After all the build-up and all the anticipation leading in to the new season, last weekend saw the return of England Hockey's Premier Leagues and they didn't disappoint, with plenty of goals and exciting attacking hockey which bodes well for a very entertaining season as league hockey in England continues to go from strength to strength.
This weekend sees the second round of league fixtures and some exciting match-ups.
The NOW: Pensions Mens Premier League saw twenty-one goals across five games, some interesting results and a return to form for some of the traditional big hitters, giving us plenty to think about in what promises to be a very open season.
While in the Investec Women's Premier League, the wedding of Great Britain's Kate Walsh and Helen Richardson wasn't the only big event last weekend, as a total of twenty three goals bettered last year's opening day by seven goals - domestic hockey came back with a bang.
In the women's leagues, the standout result of the opening day was unquestionably that at Highfields: Newly-promoted Beeston smashed seven goals past Sutton Coldfield, including a hat-trick from Hannah Wraith. The Bees are now off to the Westcountry next to face Clifton, who took a point from their visit to Surbiton last weekend.
Canterbury got their season off and running with a hard-fought 2-1 win away at reigning champions Reading. Jen Wilson, Canterbury's player-coach told England Hockey: "We said we were coming here to get whatever we could out of the game.
We're ecstatic with the result." The winning goal came from Scotland star Nikki Kidd; a player Wilson expects great things from this season: "Her goals will be massive for us and she'll be a wonderful asset to our team." Canterbury host University of Birmingham who will be keen to bounce back from a 3-1 home loss at the hands of Leicester.
Leicester have their first home fixture of the season against an in-form Bowdon Hightown. Bowdon found the net five times in their game with Olton and West Warwicks. Both of the teams come into the weekend's game with new goalkeepers between the posts, as England duo Maddie Hinch and Kirsty Mackay have headed south to Holcombe and East Grinstead respectively.
Investec Women's Premier League Fixtures for 21 September: Canterbury vs. University of Birmingham. 17.00 PFW Clifton vs. Beeston 13.00 CL Leicester vs. Bowdon Hightown. 14.00 LGS Olton and West Warwicks vs. Reading 12.00 WWSC Sutton Coldfield vs. Surbiton 14.00 CR
