Men's League Preview: Titles and Relegation Battles Set To Conclude

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

Some statistics in the below previews were compiled using the help of Colin Pike/Hockey World News' media guide.

Old Georgians need two points from their last three matches to seal their first Men's Premier Division title.

A battling Surbiton performance to earn a 2-2 draw against Old Georgians saw the league leader's 10-game winning run halted last weekend.

It means that Wimbledon now sit eight points behind in second place, but it would still take a huge turnaround to deny Old Georgians a slice of history.

Old Georgians take on East Grinstead, and have beaten their opponents 7-0 and 3-0 at home this season. In their only previous visit to Saint Hill, Old Georgians ran out 5-0 winners in October 2019. Meanwhile, East Grinstead have yet to score against their rivals in their four top flight encounters.

There could be two titles settled in West Sussex come Saturday evening, with Surbiton women also on the cusp of the league Championship and playing East Grinstead as part of the club's double header.

Wimbledon will renew rivalry with Hampstead & Westminster on Sunday, knowing that a win would leave them in a strong position in securing a return to European club hockey. 

"They all feel like must-win games at the moment, and every fixture is crucial until the end of the season,” said Wimbledon’s Evan Kimber. "We are doing everything we can to try and secure that spot in Europe."

Surbiton sit five points behind Wimbledon in third and still harbour hopes of guaranteeing club competition on the continent next season. 

They play Holcombe, ahead of a potential European showdown clash next weekend against Wimbledon.

Surbiton opened their season account with a 6-4 home win over Holcombe, before losing 3-0 at the Medway in March.

Sat 2 Apr
6pm East Grinstead v Old Georgians

Sun 3 Apr
2pm Wimbledon v Hampstead & Westminster
2:30pm Surbiton v Holcombe

Durham University have the chance to extend their advantage over basement side University of Exeter this weekend as the battle for survival continues with two matches remaining.

University of Exeter have garnered seven points from a possible 12. The west country side have a rest weekend, leaving Durham to try and close the gap on Brooklands Manchester University.

Both sides have taken three points off each other this season, with Brooklands MU winning their last encounter 4-1 at Durham.

Elsewhere, Beeston host Oxted at the top of the Bottom 5 table. Both clubs are winless from their last two matches, while Oxted hold a two-point advantage with a game in hand.

Sun 3 Apr
12pm Beeston v Oxted
2pm Brooklands MU v Durham University

Deeside Ramblers, Sheffield Hallam and City of Peterborough are set for a nervy final day in Division 1 North.

The three clubs face mid-table opposition while they also enter the last fixture of the season holding the same record in their last three matches: 1 draw, 2 losses.

Two clubs will be relegated from Division 1 as all have worse records than Brighton & Hove, who will finish ninth in Division 1 South.

Meanwhile, University of Nottingham host third-placed Cardiff & Met as they aim for a 12th win of the season to cap a memorable year, with promotion to the Premier Division for the first time along with their women's club counterparts.

Sun 3 Apr
2pm Deeside Ramblers v Bowdon
2pm Loughborough Students v Olton & West Warwickshire
2pm Sheffield Hallam v Cambridge City
2pm University of Birmingham v City of Peterborough
2pm University of Nottingham v Cardiff & Met

Reading are on the verge of being crowned Division 1 South champions this weekend following their top-of-the-table victory over rivals Canterbury last Sunday.

Reading travel to Oxford Hawks with a superior goal difference of +9 and a three-point advantage over Canterbury.

The Kent side are at home to Havant, who are relegated, while Brighton & Hove have been confirmed as a Division 1 South team for next season by virtue of being the best ninth-placed team across the two divisions.

It would take an exceptional set of results for Canterbury to overtake Reading on Saturday. Team Bath Buccaneers' draw last week means that they can't catch Reading.

Sun 3 Apr
2pm Brighton & Hove v Old Cranleighan
2pm Canterbury v Havant
2pm Oxford Hawks v Reading
2pm Sevenoaks v Team Bath Buccaneers
2pm Teddington v Southgate

With one match day remaining, Conference East will see two teams relegated due to teams being unable to make up the points difference on the overall best ninth-placed team.

Four clubs are still under threat of relegation from the Conference: Indian Gymkhana, London Edwardians, Bromley & Beckenham and West Herts.

Gymkhana, who have lost their last three, play bottom side West Herts, while Edwardians and Bromley & Beckenham take on two of the top three sides in the league. 
At the top, Old Loughtonians have secured the title, with Richmond & Spencer battling it out for second spot.

Sun 3 Apr
2pm Indian Gymkhana v West Herts
2pm London Edwardians v Richmond
2pm London Wayfarers v Hampstead & Westminster 2
2pm Old Loughtonians v Wapping
2pm Spencer v Bromley & Beckenham

Barford Tigers' promotion to Division 1 has left the relegation battle in the spotlight ahead of the final weekend of the season.

Khalsa Leamington are already relegated, while two clubs can still be demoted - University of Birmingham 2 and Cambridge University 1.

Birmingham have a one-point gap on Cambridge ahead of their fixtures against mid-table opposition. 

It will be an anxious wait come full-time on Sunday afternoon to discover their league status for next season, which also depends on the final tables in the other Conferences.

Sun 3 Apr
2pm Barford Tigers v Harleston Magpies
2pm Bedford v Cambridge University
2pm Khalsa Leamington v Loughborough Town
2pm St Albans v Harborne
2pm University of Birmingham 2 v Lichfield

The destination of the Conference North title will go down to the wire this weekend.

Belper, on the back of an unbeaten run of eight matches, open proceedings for Championship status on Saturday afternoon against Wakefield.

With a game in hand, Belper can secure the title with a win, or face another turn the following day in their double-header quest for top honours.

Timperley, following defeat last weekend, must win their final match against Beeston 2 to stand any chance of top spot.

Update: Fri 1 Apr: The result of the Beeston 2 v University of Durham 2 match on 6 February has been reversed and awarded as a 5-0 win to Beeston. The original result was a 5-2 win for Durham. Durham have also been deducted one point. This decision is taken in line with League regulations relating to where fair selection of a team is determined to have been breached. Durham appealed against this ruling but this was dismissed by the Appeal Panel and the ruling stands. 

Alderley Edge are already relegated, while Durham University will also finish in the bottom as a result of the above. However they could yet earn a reprieve if they end the season as the best of the four ninth-placed teams across the Conferences.

Sat 2 Apr
1:30pm Belper v Wafefield

Sun 3 Apr
2pm Beeston 2 v Timperley
2pm Belper v Alderley Edge
2pm Durham University 2 v Doncaster
2pm Leeds v Wakefield
2pm Preston v Didsbury Northern

University of Bristol are champions with a game to spare, while Cheltenham are relegated.

This leaves Cardiff University and Plymouth Marjon facing an anxious final weekend in Conference West. Both clubs are level on 16 points and can still finish as one of the lowest ninth-placed teams on points across the four Conference leagues. University of Exeter 2 are also looking over their shoulder as they prepare to travel to Cheltenham

Cardiff are at home to in-form Fareham, who will finish second with victory. Marjon, vying for their first win in six, are on the road at Chichester.

Sun 3 Apr
2pm Ashmoor v University of Bristol
2pm Cardiff University v Fareham
2pm Chichester v Plymouth Marjon
2pm Clifton Robinsons v Isca
2pm University of Exeter 2 v Cheltenham