IWHL Premier Division Review – 19 September
Newly promoted Wimbledon showed that they intend to make their mark in the Premier Division with a 4-0 home win over also promoted Swansea. Fiona Burnet opened Wimbledon’s account in the fifth minute with Georgie Blackwood doubling their lead in the 28th minute, both goals coming from open play. Suzy Petty added a third goal with a penalty corner conversion in the 49th minute, with Anna Reynolds’ penalty stroke putting the icing on the cake for the hosts.
Defending champions Surbiton had double reason to celebrate as they finally received their league championship medals and trophy after a 3-0 home win over Buckingham. Surbiton had to wait until the 33rd minute to break their duck for the season, Eloise Stenner converting a penalty corner. Lottie Ross, returning to Surbiton after playing for Beeston and the University of Nottingham, scored twice from open play, in the 44th and 69th minutes.
Hampstead & Westminster are just behind Surbiton in third after their 2-0 win at Beeston. The first half was goalless but Holly Hunt’s 38th minute strike and a second from Lucy Hyams in the 56th minute ensured that the points ended up in the Capital.
East Grinstead are unbeaten in sixteen regular season league games following their 2-1 win at Clifton Robinsons. Tess Howard gave East Grinstead the lead on the quarter-hour from open play but Clifton held out until the 61st minute when Sophie Bray gave the West Sussex club extra breathing space with a penalty corner conversion. Kathryn Lane pulled a goal back for Clifton with five minutes to play, also from a penalty corner but East Grinstead repeated last season’s winning scoreline and completed their ninth successive league win and thirteenth victory in their last fourteen league games.
Izzy Petter earned Loughborough Students a 1-0 win at Holcombe with the only goal coming in the 14th minute.
The University of Birmingham had a bye week and will start their campaign in Week 2.
WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION – PHASE 1
Saturday, 19 September
| Beeston | 0 | – | 2 | Hampstead & Westminster |
| (0) | HT | (0) | Holly Hunt 38-F | |
| Lucy Hyams 56-F | ||||
| Match Official: Andy Barnes | Umpires: Stephen Cox and Janice Tasho | |||
| Clifton Robinsons | 1 | – | 2 | East Grinstead |
| Kathryn Lane 65-PC | (0) | HT | (1) | Tess Howard 15-F |
| Sophie Bray 61-PC | ||||
| Match Official: Ben Redwood | Umpires: Clare White and Annette Harvey | |||
| Holcombe | 0 | – | 1 | Loughborough Students |
| (0) | HT | (1) | Izzy Petter 14-F | |
| Match Official: Marilyn Walker | Umpires: Andy Poulain and Helen Sargeant | |||
| Surbiton | 3 | – | 0 | Buckingham |
| Eloise Stenner 33-PC | (1) | HT | (0) | |
| Lottie Ross 44-F, 69-F | ||||
| Match Official: James Boylan | Umpires: Rachel Williams and Rebecca Woodcock | |||
| Wimbledon | 4 | – | 0 | Swansea |
| Fiona Burnet 5-F | (2) | HT | (0) | |
| Georgie Blackwood 28-F | ||||
| Suzy Petty 49-PC | ||||
| Anna Reynolds 64-PS | ||||
| Match Official: Ray Strudwick | Umpires: David Howell and Rob Jenkins | |||
| Bye: University of Birmingham |
| Women’s Hockey League Premier Division – Phase 1 | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | Wimbledon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| 2 | Surbiton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | Hampstead & Westminster | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | East Grinstead | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | Loughborough Students | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | University of Birmingham | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Clifton Robinsons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 8 | Holcombe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 9 | Beeston | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| 10 | Buckingham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 11 | Swansea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
