EHL Premier Division Review | Week Four

Women's Premier Division

Hampstead & Westminster maintained their 100% record at the top of the Women's Premier Division thanks to a 3-1 win at Barnes. Olivia Hamilton, Holly Hunt and Rose Tynan were on target for Hampstead and Naomi Kelly grabbed a late consolation goal for Barnes, their first of the campaign and the first Hampstead have conceded this season. 

Barnes are still without a point but sit eleventh ahead of the University of Nottingham who went down to an 8-0 defeat at second-placed Surbiton. Darcy Bourne netted four of Surbiton’s goals and Erica Sanders a brace in their win which sees them remain unbeaten and trail Hampstead by two points. 

University of Birmingham are another team yet to taste defeat and sit third. Coca Hall cancelling out Reading’s Lorna Mackenizie’s first half goal with nine minutes left to make it 1-1 at Sonning Lane, Birmingham’s second successive draw. 

Likewise, Wimbledon and Loughborough Students were held to a 0-0 stalemate, with Wimbledon moving onto seven points ahead of East Grinstead and Reading on goal difference. 

East Grinstead came from behind to beat Durham University 3-1 with Biba Mills following up her hat-trick last week with a brace. 

Clifton Robinsons have yet to secure a point and were beaten 3-1 at home by Bowdon, the Cheshire team’s second win in as many weeks and a repeat of the result in last year’s meeting.

Open/Men's Premier Division

There were only four games in the Open/Men's Premier Division, but 31 goals were still scored. 

Holcombe took advantage of the top three not playing due to Euro Hockey League fixtures to move up to second on goals scored after a 6-1 win at Southgate. The hosts took the lead early in the second quarter through Barney Bithell, but Holcombe were 3-1 up by half-time and pulled away in the second half with Teague Marcano netting his second hat-trick of the season. 

Damon Steffens went one better hitting four in Hampstead & Westminster’s 8-0 win at bottom of the table Beeston, almost a year to the day since they achieved the same score against Bowdon. Hampstead are fourth on seven points, with three teams behind them on goal difference (Wimbledon, East Grinstead and Oxted). 

Whilst Wimbledon were in EuroHockey action, earning ranking points with a joint ninth finish, the latter two both enjoyed 5-3 home wins. East Grinstead beat Cardiff & Met with Jonty Elmes netting for the third successive game, and Oxted defeated Brooklands MU with Peter Jarvis scoring two of their goals. 

Congratulations go to Old Georgians, England’s other team in the Euro Hockey League at the weekend, with wins against Olten and Bloemendaal putting them through to the KO8 at Easter alongside Surbiton.