NOW: Pension's Men's Hockey League previews, Feb 8-9 2014
6th February 2014LEADERS Beeston play host to rivals East Grinstead on Saturday as the NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League Premier Division springs back into life after the Winter break.
East Grinstead are on a roll having won the Maxinutrition Hockey 5s Championship at Wembley last weekend, and will be out to gain revenge over Beeston who beat them 3-1 earlier in the season.
That was the last time East Grinstead lost a competitive match, and Manager Matt Jones said: “We’re riding on the crest of a very successful wave on the indoor game, and are keen to carry that into the outdoor league.
“This is a pivotal game for both teams. There were a lot of reasons why we weren’t firing on all cylinders when they beat us back in September, so we will be looking to set the record straight.”
Reading could move up to second if they win at Cannock on Saturday, while Hampstead and Westminster host Sheffield Hallam in Saturday’s other Premier Division match.
Sunday sees fourth-placed Surbiton go to fifth-placed Wimbledon, while Loughborough Students host Canterbury.
In the NOW: Pensions Conference North, leaders Brooklands MU go to second-placed University of Durham on Saturday, while in the NOW: Pensions Conference West third-placed Cardiff and Met entertain leaders Team Bath Buccaneers, and will close to within one point if they take the win.
And Holcombe will be aiming to preserve their narrow lead in the NOW: Pensions Conference East when they go to Brighton on Sunday, while Southgate could overtake them when they play at Cambridge City.
The NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League gets underway again this weekend and there will be number of high profile players missing for the first three weeks as they participate in the Hockey India League. East Grinstead see Ashley Jackson, Iain Lewers and Mark Gleghorne in action, while Beeston’s Adam Dixon, Holcombe’s Barry Middleton and Reading’s Simon Mantell will also be absent from the first few weeks of matches. League regulations permit a deferred return in these circumstances.
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.
Transfer deadline, who’s gone where?
East Grinstead welcome Fillip Neusser, the Czech Republic keeper who has been instrumental in their indoor success in the past two seasons. Neusser has previously played outdoors in England having appeared for Bromley & Beckenham in 2006-07.
Reading see Olly Deasy move to rivals Hampstead, but they welcome back former international Tom Bertram who has rejoined. Spaniard Xavi Tost Forrellat joins Canterbury from Egara, and Cannock welcome back South African Ashlin Freddy in their fight to move away from the relegation places, along with Arjan Drayton Chana who's returned from rivals Sheffield Hallam.
In NOW: Pensions Conference East Southgate look to challenge Holcombe with the arrival of South Africans Francois Pretorious and Matt Coombes, and Australian/Polish Dave Spence as well as Joe Sterlini returning from East Grinstead.
Another team with Conference championship hopes are Indian Gymkhana, who are second in the West behind Team Bath Buccaneers. They have strengthened with Aleix Alzuria joining from Atletic Terrassa, Nikoloa Dombrowksi from Rot Weiss Munich; Mexican Francisco Montoya rejoins and Tommy Alexander moves from Hampstead.
At the other end of the table Isca have registered ex-international Jon Evennett and Guildford have signed Mo Rahman from Lewes and Russian Aleksandr Boitcov.
NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League (Saturday, February 8 2014)
NOW: Pensions Premier Division
Beeston v East Grinstead 14:00
Cannock v Reading 14:00
Hampstead & Westminster v Sheffield Hallam 14:00
NOW: Pensions Conference East
Old Loughtonians v Richmond 13:00
Oxted v Bromley & Beckenham 15:30
NOW: Pensions Conference North
Univ of Durham v Brooklands MU 14:00
NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League (Sunday, February 9 2014)
NOW: Pensions Premier Division
Loughborough Students v Canterbury 14:00
Wimbledon v Surbiton 14:00
NOW: Pensions Conference East
Brighton and Hove v Holcombe 13:00
Cambridge City v Southgate 13:30
Teddington v St Albans 12:30
NOW: Pensions Conference North
Belper v Deeside Ramblers 14:00
Bowdon v West Bridgford 14:30
Khalsa (Warks) v Wakefield 14:30
Olton & West Warwicks v Leek 13:30
NOW: Pensions Conference West
Cardiff & Met v Team Bath Buccaneers 13:00
Cheltenham v Univ of Exeter 13:00
Guildford v Univ of Birmingham 12:00
Havant v Fareham 14:00
Isca v Indian Gymkhana 12:30