Preview: Pivotal Weekend In Men's & Vitality Women's Premier Divisions

Surbiton have emerged as the only team left unbeaten after the winter break in the Vitality Women's Premier Division 'Top 6'.

The leaders hold a one-point advantage over East Grinstead, with the two set to meet in an eagerly anticipated affair on Saturday and England women's FIH Hockey Pro League stars set to return to the fray.

East Grinstead will also be returning to the ground where they played their first Premier Division match nearly seven years ago.

East Grinstead, who beat Surbiton at Sugden Road in October 2020, are firmly in the race for a top two finish and a coveted berth at the Euro Hockey League, but coach Mary Booth admits that there remains a long run-in, starting with a likely tight battle on Saturday.

Booth said: "It should be an exciting and competitive game. It may not be high scoring as we both defend well. They do have the defensive record and I suspect it will be nip and tuck.

"It's always close between the two sides and I think it will come down to a mistake. It's almost a six pointer between us but there is still a long way to go in the league."

Beeston, unbeaten in two matches, face a home tie against Hampstead & Westminster - who were hit by injuries and Covid last weekend, including the dangerous Lauren Turner - as they aim to keep their form intact after holding Surbiton to a draw earlier this month.

Surbiton's derby win last weekend kept Wimbledon in fourth place in the top flight, five points off the pace set by Brett Garrard's side. The Londoners now head to Clifton Robinsons this weekend, the Bristol side without a win in six matches.

• Surbiton v East Grinstead - 13:30
• Beeston v Hampstead & Westminster - 14:00
• Clifton Robinsons v Wimbledon - 14:00

In the bottom tier, Buckingham - who returned from EuroHockey Indoor action in Turkey earlier this week - are set for an away encounter against Holcombe. They'll be buoyed by recent history against the side from Kent, having won their last two matches in the Medway.

Meanwhile, Swansea are at home to Loughborough Students. The structure of the league - with two sides facing relegation - means that every point matters for the four competing sides on Saturday.

• Swansea v Loughborough Students - 12:00
• Holcombe v Buckingham - 14:00

University of Nottingham, who last dropped points in October, continue their promotion bid against Gloucester City on Saturday.

Hosts Gloucester have lost four of the last five and face a rampant Nottingham side featuring the goalscoring talents of Maddie Axford - who has netted in every game she's played this season - and German international Nike Lorenz.

Former Premier Division sides Bowdon Hightown and Leicester City also meet this weekend, the former remaining just one point behind Nottingham with six match days remaining in the battle for promotion.

Both Belper and Olton & West Warwicks are still searching for their first league wins of the season as they take on Brooklands Poynton and University of Durham respectively, with Stourport hoping to return to winning ways against Ben Rhydding.

• University of Durham v Olton & West Warwicks - 12:00
• Gloucester City v University of Nottingham - 13:00
• Ben Rhydding v Stourport - 13:30
• Bowdon Hightown v Leicester City - 13:30
• Belper v Brooklands Poynton – 14:00

Susie Rowe will be eyeing her 10th goal in nine games this weekend when leaders Sevenoaks host Surbiton 2s. 

The Kent outfit remain two points clear of promotion rivals Reading, who are on a winning run of five matches ahead of their encounter with Cambridge City, who haven't secured three points since early October.

At the bottom, Trojans' winning run was halted last time out and they now face third-placed Slough, the Berkshire outfit who are still in the chase for promotion.

Following on from two losses in a row, Canterbury will hope to return to winning ways against an in-form Wimbledon 2s and Harleston Magpies travel to Isca searching for a much-needed win in the battle to avoid relegation.

• Isca v Harleston Magpies - 12:00
• Cambridge City v Reading - 12:30
• Slough v Trojans - 12:30
• Wimbledon 2s v Canterbury - 14:00
• Sevenoaks v Surbiton 2s - 17:00

Barnes remain in control of Conference East ahead of their home clash against Hampstead & Westminster 2s.

Second-placed Southgate got back to winning ways last weekend courtesy of their 9-0 victory over Canterbury 2s and take their recent scoring prowess - 15 goals in three games since Christmas - to Bromley & Beckenham.

London Wayfarers had captain Nicki Mollison to thank for her seven goals in four games before two defeats in a row left their title bid stuttering. The Londoners host Ipswich, who remain third from bottom.

A win for Chelmsford will move them level on points with their opponents this weekend in Horsham as Canterbury 2s try to get their season back on track at home to East London.

• Barnes v Hampstead & Westminster 2s - 12:00
• Bromley & Beckenham v Southgate - 12:30
• London Wayfarers v Ipswich - 12:30
• Canterbury 2s v East London - 14:00
• Chelmsford v Horsham - 17:00

Emma McCabe has scored in all but two of Sutton Coldfield's 12 matches this season. And with 22 goals, she has also led her side's searing charge towards promotion. Unbeaten Sutton Coldfield face fourth-place Beeston 2s, who are also on a roll in Conference Midlands after two wins and three draws in their last five matches.

