Saturday 2nd March – Ladies’ Premier Division
Third-placed East Grinstead closed the gap on second place as they won 5-0 at Beeston.
The score was 3-0 at half time after goals from Chloe Brown, Lucy Holder and Natasha Brennan.
The second half saw the away side extended their lead after Chloe Palmer and Sophie Bray both found the net to secure three points.
Holcombe opened up a three point gap at the top of the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division with a 4-1 win over Slough as title rivals Surbiton lost at the University of Birmingham.
Dirkie Chamberlain gave the home side the lead in the second minute when she slotted home from open play before Sofia Viarengo Cervino doubled their advantage four minutes later.
Joanne Westwood scored in the 17th minute from free play to leave the game 3-0 at half time.
Philipa Newton hit back for the away side from a penalty corner in the 44th minute, but Viarengo Cervino scored her second of the day seven minutes from the end of the match to secure the win.
The University of Birmingham performed well at home, defeating second-placed Surbiton 1-0.
The only goal of the game came in the 41st minute when Jo Turnbull finished from a penalty corner to secure only Birmingham’s second victory of the season.
Elsewhere, Buckingham secured a 6-2 victory against Canterbury.
Natasha James (2), Madeleine Newlyn, Liz George, Eloise Laity and Phoebe Richards were all on the scoresheet for the home team.
Tilly Tillings and Agustina Alvarez scored the goals for Canterbury as they remain bottom of the table.
A brace from Claire Thomas ensured that Clifton Robinsons were victorious at Bowdon.
The home side took the lead in the 34th minute when Aine Curran score from a penalty corner.
Thomas scored her first of the day in 56th minute before finding the winner in the 60th minute and taking her goal tally for the season to 14, as she tops the goal scoring charts.
Saturday 2nd March – Men’s Premier Division
East Grinstead boosted their play-off hopes with a 3-2 win over rivals Beeston, with Simon Faulkner (2) and Ross Stott scoring their goals, while for Beeston it was Elliot Hibell and Nick Park.
Hampstead & Westminster beat Holcombe 7-2 as the race for play-off spots in the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division continues to throw up some enthralling hockey.
Second in the table only on goal difference, Hampstead & Westminster continue to push current leaders and reigning champions Surbiton hard, and in the process dented Holcombe’s play-off hopes.
Goals from San French, Rupert Shipperley (2), Matt Guise Brown, James Oates, James Chaffey and Chris Cargo proved too much for Holcombe, although Nick Bandurak scored two for the Kent outfit.
Meanwhile, Surbiton were 5-1 winners at Reading with Alan Forsyth scoring two and others coming from Ben Boon, James Royce and Hayden Beltz. Lee Morton scored for Reading.
The University of Exeter continued to fight hard to avoid relegation with a 3-1 win at Brooklands MU. Thomas Butler, Archie Winter and James Carson scored their goals, while David Flanagan claimed Brooklands’ lone goal.
Wimbledon fired six goals past hosts Sevenoaks, Ed Horley, Phil Roper, Callum Swinnerton-Ions and Jack Waller scoring in the first half before Ben Arnold and Chad Conlon added more after the break.
