News | ehl hockey league finals & playoffs preview  round 2

News | ehl hockey league finals & playoffs preview round 2


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As the Vitality Women's Hockey League enters another thrilling matchday, fans can expect some intense battles and high-stakes encounters in both Pool A and Pool B, as well as two


captivating playoff games. Let's dive into the upcoming fixtures and the intriguing stats that add depth to these matchups. POOL A BEESTON VS SURBITON AT NOTTINGHAM HOCKEY CENTRE In a


crucial Pool A clash, Beeston will be hosting Surbiton at the Nottingham Hockey Centre. Having lost twice to Surbiton already this season, Beeston will be hungry for revenge. Their top goal


scorer Lauren Burrell, with 9 goals to her name, will be a key player in their bid to turn the tables. Surbiton, on the other hand, will be looking to maintain their dominance and secure


another victory. EAST GRINSTEAD VS UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM AT SAINT HILL East Grinstead will take on the University of Birmingham at the picturesque Saint Hill. These two sides last met on


the opening day of the season, with East Grinstead emerging victorious with a 2-1 win. Both teams will be eager to showcase their progress since then, making this match an enticing affair


with bragging rights on the line. POOL B CLIFTON ROBINSONS VS WIMBLEDON AT COOMBE DINGLE Clifton Robinsons will face Wimbledon at Coombe Dingle in a pivotal Pool B encounter. With just one


win in their last eight matches, Clifton Robinsons, who relied on early season form to qualify for the League Finals, knows that a win for either side will guarantee a spot in the Finals


Weekend. Expect both teams to put their best foot forward in this high-pressure match. HAMPSTEAD & WESTMINSTER VS UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM AT PADDINGTON RECREATION GROUND Hampstead &


Westminster will be looking to bounce back from two consecutive defeats as they host the University of Nottingham at the historic Paddington Recreation Ground. With both teams desperate for


points, fans can anticipate a fiercely contested battle as they vie for a much-needed victory. PLAYOFFS READING VS BUCKINGHAM AT SONNING LANE In the first playoff match, Reading will host


the recently relegated Buckingham at Sonning Lane. Buckingham will be looking to repeat the victory they achieved when the two sides last met, with Lottie Porter playing a key role. Expect a


spirited performance from Buckingham as they aim to finish their season on a high note. HOLCOMBE VS LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS AT HOLCOMBE PARK In a do-or-die encounter, Holcombe will face


Loughborough Students at Holcombe Park. Fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table, Holcombe must win to stay in the survival battle. Defender Emma Bandurak will be a key player for


Holcombe as they strive to secure a vital victory and keep their hopes alive. As we gear up for another exciting weekend of hockey, fans can expect closely-fought battles, potential upsets,


and high-quality action across the Vitality Women's Hockey League. Stay tuned as the drama unfolds on the pitch. POOL A HOLCOMBE VS BEESTON AT HOLCOMBE PARK The weekend kicks off with


a tantalizing contest between Holcombe and Beeston at Holcombe Park. The two sides shared the spoils in a thrilling 3-3 draw last time they met, and both will be eager to secure a victory


this time around. Holcombe, currently sitting second in Pool A, will be looking to secure their finals weekend place with a win, while Beeston aims to maintain their recent run of form. Key


players to watch in this encounter include Holcombe's goal-scoring machine Nick Bandurak and Beeston's influential captain Chris Griffiths. HAMPSTEAD & WESTMINSTER VS OLD


GEORGIANS AT PADDINGTON RECREATION GROUND In another enthralling Pool A fixture, Hampstead & Westminster will be hosting Old Georgians at the historic Paddington Recreation Ground.


Interestingly, Hampstead & Westminster are the only side to take points from Old Georgians this season, so this match promises to be a nail-biter. Hampstead & Westminster will be


looking to rebound from a disappointing loss in their previous game, while Old Georgians will want to continue their upward trajectory after a string of impressive performances. Keep an eye


on Hampstead & Westminster's top goal scorer Sam French, as well as Old Georgians' captain James Albery, who has been instrumental in his team's defensive solidity. POOL B


READING VS SURBITON AT SONNING LANE Over in Pool B, Reading will face the formidable Surbiton at Sonning Lane. With both teams jostling for valuable points in the standings, this match


promises to be a captivating encounter. A win for Surbiton will see them equal their longest winning streak of the season, adding extra motivation for them to secure victory. Reading's


prolific scorer Fred Newbold will need to be on top of his game to breach Surbiton's watertight defence, led by the experienced Luke Taylor. Expect a tight, tactical battle as both


teams look to gain the upper hand. WIMBLEDON VS OXTED AT RAYNES PARK Wimbledon takes on Oxted in a crucial clash at Raynes Park. Oxted, with just one loss in their last six matches, will be


looking to avenge the 6-1 defeat they suffered against Wimbledon in November. With both teams desperate for points to stay in contention for the League Finals Weekend, anticipate a


high-octane encounter as they fight tooth and nail for victory. Wimbledon's seasoned striker Ed Horler will be a key figure in their attack, while Oxted's goalkeeper SAm Williams


will be under the spotlight to keep Wimbledon's forwards at bay. PLAYOFFS UNIVERSITY OF EXETER VS BROOKLANDS MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY AT EXETER UNIVERSITY In the first playoff fixture, the


University of Exeter will face Brooklands Manchester University in a battle of the university teams. It's a must-win match for Exeter, as after two 2-2 draws, anything other than a win


could see them relegated. Home advantage could play a vital role for Exeter as they seek to capitalize on the support of their local fans. Exeter's Louis Ridge and Brooklands'


Peter Flanagan are two standout players. UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM VS EAST GRINSTEAD AT NOTTINGHAM HOCKEY CENTRE Lastly, the University of Nottingham will go head-to-head with East Grinstead


at the Nottingham Hockey Centre. With both teams eager to progress in the playoffs, the stakes are high in this do-or-die fixture. Keep an eye on University of Nottingham's Charlie


Axford, who has been in sensational form, and East Grinstead's Captain, Simon Faulkner, who brings years of experience and match-winning ability to his side. All in all, an enthralling


weekend of hockey lies ahead, with fascinating battles and potential upsets on the horizon.