Holcombe travelled away to Manchester-based Bowdon to strive to make it two wins from two in Phase Two following their 2-0 home victory over bottom side Sutton Coldfield.

Holcs, with newly-appointed coach Katie Glynn and an all-female travelling group on International Women’s Day, were beaten 5-1, however, as the hosts put in a dominant display to avenge Holcombe’s 1-0 win at Bowdon in Phase One.

The first quarter was an edgy affair but neither team capitalised on their opportunities. 

It was the home team that broke the deadlock five minutes into the second quarter as Alexandra Lukin beat Tilly Woodhead from a penalty corner.

Holcombe’s Leisa Randall equalised five minutes later from another penalty corner.

Holcombe strived to build on this but two minutes later a further penalty corner was conceded, and Georgia Carroll capitalised giving the home team a 2-1 lead at half time.

Towards the end of quarter three, Bowdon added two quick goals through Maddie Scallon and Carroll, who added her second of the afternoon to make it 4-1, leaving Holcs with a lot of work to do in the final quarter. 

With Holcs down to 10 players for a spell after Lucy Whalley was shown a yellow card, Bowdon took full advantage to make the score 5-1 with a field goal scored by Aine Curran. 

This was a disappointing result, but Brad Read’s side will look to analyse this performance and bounce back against the University of Birmingham next week in their third Phase Two match.

The University of Birmingham and Clifton Robinsons shared the points in a 1-1 draw.

Clifton took a first quarter lead with an Evie Grindall field goal on fifteen minutes.

The students equalised in the 55th minute with a field goal scored by Ruby Spavin. 

In the final Lower Six match, the University of Nottingham delivered with a 2-0 home win against Sutton Coldfield. 

Matilda O’Dea scored an eleventh minute field goal and then in the third quarter, Freya Diamond scored a second field goal to secure the points.

These results mean that there are four points between seventh-placed Bowdon and 11th-placed Holcombe, though Holcs are just two points from safety.

In the Top Six, Hampstead and Westminster increased their lead to four points with a home victory in a seven-goal thriller against East Grinstead for their seventh straight win.

It was the Sussex-based team that took the lead after only three minutes in quarter one through new signing Millie Giglio.

The Londoners equalised in the last minute of the quarter with a penalty stroke converted by Esme Burge.

At the beginning of the second quarter, Hampstead took the lead through a former Holcombe player as Pippa Lewis scored from a penalty corner.

At the beginning of quarter three, another former Holc got on the scoresheet in Olivia Shannon to level things up.

Seven minutes later, David Cooper’s side restored their advantage through Great Britain and England international Olivia Hamilton and this lead was increased further on 52 minutes with a field goal scored by Rose Tynan.

East Grinstead’s Grace Balsdon scored the final game of the game with a penalty corner strike in the 64th minute but Theo Dowse’s side could not find a late equaliser.

Second-placed Reading secured a 3-2 win against Loughborough Students at Sonning Lane to maintain the gap at the top of the table.

Reading took a 13th-minute lead with a penalty corner goal from Caroline Spence.

Katie Partridge increased the home team’s lead with a second penalty corner.

Loughborough Students’ Madeleine Goodman reduced the deficit to one with a field goal on 48 minutes and the match was tied five minutes later when Hollie Dring-Richardson scored from a penalty corner.

As the match seemed to be heading for a draw, a dramatic winner was scored by the home team through Anna Crowley in the final minute to take all three points for Reading.

In the final match, there was a convincing away 4-1 win for Surbiton against Wimbledon in a London derby.

The away team took the lead with a penalty stroke scored by Darcy Bourne after nine minutes before Izzy Petter netted to make the half time score 2-0.

In the final quarter, the home team pulled a goal back with a field goal converted by Olivia Chilton.

Five minutes later, Sophie Hamilton restored Surbiton’s two goal advantage on 58 minutes and Bourne scored her second on 62 minutes to secure all three points in a commanding display.

This means that Hampstead and Westminster are four points clear of Reading, who are only a point ahead of Surbiton. East Grinstead are a further five points behind. Wimbledon and the Loughborough Students complete the Top Six.