Investec Women's Hockey League previews, Feb 8-9 2014
6th February 2014With just one defeat in the first half of the outdoor season, Canterbury will be aiming to keep that momentum going when they take on Bowdon Hightown in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday.
Canterbury lost out to Bowdon Hightown on penalties in the semi finals of the Maxinutrition Hockey 5s Championship, and they will be looking to gain revenge over a Bowdon Hightown side who reached the final of the indoor tournament before losing to Reading last weekend.
For their part, Reading have a double header weekend with Beeston coming to Sonning Lane on Saturday and Surbiton making the same trip on Sunday.
Third-placed Surbiton will be aiming to continue the four-match winning run they pieced together before the Winter break, and could go top of the table if they beat Olton on Saturday, Reading on Sunday, and other results go in their favour.
However, both Reading and Surbiton will be impacted by the GB women’s training camp in America, with seven players from Reading and five from Surbiton missing from league action until February 22.
“This weekend could be a turning point,” said Reading official Sue Newman. “But it will be difficult because we’re coming straight off the indoor matches so it will be a tough ask.
“However, we’ve got a very good deep squad, and quite a lot of our starting line-up weren’t in the indoor squad. It will be a challenge, but every game is a challenge and we take nothing for granted.”
Elsewhere, Bowdon Hightown climbed above Leicester when they beat them back in December, but Leicester will want to take back a vital spot in the top four when they play host to Sutton Coldfield on Saturday.
And Clifton could also put themselves in the top four if they win against the University of Birmingham.
In the Investec Conference East, second-placed East Grinstead face a vital match against third-placed Sevenoaks. Both sides will be desperate for a win to help close the gap to leaders Holcombe, who are six points clear and travel to strugglers Ipswich on Saturday.
Leaders Buckingham go to Trojans on Saturday in the Investec Conference West, while Slough could go top if they beat Barnes and Buckingham slip up.
And after going top of the Investec Conference North in the last set of matches before the Winter break, Wakefield entertain Loughborough Students, while second-placed Brooklands Poynton go to Boots.
League Finals Weekend
The winners of the NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League and the Investec Women’s Hockey League will be crowned over two action-packed weekends at Reading Hockey Club in April. The top four Premier Division teams qualify for their respective finals weekends, laying off against each other to be crowned league champions.
The men’s finals will take place on the 5-6 April while the women will battle it out a week later from 12-13 April. Tickets are now available to purchase for both weekends, please visit www.englandhockey.co.uk/tickets
Investec Women’s Hockey League (Saturday, February 8 2014)
Investec Premier Division
Canterbury v Bowdon Hightown 11:45
Clifton v Univ of Birmingham 13:00
Leicester v Sutton Coldfield 14:00
Olton & West Warwicks v Surbiton 12:00
Reading v Beeston 13:30
Investec Conference East
Chelmsford v Old Loughtonians 14:00
Horsham v St Albans 13:30
Ipswich v Holcombe 14:00
Sevenoaks v East Grinstead 12:00
Wimbledon v Harleston Magpies 14:00
Investec Conference North
Ben Rhydding v Kendal 13:30
Boots v Brooklands Poynton 12:30
Doncaster v Stourport 12:00
Univ of Durham v Whitley Bay & Tynemouth 12:00
Wakefield v Loughborough Students 13:30
Investec Conference West
Barnes v Slough 12:00
Bristol Firebrands v Gloucester City 13:30
Isca v Swansea City 12:30
Oxford Hawks v Exe 12:00
Trojans v Buckingham 12:00
Investec Women’s Hockey League (Sunday, February 9 2014)
Investec Premier Division
Reading v Surbiton 14:00