England Hockey Area Premier Divisions: Review Of The Season To Date

To see full fixtures, results and tables from across the country, click here.

In the men’s East Premier division, Norwich City have had a fantastic season, losing only once in 22 games to secure promotion, scoring a whopping 118 goals along the way. Their sole defeat came right near the end of the season, losing 2-1 at home to Ipswich. But City still finished some 16 points clear of nearest rivals Chelmsford and they ended the season in some style, seeing off Cambridge City 2 by seven goals to two at home

The women’s East Premier Division saw Bishop's Stortford and Norwich City battle it out for top spot, Bishop;s eventually taking a closely-fought contest by finishing five points clear. A top-of-the-table clash between the two sides took place in early March, Bishop's winning 4-2 at Norwich in a win that would ultimately prove decisive in their successful quest to move up to the Conference.

Even with a couple of games still to go, Spencer’s women have secured their promotion to the Conference after a fantastic season. They have won 19 and drawn one of their 20 matches, and with 93 goals registered, there is perhaps still time for them to reach a century of goals this season. However their final game is away to nearest rivals Teddington, who themselves have won 16 out of 20 games this far.

In the Men’s Premier Division, Surbiton 2 have just sealed the title, going unbeaten in 20 matches to date. They are seven points clear of Wimbledon 2, with those two sides the front runners in the division by some distance. Wimbledon have actually outscored Surbiton (105 v 98) but Surbiton won both games between the sides; 6-1 at home and 6-4 away.

With one match still to play, University of Nottingham 2 have already made sure of top spot as they are eight points clear of both Loughborough Students 2 and Barton. Nottm were superb in the early season, not losing until January. They have been able to afford the luxury of actually losing their most recent two games, but the lead was more than enough to see them home. They are also the top scorers with 86 in 21 games.

There is a massive game in the Midland Women’s Premier Division this weekend, as top side Matlock Baileans host second-placed Rugby & East Warwickshire. Matlock are two points clear, so a draw would be enough to see them home, but Rugby have won ten in a row in a wonderful run of form. Matlock themselves are unbeaten in seven but have drawn three of those fixtures, so a great game is in store at Wirkswoth at 11:30am on Saturday.

It is incredibly tight at the top of the North West Women’s Premier Division, with just one round of games remaining this Saturday. Liverpool Sefton and Bowdon 2 are level on 49 points, but Kirkby Stephen are lurking in third on 46 points – and they host Sefton this weekend. That game takes place at 1pm, and if Sefton win they would go three points clear with a goal difference better than Bowdon’s by at least +5. Bowdon would then need a big win at home to Lancaster in their 3:45pm match. However if Kirkby Stephen win the early match, they would themselves go top, with a goal difference at least +6 better than Bowdon, but Bowdon would then only need a point to take the title.

The Men’s NW Premier is much more clear cut, with Brooklands MU 2 having sealed the title some weeks ago. With one final match left they are 15 points clear, having remained unbeaten all season, winning 17 and drawing 4. This weekend they host second-placed Neston, who are in a five-way battle to secure the runners-up spot at the end of the campaign.

In the South Central Men’s Premier Division 1, Oxford University sealed top spot with a 6-2 win at Trojans in their final game last weekend. The students had stuttered very slightly, only winning once in the previous five games but put the seal on a superb campaign with a big win away to end their campaign in style. Going into that match, both Oxford Brookes University and Banbury had an outside chance of finishing first, but they are now in a battle for second spot. OBU are two points ahead, but they only have one game remaining, as opposed to Banbury’s three.

There is a real battle on at the top of the South Central Women’s Premier Division 1. Oxford Hawks 2 are top by a point, but they cannot be promoted as their senior team are in the Conference division above. Reading 2 are currently second, and they travel to second-placed Marlow in their final match of the campaign. Oxford Hawks 2 travel to Amersham & Chalfont at 11:30am on Saturday, and the game at Marlow starts later in the day so Reading will know if they still have the chance to finish top and be certain of promotion.

Guildford have had a truly sensational season in South East Women’s Premier Division, and secured the title this midweek. With one still game to go, they have won 19 and drawn 2 out of 21 matches, scoring an incredible 126 goals to give them a goal difference of +110. It is credit to second-placed Old Georgians that Guildford only secured the title a few days ago; with OGs themselves having only lost twice.

In the South East Men’s Premier Division, it’s again Guildford who lead the charge and have already secured the title after going unbeaten in 21 games. Like their female counterparts, they have only dropped four points so far, and they travel to Eastbourne this weekend with 114 goals already scored, and a gold difference of +94. Tunbridge Wells will finish second.

Having won their final six games in a row, Cardiff & Met 2 have sealed top spot ahead of Team Bath Buccaneers 2. A 1-0 win for Cardiff away to Bath earlier this month proved decisive, as did as Bath’s draw with Swindon to give Cardiff a further gap at the top. Either Whitchurch or Taunton Vale could yet sneak into second spot with one game to go. Spare a thought for Plymouth Uni at the foot of the table, with no points from 20 games, 11 scored and 159 conceded.

Isca & University of Exeter 2 have won the Women’s West Premier Division, with Team Bath Buccaneers 2 again in second spot, like in the men’s league. When Isca lost away to Bath in October, they had won one, draw one and lost two, but since then they have won an incredible 14 games in a row to see off every challenge put before them.

After an intense battle with those around them, Harrogate sealed the Yorkshire & North East Women’s Premier Division title in the final month of the campaign, eventually finishing six points ahead of Whitley Bay & Tynemouth. Newcastle University also put up a fight, finishing third in the end and picking up all three points against Harrogate in the season’s penultimate match.

With a couple of games still to go, it is all to play for in the Men’s competition. Unbeaten Lindum top the charts, but they are only one point ahead of Ben Rhydding. And this weekend they play each other at Lindum; if the home side win then they take the title, but a victory for the away team puts them in the driving seat. The game between the two sides earlier in the season saw Lindum win by the odd goal in five, so another cracker is in store this weekend.