England Hockey Leagues
13 March 2026

EHL Premier Division Preview | Week Twelve

Open/Men's Premier Division

Following the conclusion of the Men's World Cup Qualifiers, players who helped England and Scotland and Wales qualify for the World Cup later this year, return to domestic action as the Premier Division restarts this Sunday with a full programme of fixtures in Phase 2 of the league.

In the Top 6, teams are looking for top spot at the end of this phase which comes with European qualification for 2026-27 plus a favourable position with more home advantage in the finals phase.

Sunday sees 1^st v 2^nd as local rivals Surbiton and Wimbledon clash. Surbiton hold a seven-point advantage after winning all eleven games in Phase 1 including a 3-0 win at Wimbledon. 3^rd play 4^th as Old Georgians host Hampstead & Westminster looking to gain revenge for a 2-0 defeat in October. Oxted in 6^th travel to Holcombe in 5^th and they drew 4-4 earlier in the year, a crucial point in Oxted’s quest for a Top 6 finish

The Lower 6 sees teams fighting for the last two places in the finals phase and to gain points to avoid the relegation play-offs and the drop.

East Grinstead, who missed out on a Top 6 place by a point host Southgate, the teams having drawn their previous encounter 1-1. Reading are a point behind East Grinstead and they welcome Brooklands MU to Sonning Lane who are currently five points from safety. Beeston skipper Gareth Griffiths will be quickly back amongst his Welsh teammates as his side travel to Cardiff & Met looking for a first win. Cardiff will want the points to boost their finals phase hopes.

Women's Premier Division

With the Women’s World Cup Qualifier secluding this weekend, the Womens Premier Division restarts in full next weekend but there are a couple of games this weekend where teams have agreed to bring their games forwards. On Sunday Champions Reading host Hampstead & Westminster who sit second, four points behind Surbiton. The day before there is a Lower 6 battle between Loughborough Students and Clifton Robinsons. Loughborough missed out on a Top 6 place on goal difference whilst Clifton, who lost their first seven games, ended Phase 1 with a four game unbeaten run.