Hyams Hatrick extends H&W lead

Vitality Women’s Hockey League Premier Division Review – 23 October 2021

Hampstead & Westminster extended their lead at the top of the Vitality Women’s Hockey League Premier Division to eight points as they kept their one hundred per cent record with a 3-0 home win over Holcombe at Paddington Recreation Ground.

Lucy Hyams’ hattrick consisting of open play goals in the 5^th  and 41^st minutes and a 54^th minute penalty corner conversion secured Hampstead’s sixth win of the season and their fourth Premier Division victory over Holcombe in as many meetings.

Surbiton and Wimbledon lost ground as their first ever league meeting ended 1-1, a result which will help neither team’s cause. Fiona Crackles gave Wimbledon a 21^st minute lead from a penalty corner, with Darcy Bourne responding in the same manner in the 55^th minute under the Sugden Road floodlights.

East Grinstead can close to within three points of Hampstead if they win both their games in hand and after a bye week, they beat Swansea 4-1 at Saint Hill where again, both teams met for the first time. Chloe Palmer put East Grinstead ahead from a third minute penalty corner with Ellie Rayer scoring twice from open play in the 8^th and 14^th minutes to leave Swansea trailing 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Autumn Bowden added East Grinstead’s fourth goal with nine minutes remaining, again from open play, with Swansea’s consolation goal coming from the penalty spot in the 68^th minute courtesy of Jess Roe.

Clifton Robinsons took advantage of Buckingham’s bye week to move up into fifth after prevailing 5-4 against Loughborough Students at Coombe Dingle.

Clifton seemed to be cruising shortly after half time when they led 4-0, Tilly Edwards having opened the scoring in the 9^th minute, Clemmie Houlden doubling the lead in the 15^th and Catherine Macaulay adding a third in the 25^th minute, all three goals coming from open play. Abi Porter converted a penalty corner in the 37^th minute to make the score 4-0, before Loughborough Students mounted a comeback, starting with Alice Rolfe’s 41^st minute open play effort.

Maddie Goodman and Iona Campbell brought Loughborough back to 4-3 with penalty corners in the 49^th and 58^th minutes, only for Claire Jones to respond for Clifton from open play in the 59^th minute. Kirby Harris scored from open play with eight minutes left, but Clifton held on for their second 5-4 home win in three seasons, having beaten Hampstead & Westminster by the same score in October 2019.

The Midlands derby between the University of Birmingham and Beeston ended in a 2-2 draw.  Beeston led twice through Lucy Millington’s 12^th minute penalty corner and Alice Huddlestone’s 47^th minute open play goal, but Millie Attwell equalised first from open play in the 39^th minute with Becky Manton salvaging a point thanks to a 61^st minute penalty corner conversion.