- England Hockey Leagues
Preview: Wimbledon Face Important Double-Header In Vitality Women's Premier Division
Photo credit: Wimbledon HC
The tables are beginning to take shape across the England Hockey Leagues, with the frontrunners in each division starting to emerge as the season enters its third month. Read below the full preview from The Hockey Paper's Rod Gilmour.
Wimbledon have the chance to close the gap on leaders Hampstead & Westminster as they play twice in the Vitality Women's Premier Division this weekend. They'll have to be at their very best though as they face second-placed East Grinstead on Saturday before hosting Loughborough Students the following day.
The battle to finish in the top six before the league splits is hotting up in the Men's Premier Division, with several teams all in contention to claim the final spots. Beeston is one but they face a very challenging game this weekend against league leaders Surbiton, while Oxted against Brooklands MU promises to be an exciting affair.
To see a full list of fixtures, results and tables from leagues across the country, click here.
Please note - unless stated, all women's matches will be played on Saturday 6 November and all men's matches will take place on Sunday 7 November.
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East Grinstead and Wimbledon meet in the standout Vitality Women's Premier Division encounter on Saturday.
The crunch clash between two of the top four sides forms part of a double header for East Grinstead, with the men's side also in action at Saint Hill.
However, it is Hampstead & Westminster's superb start to the season which shows no sign of abating ahead of a pivotal month in the top flight.
With seven straight wins and a nine-point advantage at the top of the league, the Londoners have a home clash with Beeston, who currently hold that all-important sixth place in the top flight.
Saturday's match certainly looks set to be an interesting affair. Beeston travel to the capital following a fine 4-0 victory over a stuttering Buckingham last weekend. And they will aim to exploit weaknesses in Hampstead's defence, which has shipped five goals in their last three matches.
Two of those goals came last weekend when Loughborough Students continued their penchant for rallying performances after conceding early goals, although the side co-coached by Sarah Kelleher and Kate Richardson-Walsh held on for a 3-2 victory.
Loughborough face a stern test in their quest for a top six place when Brett Holland's side take on a double header weekend.
They host Swansea on Saturday before travelling to Wimbledon for a Sunday lunchtime push back.
Meanwhile, Clifton Robinsons, unbeaten in three matches, are at home to University of Birmingham.
Buckingham and Holcombe, who have both endured losing form, will look to bounce back when they face each other at Stowe School.
- Buckingham v Holcombe - 12:00
- Clifton Robinsons v University of Birmingham - 14:00
- East Grinstead v Wimbledon - 16:00
- Hampstead & Westminster v Beeston - 14:00
- Loughborough Students v Swansea - 14:00
- Wimbledon v Loughborough Students - 13:00 (Sun 7 Nov)
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Gloucester City, unbeaten in two, host league leaders Bowdon Hightown on Saturday as they look to make inroads into the top four.
If Gloucester can pull off a home win, it could leave University of Nottingham top of Division One North come Saturday evening if they beat out-of-form Olton & West Warwickshire.
Third-placed University of Durham will be looking to keep up the pressure on the top two when they host Ben Rhydding, while Stourport - who sit fourth - are away to Brooklands Poynton.
Belper are still bottom and will look for their first victory against Leicester City, who have lost two of their last three games.
- Belper v Leicester City - 14:00
- Brooklands Poynton v Stourpoty - 11:45
- University of Durham v Ben Rhydding - 12:00
- Gloucester City v Bowdon Hightown - 13:00
- University of Nottingham v Olton & West Warwicks - 14:00
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League leaders Sevenoaks will be favourites to consolidate their position at the top of Division One South when they travel to Harleston Magpies on Saturday.
Harleston have hit a rough patch of form, having lost their last three matches. Sevenoaks' Susie Rowe, who scored her fourth goal of the season in their 4-1 win last weekend, was in the news this week after ending a successful 18-year career as a club and international cricketer.
Meanwhile, Reading, currently in second place, host Slough in an enticing local derby. There's also an south-west London clash when Surbiton 2s travel to Wimbledon 2s, the former hoping to keep up their pressure on the top two.
The other games this weekend see Canterbury host Trojans and Cambridge City travelling to Exeter to play Isca.
- Canterbury v Trojans - 14:00
- Harleston Magpies v Sevenoaks - 16:00
- Isca v Cambridge City - 12:00
- Reading v Slough - 16:30
- Wimbledon 2s v Surbiton 2s - 12:00
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A Saturday lunchtime clash pits table toppers Barnes against London Wayfarers in a battle of the top two clubs in the Conference East.
Meanwhile, the bottom of the division sees basement teams Chelmsford and Canterbury 2 push back as they bid to add to their one wins apiece thus far this season.
