Vitality Women’s and Men’s Hockey League Premier Division Review – 4/5 December 2021
Phase One of both Premier Divisions were finally completed this weekend as Buckingham travelled to the University of Birmingham in the Vitality Women’s Hockey League on Saturday and Brooklands Manchester University hosted Holcombe in the Men’s Hockey League on Sunday
Buckingham slipped to their sixth successive defeat with a 2-1 loss at the University of Birmingham, who finished two points adrift of sixth placed Clifton Robinsons. Buckingham trailed 2-0, Millie Attwell putting the students ahead with a 22nd minute penalty corner conversion and Becky Manton doubling the lead from open play in the 39th minute. Kitty Higgins converted a penalty corner in the 51st minute, but Buckingham finished Phase 1 in tenth place, two points behind ninth placed Holcombe.
Brooklands Manchester University lost their fifth game in the last six as Holcombe won 8-2 in the North West. Nick Bandurak opened the scoring for Holcombe in the 8th minute, but Brooklands responded immediately, Jack Artist equalising in the 10th minute. Holcombe led 3-1 at half time, Barry Middleton restoring the visitors’ lead in the 28th minute and Dan Edwards scoring the third goal in the 32nd minute.
James Davies added the fourth goal immediately after half time, but Peter Flanagan replied for Brooklands with a 48th minute penalty corner conversion to make the score 4-2. Holcombe responded with four goals in a seven minute spell, Harry Trusler scoring in the 53rd minute, Middleton completing a hat-trick with goals in the 55th and 60th minutes and Jake Owen scoring a minute before Middleton’s hat-trick goal, all ten goals at Brooklands coming from open play.
Holcombe closed to within three points of the top four with their victory, whilst Brooklands remained in tenth place, one point behind ninth placed University of Durham and a further point behind eighth placed Beeston.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Hampstead & Westminster | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 12 | 14 | 27 |
| 2 | East Grinstead | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 12 | 21 | 24 |
| 3 | Surbiton | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 12 | 14 | 24 |
| 4 | Wimbledon | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 10 | 21 | 20 |
| 5 | Beeston | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 18 | -2 | 13 |
| 6 | Clifton Robinsons | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 22 | -7 | 12 |
| 7 | University of Birmingham | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 22 | -9 | 10 |
| 8 | Loughborough Students | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 28 | -13 | 10 |
| 9 | Holcombe | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 18 | -7 | 8 |
| 10 | Buckingham | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 24 | -11 | 6 |
| 11 | Swansea | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 31 | -21 | 1 |
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Old Georgians | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 5 | 41 | 27 |
| 2 | Wimbledon | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 11 | 27 | 25 |
| 3 | Hampstead & Westminster | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 18 | 10 | 23 |
| 4 | Surbiton | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 44 | 15 | 29 | 22 |
| 5 | Holcombe | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 37 | 19 | 18 | 19 |
| 6 | East Grinstead | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 33 | -13 | 10 |
| 7 | Oxted | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 35 | -19 | 10 |
| 8 | Beeston | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 20 | 30 | -10 | 8 |
| 9 | University of Durham | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 37 | -26 | 7 |
| 10 | Brooklands MU | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 50 | -34 | 6 |
| 11 | University of Exeter | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 38 | -23 | 1 |