Nottingham with an impressive 7-1 victory. Anna O'Flanagan starred in the match with her second successive hat-trick against the University of Nottingham, while Lily Owsley added two penalty corner goals. Lauren Turner and Hayley Turner contributed one goal each. Jordan Homann scored the University of Nottingham's lone goal via a penalty corner.

Reading defeated Buckingham 3-1, with goals from Mia Moore, Star Horlock, and Phoebe Nixon. Buckingham's Maddy Newlyn scored from a penalty corner in the 60th minute.

Holcombe edged out Loughborough Students 2-1 to maintain their survival hopes. Lorna Mackenzie scored the opening goal for Loughborough Students through a penalty corner, but Sogia Viarengo and Hattie Jones responded with goals for Holcombe, securing the win.

With Surbiton and East Grinstead securing their spots in the League Finals Weekend, the remaining teams will be fighting for the last two positions in the upcoming matches. The competition promises to be fierce, and fans can expect more thrilling games in the weeks to come.

Elsewhere around the Vitality Women's Hockey Leagues: Promotions and Relegations

In addition to the intense battles witnessed in the Vitality Women's Hockey Premier Division, there were significant developments in other divisions and conferences, with teams securing promotions and facing relegations.

Promotions:

Isca & University of Exeter have won promotion to the Premier Division as Division 1 South winners, showcasing their impressive performance throughout the season. Olton & West Warwickshire emerged victorious in the Conference Midlands, securing their spot in the next tier. Team Bath Buccaneers triumphed in Conference West, earning a well-deserved promotion.

Relegations:

Unfortunately, some teams faced the harsh reality of relegation this season. Buckingham's journey in the Premier Division came to an end, as they were relegated to a lower division. In the Conference East, both Bishops Stortford and Chelmsford faced the disappointment of relegation after a challenging season. Alderley Edge also experienced the bitter taste of relegation, as they will be leaving the Conference North.

As the Vitality Women's Hockey Leagues continue to unfold, these promotions and relegations will undoubtedly bring fresh excitement and new challenges for the teams involved in the upcoming season.