EHL Premier Division Review | Week 8

OPEN/MEN'S PREMIER DIVISION

League leaders Surbiton made it seven wins out of seven with a 4-1 victory at bottom of the table Beeston. Despite being without a point Beeston made it hard for the visitors who only confirmed the points in the later stages with Nick Bandurak completing a hat-trick in the 68^th minute. Wimbledon stay second thanks to their 3-0 win at Southgate. 

Hampstead & Westminster stay third after an incredible comeback at Holcombe to win 5-4. Damon Steffens gave Hampstead an early lead but by half time they found themselves 4-1 down, Michael Royden-Turner, Alastair Douglas, Alexander Chihota and Teague Marcano on target for the hosts. The second half was very different though. A second for Steffens and goals for Matt Richards and Jolyon Morgan levelled things up before a 66^th minute winner from Karan Sofat.

There were braces for Tom Carson, Henry Croft and David Condon as fourth placed Old Georgians won 8-0 at Brooklands MU. OGs have scored 29 goals on their four away games to date and the shut out represented James Mazerelo’s fourth clean sheet of the season. East Grinstead moved up to sixth with a 3-1 win in the A22 derby at Oxted, who they replace in the top half of the table. This was only Oxted’s second defeat of the season and a tight game was finally settled by a Jonty Elmes corner with five minutes left, Elmes has scored in all but two of EG’s games this campaign. Reading edged out Cardiff & Met 4-3 for their third win in four games. Ben Hooper scored a hat-trick for Reading.

Premier Division Top Scorers

Nick Bandurak (Surbiton) 12

Damon Steffens (Hampstead & Westminster) 12

Teague Marcano (Holcombe) 10

Jonty Elmes (East Grinstead) 8

Sam Ward (Old Georgians) 8

Henry Croft (Old Georgians) 7

Sam Hooper (Wimbledon) 7

Peter Jarvis (Oxted) 7

Premier Division Clean Sheets

James Mazarelo (Old Georgians) 4

Dom Dixon (Holcombe) 2

WOMEN'S PREMIER DIVISION

League leaders Surbiton were held to a 0-0 draw by Wimbledon to drop down to second place. This maintained Surbiton’s amazing record of not having concerned a first half goal all season. Jess Buchanan was Wimbledon’s saviour keeping out a first half stroke from Amy Costello, she registered her fifth clean sheet. 0-0 draws are rare but Wimbledon have been involved in the last five in the Division and it is three seasons since there was one without them.

Hampstead & Westminster retained top spot thanks to a 6-0 win at Nottingham University, Lucy Hyams scoring two of their goals with another clean sheet for Miriam Pritchard. Third placed East Grinstead were another team to enjoy an away day win and a shut-out. They won 2-0 at Bowdon for a fifth successive win.

Only a week after a heavy loss at Surbiton, Loughborough Students upset the form book with a 2-1 defeat of champions Reading. All the goals came in the first half. Reading’s Emma Findlay scored after only two minutes, her first goal since the winner against Surbiton in the Championship Final last season. However Amy Birch and Lily Beer replied for the home team who held on in a goalless second half to take the points.

There was a first point of the season for bottom of the table Clifton Robinsons. A 1-1 draw at Birmingham University shouldn’t come as a surprise as it’s the third successive meeting of the teams with the same result. Coca Hall scored early on for Birmingham, meaning she’s scored in seven of their eight games but Evie Grindal equalised for Clifton with four minutes left on the clock. Durham University arrested a five-match losing streak with a 6-2 win over Barnes. 

Premier Division Top Scorers

Darcy Bourne (Surbiton) 10

Biba Mills (East Grinstead) 10

Coca Hall (University of Birmingham) 8

Erica Sanders (Surbiton) 7

Lizzy Pocknell (Durham University) 6

Amy Costello (Surbiton) 5

Holly Hunt (Hampstead & Westminster) 5

Premier Division Clean Sheets

Jessica Buchanan (Wimbledon) 5

Miriam Pritchard (Hampstead & Westminster) 4

Ayeisha McFerran (Surbiton) 3

Mila Welch (East Grinstead) 3