Bottom side Khalsa Leamington's pivotal win last weekend will hold them in good stead when they travel to second-placed Bedford on Saturday. 

Cannock and Broxbourne clash in what could be a deciding fixture near the foot of the table while third-placed St Albans travel to Loughborough Students 2s and University of Birmingham 2s travel to Oxford University.

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

Timperley's hat-trick of recent defeats has left their promotion bid on the rocks ahead of their trip to Leeds on Saturday. Their 2-1 win over the current league leaders in October gives them some hope but Leeds have found their vigour since then, pulling five points clear at the top of the table.

Wakefield will be back in action after last week's cancelled trip at Fylde. It's also second against third as they are at home to University of Durham 2s.

Neston could make it four wins in a row if they win away to Didsbury Northern. They moved out of the relegation zone last week at the expense of Alderley Edge, who host Fylde, while Pendle Forest - currently bottom - face Doncaster.

• Didsbury Northern v Neston - 12:00
• Doncaster v Pendle Forest - 12:00
• Alderley Edge v Fylde - 14:00
• Leeds v Timperley - 14:00
• Wakefield v University of Durham 2s - 15:30

Leaders Witney's three draws in their last five matches have given their Conference West rivals reason for optimism.

Exe look to be the biggest challenger to Witney - who host Cheltenham - on current form but, with none of the top five able to pick up three points last weekend, the Conference West remains tantalisingly tight at the top. They are at home against Clifton Robinsons 2s, who also play a rescheduled game against Basingstoke on Sunday.

The only team to lose amongst the top sides, third-placed Oxford Hawks host bottom side University of Bristol. Currently fourth and fifth in the table, victories for Bristol Firebrands and Team Bath Buccs over Penarth and Basingstoke respectively will keep them well in the title hunt.

• Oxford Hawks v University of Bristol - 12:00
• Witney v Cheltenham - 12:30
• Bristol Firebrands v Penarth - 13:00
• Exe v Clifton Robinsons 2s - 13:30
• Basingstoke v Team Bath Buccs - 14:00
• Clifton Robinsons 2s v Basingstoke - 11:00 (Sun 27 Feb)

The Men's Premier Division welcomes back England’s FIH Hockey Pro League stars for this weekend's latest round of fixtures, with the top two in the league meeting in another crunch encounter. 

Leaders Old Georgians are unbeaten since late October after six wins in a row and will now be searching for their first ever victory at Wimbledon's Raynes Park venue on Sunday. Old Georgians' only defeat in the league this season came against Wimbledon before Christmas, with Karl Stagno's side five points behind the Surrey outfit in second.

"There are two ways this league can go," said Old Georgians' head coach Mike Hughes ahead of the Top 6 clash.

"We all expected it to be super close and that everyone beats everyone, which is what is happening. But within that, if a team is able to put together three or four wins you can pull away and that’s what we are aiming to do."

In their bid for that elusive away victory against Wimbledon, Old Georgians are sweating on the fitness of James Carson, while Chris Griffiths is two weeks away from returning.

Surbiton, who slipped to fourth after defeat to Old Georgians, entertain Hampstead & Westminster under the lights at Sugden Road.

With three defeats in their last five, Mark Pearn will welcome back his England cohort from Argentina, while Hampstead & Westminster will be looking for the season double after their 2-1 win on the road last November.

Meanwhile, Holcombe will be aiming to get their European ambitions back on track after conceding a walkover to Hampstead & Westminster last week citing goalkeeper unavailability. They head across to West Sussex for a Sunday push back against East Grinstead.

"It's always a pretty feisty and close encounter," said Holcombe manager Keith Martin. "We are at full strength and hopefully our three internationals come back with no problems."

Holcombe welcome back Greg Nolan, who slipped on the turf and broke his wrist against Oxted before Christmas.

• Surbiton v Hampstead & Westminster - 17:30 (Sat 26 Feb)
• East Grinstead v Holcombe - 14:00
• Wimbledon v Old Georgians - 14:30

In the bottom tier, all three sides with university affiliation are in action. University of Durham are at home to Brooklands MU on Sunday lunchtime, while Beeston, 3-1 winners last time out in November, host University of Exeter.

Oxted, who after two straight victories are well set in the race to avoid the drop, have a weekend off and remain four points ahead of Beeston.

• University of Durham v Brooklands MU - 13:00
• Beeston v University of Exeter - 14:00

University of Nottingham still lie just one point behind leaders Loughborough Students, a gap that has now stood for four weeks with both teams boasting 100% records in that time.

Nottingham, unbeaten since the end of October, host Cambridge City on Sunday as the students' stranglehold on Division One North continues. Charlie Axford will be vying to score for the fourth game in a row for his team.

Loughborough host City of Peterborough after a 2-0 win on the road in October. Olton & West Warwickshire, one of the league's form teams after a hat-trick of wins, play Sheffield Hallam, who are also in action against Deeside Ramblers on Saturday.

Deeside follow that up with a home tie against University of Birmingham on Sunday as Cardiff & Met and Bowdon meet, both hoping to return to winning ways after defeats last time out.

