Investec Women’s Hockey League champions Reading quickly put their opening day loss behind them by thrashing Olton and West Warwickshire 12-0 on Saturday.
Alex Danson was the star of the show as she bagged herself six goals, while Susie Gilbert was also in good form as she grabbed a brace. Ellie Cockburn was another name on the scoresheet, making it two goals in two games.
Last year’s losing finalists, Leicester couldn’t maintain their good start to the new season as they lost to Bowdon Hightown by the odd goal.
They had a golden chance to take the lead just 10 minutes into the game as they were rewarded a penalty stroke. But the chance went begging and they were left to rue the miss as Nat Wray popped up with the winner for Bowdon Hightown on 53 minutes.
Surbiton hit three goals to come back from behind against Sutton Coldfield on the way to a 3-1 victory with Georgie Twigg, Vicky Bryant and Rebecca Herbert on the mark.
Clifton beat promoted Beeston 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Zoe Leach. Canterbury also took a narrow win as Lucy Barnes’ ninth minute strike from a penalty corner proved to be the difference.
In the Investec Conference North’s Yorkshire derby Wakefield beat Doncaster 3-1, while Kendal were also 3-1 winners over Boots.
In the Investec Conference West, Buckingham and Slough both maintained their 100 per cent starts to the season.
Buckingham beat Barnes 2-0 with a Lorraine Campbell brace and Slough prevailed over Gloucester City with their goals coming from Laura Puddle and Christie Fearnside.
Elsewhere, Isca scored the biggest win of the day with a 4-0 defeat of Bristol Firebrands.
Finally, in the Investec Conference East, last year’s winner Harleston Magpies continue their search for a first win of the season after suffering a defeat at the hands of Holcombe. They were 3-0 down inside 24 minutes and couldn’t pull themselves back into the match.
Investec Women’s Hockey League (September 21 2013):
Investec Premier Division: Olton & West Warwicks 0, Reading 12; Clifton 1, Beeston 0; Leicester 0, Bowdon Hightown 1; Sutton Coldfield 1, Surbiton 3; Canterbury 1, University of Birmingham 0.
Investec Conference East: Harleston Magpies 1, Holcombe 3; Sevenoaks 3, St Albans 1; Chelmsford 0, Horsham 1; Wimbledon 3, Old Loughtonians 1; Ipswich 1, East Grinstead 2.
Investec Conference North: University of Durham 3, Brooklands Poynton 1; Stourport 1, Loughborough Students 1; Boots 1, Kendal 3; Whitley Bay & Tynemouth 1, Ben Rhydding 0; Wakefield 3, Doncaster 1.
Investec Conference West: Oxford Hawks 6, Trojans 1; Barnes 0, Buckingham 2; Exe 1, Swansea City 1; Slough 2, Gloucester City 0; Bristol Firebrands 0, Isca 4.
