Brooklands Poynton Relegated

Manchester based Brooklands Poynton lost twice at the weekend in Women’s Premier Division to seal their relegation fate. A narrow 1-0 loss to fellow relegation strugglers Olton & WW was followed by a 3-0 defeat to league leaders Leicester.

The win for Olton & WW, provided via an eighth minute goal from former England & GB international Lucilla Wright, was an important one in their fight for survival as it moved them out of the play-off place and into seventh place. Cannock dropped into the play-off position after a 4-0 loss at home to second place EuroCanterbury. Natasha Brennan and Lucy Hyams both bagged braces during the win which increases their lead over third place to four points.

Clifton slipped below Olton & WW too after a resounding 4-0 loss against Leicester, despite Gemma Ible saving a 55th minute Anne Panter penalty stroke. Goals from Rebecca Herbert, Kerry Williams and Hannah Macleod (2) secured the three points for the leaders and, coupled with their win over Brooklands on Sunday with Hannah Macleod and Rebecca Herbert (2) again supplying the goals, increased their lead at the top to four points.

Reading’s superb run of form continued with a 4-3 win over University of Birmingham which saw them move up into third. It took two penalty corner strikes from Kate Walsh in the 58th and 61st minutes to overturn a goal deficit for the triumph; their eighth in a row.

University of Birmingham are now four points adrift of the EHL Championships qualification places behind Slough. Slough fell from third to fifth following a 2-0 defeat at Bowdon Hightown. Sally Walton and Tina Cullen supplied the goals which moved Hightown into fourth and meant recording the double over their opponents this season.

TheEHL does not have any champions yet with the divisions set to go to the wire over the next two weeks. The greatest point difference possessed at the top is five, which could mean we have our first champions next weekend.

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