England Hockey Leagues
30 September 2021

Preview: Clifton Robinsons Aiming To Topple Hampstead & Westminster

The Vitality Women’s Hockey League returns for a second full weekend, with teams hoping to either improve on or replicate their results from last Saturday.

As issues continue with GMS, you can view fixtures and results from all the leagues by clicking here.

Unless stated, all games will be played on Saturday 2 October.

Clifton Robinsons will hope to secure a first league win of the 2021/22 season and halt Hampstead & Westminster’s impressive early momentum when they host the league leaders at Coombe Dingle on Saturday.

The Bristol-based outfit have secured two draws from their opening matches – including a well earned point against eight-time champions Surbiton a fortnight ago – and will be hoping to improve on that start against a Hampstead team who ended East Grinstead’s long unbeaten run last weekend.

Following the postponement of their game last time out following the sad death of Andy Gibson, Loughborough Students and Wimbledon return to action against Buckingham and Holcombe respectively, both teams also aiming to pick up three points for the first time this season.

Swansea return from a week off with a trip to the University of Birmingham, with a bye for Beeston. Surbiton and East Grinstead are both in EuroHockey League action and, as a result, their fixture is postponed until later in the season.

Buckingham v Loughborough Students – 12:00
Clifton Robinsons v Hampstead & Westminster – 14:00
University of Birmingham v Swansea – 14:30
Wimbledon v Holcombe – 16:00

Last season’s league leaders Stourport will aim to bounce back from a disappointing result last weekend when they host Belper.

The side from North Worcestershire were beaten 4-2 by the University of Nottingham but will hope to put that to bed quickly against a Belper team they defeated 4-1 last season.

Maddie Axford scored a hat-trick for the University of Nottingham in that game and will hope to produce more goals this weekend when they come up against the University of Durham, who emerged 3-2 victors over Leicester City in their opening game.

Gloucester City and Bowdon will be hoping to continue their winning momentum against Leicester City and Ben Rhydding respectively, while Brooklands Poynton and Olton & West Warwicks begin proceedings at 11:45 BST.

Brooklands Poynton v Olton & West Warwicks – 11:45
University of Durham v University of Nottingham – 12:00
Gloucester City v Leicester City – 12:30
Bowdon v Ben Rhydding – 13:30
Stourport v Belper – 18:00

Having eased to victory over Harleston Magpies last Saturday, Reading – who ended the curtailed 2020/21 season top of this league – will look to continue their fine form against Isca.

Sevenoaks and Surbiton 2s also began the season in imperious fashion and will be aiming to replicate that when they take on Canterbury and Slough respectively.

Cambridge City are another team with a chance of making it two wins from two when they face Wimbledon 2s, while the other game sees Harleston Magpies and Trojans contest to try and claim their first points of the season.

Isca v Reading – 12:00
Cambridge City v Wimbledon 2s – 12:30
Surbiton 2s v Slough – 13:30
Harleston Magpies v Trojans – 15:00
Sevenoaks v Canterbury – 17:00

Barnes and Southgate go head-to-head in a mouthwatering clash in the league this weekend. Having sat first and second respectively when last season was cancelled, it’s set to be an entertaining game between two teams who won their first fixtures of the season last time out.

Hampstead & Westminster 2s were in scintillating form last Saturday but will face a stern test in London Wayfarers, who also picked up maximum points in their opening game.

Horsham could make it two wins from two against Canterbury 2s, as could East London against Ipswich, while the game between Bromley & Beckenham will see one or both teams secure their first points of the season.

Bromley & Beckenham v Chelmsford – 14:00
Canterbury 2s v Horsham – 14:00
Hampstead & Westminster 2s v London Wayfarers – 14:00
Southgate v Barnes – 14:00
East London v Ipswich – 18:00

Sutton Coldfield began life in the Conference Midlands where they left off in the Conference West with a win against Cannock last weekend. They will be hoping to continue their perfect start in the new league but will face stern opposition in Bedford, who scored 24 goals in just six games during the 2020/21 season.

After their game last week was postponed, Oxford University and Loughborough Students 2s begin their league seasons against Broxbourne and Beeston 2s respectively.

Having tasted defeat in their opening fixtures, Cannock and Khalsa Leamington will be hoping for better fortunes against University of Birmingham 2s and St Albans respectively.

Sutton Coldfield v Bedford – 11:30
University of Birmingham 2s v Cannock – 12:30
St Albans v Khalsa Leamington – 13:00
Broxbourne v Oxford University – 13:30
Loughborough Students 2s v Beeston 2s – 14:00

Wakefield – who won all five of their games in 2020/21 – will be striving to return to winning ways this weekend after suffering defeat to league newcomers Neston last Saturday. They face a stern test in Timperley though, who beat Alderley Edge last time out.

Doncaster begin their season by hosting University of Durham 2s while Leeds face a trip to Didsbury Northern in their opening game.

Pendle Forest will be hoping to repeat last year’s 5-0 victory over Fylde in the opening game of the day while Neston face Alderley Edge with the prospect of making it two wins from two.

Pendle Forest v Fylde – 11:30
Didsbury Northern v Leeds – 12:00
Doncaster v University of Durham 2s – 12:00
Neston v Alderley Edge – 15:00
Timperley v Wakefield – 16:00

After their thrilling 6-5 victory over Witney last weekend, Bristol Firebrands will be aiming to produce plenty more fireworks when they host Oxford Hawks. Expect plenty more goals too, with the two sides playing out a brilliant seven-goal affair last season that Firebrands won 4-3.

Team Bath Buccs and Cheltenham played out a 2-2 draw last season and it looks set to be another close affair this time round, while Clifton Robinsons 2s will aim to replicate their 3-0 victory over Basingstoke from last season.

Penarth have the chance to claim their maiden National League points when they take on Witney while the other game sees Exe host University of Bristol.

Penarth v Witney – 12:00
Bristol Firebrands v Oxford Hawks – 13:00
Basingstoke v Clifton Robinsons 2s – 14:00
Cheltenham v Team Bath Buccs – 14:00
Exe v University of Bristol – TBC