Men's England Hockey League Week 1 2022 Preview

Old Georgians began the defence of their Premier Division title in the East Midlands as the University of Nottingham opened their campaign at home for the first time since they played in the Conference North in 2017-18. As tough as an opening fixture could be for the University side, Old Georgians took just 2 minutes before James Albery opened the scoring, on the way to a dominant 1-8 thrashing. A five-goal first quarter saw Old Georgians take a 1-4 advantage into the break. A double from Sam Ward (FG5, PC10), and a penalty corner goal from James Carson (PC13), gave the reigning Champions a four-goal advantage before Louis Tipper (FG16) scored the University of Nottingham's first ever Premier Division goal.

The second half continued in the same fashion as Sam Ward tormented the Nottingham defence by adding three more to his tally (PC39 FG49, FG53) to score a double hattrick and give Old Georgians their highest-ever National League opening day win.

Simon Faulkner (PC22 PC32 PC65) was the man of the moment in West Sussex, scoring a hattrick as East Grinstead twice came from behind. The University of Exeter were the quickest team in the league off the mark, with Louis Ridge scoring inside the first minute to stun the hosts into life. Ollie Drummond (PC27) gave the visitors a 1-2 lead before Faulkner ensured his side took all three points and continued their undefeated run against Exeter University in the last seven matches.

In a repeat of last season's opening day fixture, Surbiton and Holcombe met again; this time, Surbiton travelled to Holcombe Park looking for a repeat of their 6-4 victory from last season. Holcombe, however, were convincing winners last March when they ran out 3-0 victors over Surbiton at home. Hayden Phillips (FG12) opened the scoring, giving Holcombe a lead they would hold for just six minutes before last season's top goal scorer, Luke Taylor, fired home a trademark penalty corner to level the scores going into the halftime break. Surbiton started the second half on the front foot with Alex Williams (FG37) scoring from open play, before Phil Roper (PC59), on his debut for Holcombe after a successful season in the Netherlands, equalised from a penalty corner. Brothers Gareth and Rhodri Furlong faced each other for the second successive league match, having been on opposite sides when Surbiton played Hampstead & Westminster in the final game of last season.

Hampstead & Westminster, having won their last six opening fixtures since they started the 2015-16 campaign, had to stop a Wimbledon side aiming for their third successive away win at Paddington Recreation Ground. Ben Francis gave Wimbledon the lead, with an open play goal, in the 4th minute of the game before Stephen Kelly (PC18) and Samuel French (PC19) put Hampstead & Westminster into the lead with two goals in two minutes. Shortly before halftime Rory Patterson (PC29) levelled the game for the visitors. In the second half, Wimbledon took the initiative adding two more goals through Duncan Scott (FG53) and Ben Francis (FG61) to give Wimbledon their fourth consecutive win away at Hampstead.

Another six-goal thriller was played out at Sonning Lane as Reading and Brooklands Manchester University restoked their Premier Division rivalry that goes back to 1998-99. Tom Minall (FG22, FG64) and  Fred Newbold (PC34, FG42) produced the firepower to give Reading a 4-2 victory over their visitors from the North, with Nick Hale (PC41) and  Andrew Jackson (FG65) scoring for Brooklands Manchester University.

Beeston, who had gone three opening day fixtures without a win, travelled to an Oxted side looking for the sixth victory in the last seven opening fixtures. Beeston were the fastest out of the blocks, with Olivier Ashdown (FG3) opening the scoring in the third minute. Oxted were pegged back before two goals either side of halftime from Jonathan Lankfer (FG32) and Chris Webster (FG45) gave the home side the victory.

With 34 goals being scored across the Divison, Barford Tigers and Deeside Ramblers reignited their rivalry and their end-to-end attacking style of hockey.   With goal after goal being exchanged between the two sides, just the single goal in nine separated them come the final whistle. Ahmad Nadeem (FG9 PC23), Kaval Jabbal (FG41), Amraj Soor (FG44) and  Mohammed Samak (FG57) were the scorers for the Tigers, whilst an Ali Ghazanfar hattrick (PS35 PC62 PC64) and penalty corner from Laim Daddo-Langlois (PC52) netted for the Ramblers.

Durham University welcomed Cardiff Met, the division's most southerly club, to the North East and exchanged blow for blow with their visitors, 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4. Goals from Raunaq Rai (PC8 FG39 FG68), Max Garner (FG31) and Jack Stubbings (PC54) for Durham University and Ioan Wall (PC5), Tom Wood (FG17), Charlie Hunte (FG34) and 

Jack Pritchard (PS58) for Cardiff & Met.

Loughborough Students hit Belper for seven in a heavily one-sided affair Tom Finnegan (FG 13 FG60), Josh Greaney (FG16), Alex Pendle (PC18 FG55), Alex Chihota (FG22) and Rory Penrose (PS31); the scorers for Loughborough Students.