A key mid-table encounter also sees Hampstead & Westminster 2 and East London meet, while the third and fourth-placed teams are also set to play out an exciting encounter as Southgate travel to Horsham. The other game sees Ipswich host Bromley & Beckenham.
- Barnes v London Wayfarers - 12:00
- Chelmsford v Canterbury 2s - 15:00
- East London v Hampstead & Westminster 2s - 18:00
- Horsham v Southgate - 13:30
- Ipswich v Bromley & Beckenham - 16:00
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Sutton Coldfield's 8-0 win last weekend opened up a five-point lead over St Albans and they take their form to Oxford University on Saturday.
University of Birmingham 2s were on the receiving end of that drubbing and will be on the road again to face Beeston 2s hoping to hit back immediately.
Meanwhile St Albans travel to Broxbourne, third from bottom but with back-to-back wins behind them, while Bedford and Khalsa Leamington play host to Loughborough Students 2s and Cannock respectively.
- Bedford v Loughborough Students 2s - 13:30
- Beeston 2s v University of Birmingham 2s - 14:00
- Broxbourne v St Albans - 13:30
- Khalsa Leamington v Cannock - 12:00
- Oxford University v Sutton Coldfield - 12:30
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Timperley remain top but after successive defeats their Conference North rivals are closing in fast.
In an ever-so-tight league - four points separate first from seventh - Timperley host Doncaster, in fifth.
Pendle Forest, with three wins on the trot, could stake a claim for top spot but will face a stiff test in the form of third-placed Wakefield, while Fylde - currently sitting second - are at home to University of Durham 2s.
The other games see Alderley Edge at home for a second week in a row, this time to Didsbury Northern, while Leeds travel to Neston.
- Alderley Edge v Didsbury Northern - 14:00
- Fylde v University of Durham 2s - 13:30
- Neston v Leeds - 13:30
- Pendle Forest v Wakefield - 11:30
- Timperley v Doncaster - 16:00
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Bristol Firebrands will look to take advantage of their city rivals University of Bristol's poor form when the two sides meet in a derby encounter on Saturday.
Firebrands sit one point behind Witney and Oxford Hawks, the two Oxfordshire clubs having both hit a rich vein of form in the last month.
Witney, however, face a tough test against Exe, who are unbeaten in four, while Oxford Hawks travel to Cheltenham.
Elsewhere, Clifton Robinsons 2s will be searching for their first win of the season against Team Bath Buccs while Basingstoke will want to return to winning ways against Penarth.
- Bristol Firebrands v University of Bristol - 13:00
- Clifton Robinsons 2s v Team Bath Buccs - 14:30
- Oxford Hawks v Cheltenham - 12:00
- Penarth v Basingstoke - 12:30
- Witney v Exe - 12:30
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November looks set to be a month to savour as the race for a coveted top six place in the Men's Premier Division before the winter break hots up this weekend.
With four match weekends left to play before the top flight splits, there is every indication that it could go down to the final day to decide league placings.
Beeston are two points off sixth as they welcome Surbiton to Nottingham Hockey Centre on Sunday, with Bees manager Graham Griffiths admitting that placings could even go down to goal difference on the final day.
After a late defeat to University of Durham last weekend, Beeston also know they will have to be at their defensive best against the leading side in the country, as well as Luke Taylor’s hot streak of form following his hat-trick against University of Exeter.
Oxted, who lie in fifth, host Brooklands MU with both sides looking to overturn defeats last time out.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Hampstead & Westminster take on Old Georgians for their second successive visit to the capital after last weekend's defeat to Wimbledon.
Saturday's matches see Wimbledon coach Karl Stagno return to his former club East Grinstead, while Holcombe travel to Exeter.
Both home sides are currently at the foot of the Premier Division and with the matches taking place under the lights, the clubs will hope for an electric atmosphere to lift their form.
Durham, who still have a great chance of securing a top six place, have a bye weekend before their three remaining games ahead of the Christmas split.
- Beeston v Surbiton - 14:00
- East Grinstead v Wimbledon - 18:00 (Sat 6 Nov)
- Hampstead & Westminster v Old Georgians - 14:30
- Oxted v Brooklands MU - 14:00
- University of Exeter v Holcombe - 18:30 (Sat 6 Nov)
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Loughborough Students continue to be the form side in the Men's Division One North and will aim to cement their position at the top of the table this month.
The Students, with six successive wins and four goals per game, travel to Deeside Ramblers, who are searching for their first win since the opening day of the season.
Elsewhere, Cardiff & Met, with Ioan Wall fresh off a hat-trick last weekend, face Sheffield Hallam, one of three clubs nestled at the foot of the division with one point.
