Hampstead & Westminster Open a 6 Point Lead as Buckingham Drop to 3rd

Vitality Women’s Hockey League Premier Division Review – 9 October 2021

Hampstead & Westminster maintained their one hundred per cent record in the Premier Division and opened up a six point gap over their nearest rivals thanks to Lucy Hyams’ 17^th minute penalty corner giving them a 1-0 win over the University of Birmingham.

Vitality Prem @Buckingham_HC v @CliftonRobbies finished honours even at 1-1 | @lawrencemking

East Grinstead replaced Buckingham in second following their 2-1 win at Beeston. Chloe Palmer and Ellie Rayer both converted penalty corners in the 27^th and 33^rd minutes respectively with Beeston replying through Sophie Robinson with four minutes remaining. East Grinstead kept up their record of winning every Premier Division match against the Nottingham club, but Sophie Bray failed to score against them for the first time.

Wimbledon also moved ahead of Buckingham on goal difference after a 4-1 win at Swansea. Sarah-Jayne Thorburn opened the scoring for the visitors against her former club in the 20^th minute with Eliza Brett doubling the lead three minutes before the interval. Harriet Naismith and Lucy Holder added goals in the 41^st and 44^th minutes before Jess Lea scored Swansea’s consolation from a penalty corner in the 59^th minute.

Buckingham are fourth and Surbiton fifth after their 2-2 draw in Surrey. Abbie Brant put Buckingham ahead in the 21^st minute and Surbiton had to wait until the 40^th to draw level courtesy of Sophie Hamilton’s penalty corner conversion. There was late drama as Eloise Stenner gave Surbiton a 2-1 lead with four minutes to play, only for Jo Day, who scored Buckingham’s winner against Loughborough Students the week before, to salvage a point two minutes later.

There was also late drama at Holcombe as Clifton Robinsons scored in the last minute to draw 1-1. Claire Jones levelled late to deny the Kent club their first win of the season after Izzy Shelley had scored for Holcombe in the tenth minute.

Both Clifton Robinsons and Buckingham are quickly becoming the division’s draw specialists as they drew for the third time in four matches.

Loughborough Students were without a fixture.