Simon Egerton(PC24 PC28 PC69) continued to do what he does so well, scoring a hattrick of penalty corner goals for Bowdon on their way to a 4-2 home victory over the University of Birmingham. Joe Higson (PC40) was the other scorer for Bowdon, with Alex Greenaway (FG33) and Alfie Weaver (PS58) on the scoresheet for UOB.

Cambridge City struggled for form, going down 1-2 at home to Olton & West Warwickshire. Goals from Jack Duerden (FG16) and Martin Ebbage (FG35) gave Olton a 0-2 lead before Connor Anand (PS44) scored from the penalty spot for City.

A new look Southgate was on the road to Brighton & Hove on the Southcoast eager to put down a marker in the fight for promotion to the Premier Division. With five goals being scored in the first twenty minutes, four for Southgate, Teague Marcano (PC4, FG8, PC14), Dan West (FG19) and one for Brighton & Hove, Sam Rose (FG20), this was edging for a high scoring game. Marcano was on the scoresheet again in the second half to register his 5th and 6th goal (FG37, PC63) on either side of Charles Hamilton's open play effort in the 59th minute.

Old Loughtonians made the long journey from Essex to Somerset to face Team Bath Buccaneers, eager to reproduce the form that earned them promotion to Division 1. With two goals in either half, Old Loughtonians took a 3-0 lead through James Thomas (FG6), Euan Gilmour (FG19) and Ed Fleet (37PS) before Liam King (FG42) was on the scoresheet for Team Bath Buccaneers. Euan Gilmour finished off the scoring for the day with his second of the match from open play in the 59th minute to give the newly promoted side a 4-1 victory away from home.

The University of Bristol, the other side joining Division 1 from the conference, were in high spirits as they took on a strong Oxford Hawks side. Ed Marshall (FG17) gave the home side the lead and an advantage they would keep for the majority of the game before Jack Biggs (PC57) and Ted Bennett (FG61) spoiled the student's party, giving the Hawks a 1-2 victory on the road.

Teddington maintained their winning streak against the 2021/22 runners-up Canterbury with a 2-1 victory. Kyle White's and Edward Greaves's goals were enough to secure the three points and cancel out Jack Valentine's 49th-minute open play goal for Canterbury.

In the Only Saturday fixture of the Division, Old Cranleighan played hosts to a strong Sevenoaks side, featuring England Masters gold-winning captain, Ben Alberry. With both sides starting strong, in an end-to-end and physical match, it was Craig Morton (PC14) who opened the scoring to give Sevenoaks the lead. Ben Alberry (FG28), continuing his form from the Master World Cup, fired home to provide Sevonaks with some breathing space and the victory.

Bromley & Beckenham shared the spoils in their Saturday lunchtime match with visitors London Wayfarers. Jerry Smith gave the visitors an early lead through open play in the 7th minute before Juan Martin Gomez Sanchez (PC35) levelled the contest to take a share of the points.

Richmond were the visitors to Broadwater School to face Guildford in the other Saturday Lunchtime encounter. With both teams in good preseason form, it was Guildford who took all three points with goals from Fitter (PC13) and Fergusson (PC33).

Surbiton 2 were too strong for the travelling Oxford University, in the Saturday Evening match being played under lights. Conceding early, Archie Vaughan (FG7) gave Oxford University the lead, sparking Surbiton 2 into life, who went on to score five unanswered goals through Dan Hunt (FG15), James Evans (FG34), Liam Dodge (PC44), Scott Evans (FG56) and Dave Bartram (FG64) to complete 5-1 triumph at Sugden Road.

Indian Gymkhana made the short trip to Spencer for the Sunday lunchtime start, looking to repeat the victory last time the two sides met. Spencer, however, had other ideas and fought valiantly on home turf to secure a 3-2 win. Goals from Seb Shaw (FG19), Stephen Dowds (FG44) and Neil Hamilton (PC65) for Spencer, whilst Harvir Bhaura (FG59) and  Ali Rizwan (PC62) were on the scoresheet for Gymkhana.

Wapping returned to winning ways at the Paddington Recreation Ground when they met Hampstead & Westminster 2. Under the guidance of former international Julian Halls, Wapping came away with all three points thanks to Sam Kirk (FG17) and Ben Bull (FG54) scoring on either side of Josh Madeiros's (FG46) effort for Hampstead.

University of Nottingham 2 were in the form of their lives on the opening day, racing away to a 4-0 halftime lead against the Harleston Magpies through Louis Cadanouche (FG5), Harry Paterson (PC10), Alex Thomson (FG13) and Tom Blythman (PC31). The second half saw the Magpies mount a comeback scoring two, Saw Crawford (PC47) and Tom Ridley (FG51), before being halted in their tracks by another two goals from Luke Holland (FG41 FG58) and Will Gurney-Champion (FG67) to give the home side a 7-2 opening day win.