Another of those sides is University of Birmingham and they face a tough visit to Cambridge City, as do the other team City of Peterborough when they host Bowdon.
- Cambridge City v University of Birmingham - 15:00
- Cardiff & Met v Sheffield Hallam - 18:00 (Sat 6 Nov)
- City of Peterborough v Bowdon - TBC
- Deeside Ramblers v Loughborough Students - 13:30
- Olton & West Warwicks v University of Nottingham - 13:30
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Reading have opened up a five-point lead at the top of Division One South thanks to their six-game winning streak and scoring an average five goals per match this season.
They take their form to Southgate this weekend as the two old rivals lock horns on Saturday night.
Conversely, Havant, who are yet to accrue a point this season, host Old Cranleighan as the Hampshire outfit look to win their first of the season.
Elsewhere, it's second against third as Canterbury head to Team Bath Buccaneers, while second-from-bottom Brighton & Hove are at home against third-from-bottom Oxford Hawks. The other match sees Teddington travel to Sevenoaks.
- Brighton & Hove v Oxford Hawks - 13:00
- Havant v Old Cranleighan - 14:00
- Sevenoaks v Teddington - 14:00
- Southgate v Reading - 18:30
- Team Bath Buccs v Canterbury - 13:00
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Old Loughtonians hold a three-point lead in a tight tussle at the top of Conference East.
They play host to fourth-placed London Edwardians, who will be looking to bounce back from their 6-0 defeat to Spencer.
The Wandsworth-based side are one of the division's form teams after back-to-back victories. And they could make it a hat-trick on the road at bottom side Indian Gymkhana this weekend.
Elsewhere, Richmond - unbeaten in five and second in the table - welcome Hampstead & Westminster 2s to the Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground, Wapping travel to Bromley & Beckenham and West Herts host London Wayfarers.
- Bromley & Beckenham v Wapping - 14:00
- Old Loughtonians v London Edwardians - 16:30 (Sat 6 Nov)
- Richmond v Hampstead & Westminster 2s - 13:30 (Sat 6 Nov)
- Spencer v Indian Gymkhana - 13:30
- West Herts v London Wayfarers - 13:30
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Harborne and Barford Tigers remain unbeaten as they both set their sights on top spot before the winter break.
Barford's home draw last weekend left Harborne with a two-point lead and the Tigers will hope to rally when they face fourth-placed St Albans. Meanwhile, league leaders Harborne travel to Lichfield, currently in fifth, on Saturday.
Harleston Magpies are away to Loughborough Town as they look to get back on track after two straight defeats, with Bedford and Khalsa Leamington also aiming to return to winning ways when they meet. The final match sees Cambridge University host University of Birmingham 2s.
- Bedford v Khalsa Leamington - 14:00
- Cambridge University v University of Birmingham - 13:30
- Lichfield v Harborne - 15:00 (Sat 6 Nov)
- Loughborough Town v Harleston Magpies - 12:30
- St Albans v Barford Tigers - 14:00
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Still unbeaten this season and on the back of three successive draws, Didsbury Northern will aim to make inroads on the top two - Belper and Timperley - who are both playing away this weekend.
Didsbury were only able to claim a point last weekend thanks to a last-gasp equaliser by Doncaster and will be battling to make amends against University of Durham 2s.
Second from bottom Preston host Timperley, with Connor Miller, fresh from his four-goal haul against Durham, aiming to add to his rich vein of form.
Alderley Edge host Beeston 2s on Saturday, Wakefield welcome league leaders Belper on Sunday afternoon at the same time Doncaster host Leeds.
- Alderley Edge v Beeston 2s - 16:30 (Sat 6 Nov)
- Didsbury Northern v University of Durham 2s - 14:00
- Doncaster v Leeds - 14:00
- Preston v Timperley - 13:30
- Wakefield v Belper - 14:00
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With five points separating the top five, the Conference West is far from a foregone conclusion as the midway point of the season looms.
Sunday's matches see league leaders University of Bristol, who have a three-point advantage, host Cardiff University.
The match of the weekend points to Chichester's visit to Fareham. Chichester are the in-form team with three successive wins, while Fareham were on song in their 6-4 away victory against Cheltenham last weekend.
Elsewhere, second-placed Isca are away to the aforementioned Cheltenham while Ashmoor - currently third - travel to a University of Exeter 2s side who have drawn four of their six games this season. Clifton Robinsons are fourth in the table and are also away, this time against Plymouth Marjon.
- Cheltenham v Isca - 12:30
- Fareham v Chichester - 13:30
- Plymouth Marjon v Clifton Robinsons - 13:00
- University of Bristol v Cardiff University - 13:30
- University of Exeter 2s v Ashmoor - 12:00