WHL Premier Division Review – 3 October
Surbiton became the third leaders of the Women’s Hockey League Premier Division in as many weeks after they won 3-0 at the University of Birmingham and East Grinstead were held to a 1-1 home draw by Buckingham.
Emily Atkinson put Surbiton ahead in the second minute, with Georgie Twigg doubling the lead in the 48th minute and Eloise Stenner adding a third goal in the 57th minute, all three goals coming from penalty corners, to spoil Birmingham’s 200th game in the Premier Division.
East Grinstead dropped to second behind Surbiton on goal difference, but had to come from behind before going unbeaten for an eighteenth game in succession. Megan Lewis-Williams gave Buckingham the lead on the stroke of half time, but Ellie Rayer salvaged a point in the 58th minute to set up the first top of the table clash of the season when Surbiton host East Grinstead next Saturday (10 October).
Loughborough stayed in contention with the top two on seven points with a 4-2 away win over Hampstead & Westminster at Bisham Abbey. Hampstead, coming off a bye week, led through Sarah Robertson’s fourth minute goal, Loughborough storming to a 4-1 lead by the 41st minute through goals by Lucy Millington, Alice Rolfe, Izzy Petter and Jane Kilpatrick. Emily Maguire pulled a second goal back for Hampstead ten minutes after half time, but there was no further scoring.
East Grinstead’s draw and Hampstead’s defeat means that no team in the Premier Division has maximum points.
Wimbledon are a point behind the top three after Olivia Chilton gave them a dramatic last minute winner at Holcombe. Anna Toman opened the scoring for the visitors in the 39th minute, only for Joanne Westwood to level for Holcombe with five minutes to play. Both teams seemed destined for a point before Chilton secured the 2-1 victory.
Swansea’s struggles continue in the Premier after Beeston ended a four game losing streak and a goal drought to run out 4-0 winners on home turf. Beeston had to wait until the 29th minute for Maddy Newitt to end the drought, but by half time Beeston led 2-0, Lauren Burrell scoring their second goal in the 34th minute. Kelsey Briddell extended their lead in the 44th minute with Burrell putting the icing on the cake with her second goal of the match with four minutes to play.
Clifton Robinsons were without a fixture.