• Sheffield Hallam v Deeside Ramblers - 15:00 (Sat 26 Feb)
• Cardiff & Met v Bowdon - 12:30
• Olton & West Warwicks v Sheffield Hallam - 13:00
• Deeside Ramblers v University of Birmingham - 13:30
• Loughborough Students v City of Peterborough - 14:00
• University of Nottingham v Cambridge City - 14:00

Reading, currently topping the table, will be bidding to stem a run of defeats when they face bottom club Havant at Sonning Lane on Sunday.

Meanwhile Canterbury, searching for their third straight win, are only three points behind, with second-from-bottom Brighton & Hove the visitors.

Former GB captain Adam Dixon's hat-trick - his first goals for the club - last weekend has thrust Team Bath Buccaneers to within five points of leaders Reading. Buccs face Oxford Hawks, while Old Cranleighan still harbour promotion hopes after four games without defeat ahead of their trip to mid-table Teddington. On Saturday, Southgate are at home to Sevenoaks.

• Southgate v Sevenoaks - 17:30 (Sat 26 Feb)
• Canterbury v Brighton & Hove - 12:45
• Team Bath Buccs v Oxford Hawks - 13:00
• Reading v Havant - 13:30
• Teddington v Old Cranleighan - 13:45

Old Loughtonians secured three points last weekend after a four-match winless streak, which gave the leaders some much-needed respite at the top of Conference East. Tom Watson has now scored two or more goals six times this season and Old Loughts will hope for more of the same against visitors Hampstead & Westminster 2s.

Spencer, meanwhile, are the division's form team and a fifth win in succession will be realised if they can overcome a London Wayfarers side still in the hunt for promotion themselves.

Richmond can also keep their hopes of moving up a tier alive with victory over Wapping, while the bottom two teams Indian Gymkhana and Wester Herts host Bromley & Beckenham and London Edwardians respectively.

• London Wayfarers v Spencer - 14:30 (Sat 26 Feb)
• Wapping v Richmond - 15:00 (Sat 26 Feb)
• Old Loughtonians v Hampstead & Westminster 2s - 16:30 (Sat 26 Feb)
• West Herts v London Edwardians - 13:30
• Indian Gymkhana v Bromley & Beckenham - 14:00

This season's Conference Midlands outcome may well hinge on the result of Saturday's blockbuster fixture between hosts Barford Tigers and Harborne. The Tigers are level on points with leaders Harborne but are behind a smaller goal difference of one.

Harborne dropped two vital points last weekend, although Peter Jackson, who has scored in every game this season, netted his 25th of the season. Jackson will go head-to-head with Barford's leading scorer, Santi Binaghi, who has also netted 25 times and scored in every game bar one.

Elsewhere, there are crucial games at the bottom of the table for Khalsa Leamington, University of Birmingham 2s and Cambridge University as they face Lichfield, Harleston Magpies and Loughborough Town respectively. The final fixture pits St Albans against Bedford.

• Barford Tigers v Harborne - 13:00
• Harleston Magpies v University of Birmingham 2s - 13:00
• Cambridge University v Loughborough Town - 13:30
• Khalsa Leamington v Lichfield - 13:30
• St Albans v Bedford - 14:00

Belper's run of four successive wins has given them breathing space at the top of Conference North - but Timperley will be out to bridge the gap as first takes on second this weekend.

Timperley were edged out 3-2 on the road in October and will hope to reverse the fortunes in the standout fixture. Belper will once again look to the form of Sam Dixon, who has 16 goals to his name this season.

It's still tight at the bottom and one slip up could leave a host of clubs in the relegation mix. Bottom side Beeston 2s host Preston, six points ahead and five places from the drop zone. Wakefield face a crucial game against University of Durham 2s and Alderley Edge host an in-form Doncaster while third-placed Didsbury Northern take on Leeds.

• Beeston 2s v Preston - 12:00
• Alderley Edge v Doncaster - 14:30
• Leeds v Didsbury Northern - 14:30
• Timperley v Belper - 14:30
• Wakefield v University of Durham 2s - TBC

There's more top-of-the table action in the Conference West when leaders University of Bristol host second-placed Isca on Sunday. Isca head to Bristol as the form team with three wins on the bounce. In a tight tussle for bragging rights at the top, there are just three points separating the top five clubs as the business end of the season looms.

Long-serving Ollie Baxter, with seven goals in his last five matches, has certainly put fifth-placed Chichester in a position to strike of late. His side face a trip to basement side Cheltenham, without a win in four.

Fareham, currently third and two points off top spot, travel to Plymouth Marjon as Ashmoor - fourth - are away to Cardiff University.

University of Exeter 2s registered a first win last weekend and aim to make it two on the bounce at home to Clifton Robinsons.

• University of Exeter 2s v Clifton Robinsons - 12:00
• Cheltenham v Chichester - 13:00
• Plymouth Marjon v Fareham - 13:00
• University of Bristol v Isca - 13:30
• Cardiff University v Ashmoor - 14:00