Norwich City started their National League campaign that they can build on with a 4-4 draw away at Bedford. Goals from Thomas Cooke 2, Cameron Cooke and Chris Wardale for Norwich, whilst Lee Hoggett and Rob Shearer netted two each for Bedford.

The City of Peterborough were also in high-scoring form, with Loughborough Town on the wrong end of a 5-0 scoreline. City of Peterborough goals from Joe Finding (FG34 FG55), Gareth Andrew (FG39), Ben Newman (FG41) and Trevor Matthews (FG47).

St Albans continued their unbeaten run of games against the University of Birmingham 2 as they shared the spoils with the midlands opponents. Goals from Matt Davy (PC25, PC33) and Stephen Rich (PC30) and 

 Justin Ross (PC 51) meant the match ended all square at 2-2.

Lichfield and Harborne resumed their rivalries, with Harborn taking a 2-0 lead, goals coming from Peter Jackson (PC12) and Louis Morris (FG29) before Rob Gray (PC33) pulled one back for Lichfield.

Leeds took the main spoils of the day by beating Brooklands Manchester University 2 by 6 goals to 2. With a brace for Brooklands, Nick Jeffs (PC13 PC53) was helpless to stop a Leeds side, who opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, from hitting six past the University defence. Leeds goals from Zak Buck (PC18 PC59), Daniel Agar-Brennan (FG2 FG66), Jesmeet Notay (PC22) and Oliver Manson (FG64).

Timperley continued their fine run of form, breezing past a Preston side 1-5. Timperley, who took a 2-0 lead through Jack Wright (FG16) and Connor Miller (FG56) before Ed Galloway (FG58) pulled one back for Preston, left it until late before stamping their authority on the match with three late unanswered goals through Jack Wright (FG65) Connor Miller (PS65) and Ed Shand (FG60).

Ben Rhydding welcomed a Wakefield side, desperate not to be dragged into another relegation battle. The first quarter of the match saw the most goals, with Will Musgrave (FG3) and Ross McMillan (FG11) for Ben Rhydding and Ryan Carsley (FG7) for Wakefield all getting on the scoresheet. Charlie Smith (FG55) and James Hunt (FG58) rounded off the scoring for Ben Rhydding and Wakefield, respectively.

Doncaster headed to The Armitage looking for a repeat of the 6-0 victory last season as they take on  Didsbury Northern. A tight first half had the teams level at the break before Josh Dades (FG38), Jake Biggin (FG43) and Ben West (FG56) gave Doncaster a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Beeston 2 welcomed Sheffield Hallam to the Nottingham Hockey Centre, looking to improve on their preseason form. Beeston 2 started strong and broke the deadlock in the 16th minute through a Ryan Day penalty corner. Will Hall equalised for Sheffield in the 61st before Ben Collinson gave Beeston2 2 all three points from a penalty corner with three minutes remaining.

Plymouth Marjon and Fareham played out an entertaining and physical 5-5 draw in Devon. With three goals in three minutes early in the first quarter, this set the tone for a fast-open and free-flowing attacking game of hockey. Plymouth Marjon goals scorers were Jon Tew (FG4), Nathan Hill (FG5), Rory Coles (FG22), Matt Smith (FG27) and Charlie Brownlow (FG60), whilst Rob Satonna (FG6), George Davey (PC10 FG34), Paul Metcalf (FG14) and  Fergus Jackson (PS45) were on the scoresheet for Fareham.

Exeter University 2 and Chichester played out another close match, following on from last season, with next to nothing separating the two sides. It was a late Oliver Baxter (FG68) goal that gave Chichester the winner after goals from Sam Hill (PC17) and Alex Beckett (FG43) for Exeter University 2 and Joe Budgen (FG39) and Josh Brown (PC58) for Chichester.

Ashmoor continued their close battles with local rival Isca, with a 2-2 draw courtesy of goals from Cellan Stokes (PC19) and Fletch Naisbett-Jones (PC44) for Ashmoor, whilst Tom Brooks (PC13) and Cuthbert Shepherd (PC26) were on the scoresheet for Isca.

Clifton Robinson took revenge for their 3-1 loss, the last time the two sides met, in Talybont as Cardiff University went down 0-2, both goals coming in the first quarter from Isaac Hocking (PC5) and Quin Turner (14FG).

With Clifton Robinsons visiting Cardiff, it was Cardiff & Met 2 leaving South Wales for Hampshire and Havant College. Owen Barnes (FG10), Craig Duffy (PS34) and James Speke (FG42) gave the home side a 3-0 lead before Will Raymond (PC70) scored in the final minute of play for the visitors.