Vitality Girls’s Hockey League Preview – 12 March 2022
Surbiton journey to Nottingham Hockey Centre to tackle fifth-placed Beeston of their quest for his or her eighth successive league title. Darcy Bourne, Surbiton’s main goalscorer with eleven targets, is in line for a 3rd successive hat-trick after changing into the primary participant since East Grinstead’s Sophie Bray to attain trebles in successive matches at dwelling to East Grinstead and at Hampstead & Westminster.
Bray achieved the feat in December 2019 in opposition to the College of Birmingham and Holcombe, however Beeston will likely be assured of avoiding defeat at dwelling to Surbiton for the primary time after drawing 1-1 at Sugden Street a month in the past, regardless of shedding 4-0 at Wimbledon final weekend.
East Grinstead are 4 factors behind Surbiton after beating Clifton Robinsons 6-0 at dwelling, per week after shedding by the identical rating at Surbiton. Again in October 2013, Sutton Coldfield skilled one thing related, beating Olton & West Warwicks 6-1 at dwelling earlier than crashing 6-0 at Studying the next week.
East Grinstead journey to Wimbledon for the primary time at Premier Division degree, having beforehand met within the Convention East. Wimbledon have visited Saint Hill twice already this season with blended outcomes, shedding 2-1 in November after which profitable 3-0 a month in the past. Wimbledon have gained seven of their final eight matches, with Surbiton handing them a house defeat on 19 February, and will likely be eager to no less than keep inside 5 factors of the reigning champions.
Clifton Robinsons have gained one level out of the final 24 since they final beat the College of Birmingham in November. That time got here in a 3-3 draw with Hampstead and Westminster a month in the past and it’s now Hampstead’s flip to journey to Bristol, the place they gained 3-1 in October.
Hampstead are six factors off prime spot with 5 video games to play, a scenario they didn’t envisage after they gained their first 9 video games of the season, however will battle with additional potential prime of the desk clashes to return.
Within the Backside 5, Swansea are severely adrift having simply two factors from their first twelve video games, however journey to Buckingham, who drew 1-1 with Swansea in South Wales on the opening day of the season. Buckingham can transfer out of the 2 group relegation zone with a win as Holcombe have a bye week. Buckingham boosted their probabilities of avoiding relegation with wins over Holcombe and Loughborough College students within the final two weeks to shut the hole between seventh and tenth to simply two factors.
Loughborough may even be hoping to maneuver above Holcombe once they go to the College of Birmingham. Honours have been even when the groups drew 1-1 at Loughborough in November, however in 2022, Loughborough have misplaced to each Buckingham and Holcombe at dwelling and gained 1-0 at Swansea as they goal to protect their prime flight standing.
