After a positive start to Phase Two with a 2-0 win over Sutton Coldfield at Holcombe Park, Holcombe are on the road this weekend with a long trip to Manchester-based Bowdon (13:30) looking to re-start their outdoor campaign with two wins in as many matches.

With the added guidance from newly-appointed coach and Great Britain assistant Katie Glynn, Brad Read’s side will want to build on the positives from their performance last time out, in which they kept their second clean sheet of the season.

Bolstered by a successful week of training and a full strength squad, the Incredible Holcs will want to secure another three points to take them above today’s opponents and out of the relegation zone.

Sarah Robertson and Tessa Reid will both look to add to their goal tallies after scoring last time out impressively, with Robertson proving a differential in the Holcombe midfield on her second outdoor debut for the club.

Bowdon will be just as keen to build on their successful start to the Phase Two campaign following their 2-1 victory over Clifton Robinsons last week.

In the Phase One game in September at Bowdon, it was Holcombe that came away with a narrow 1-0 victory from a match which also saw a magnificent late penalty flick save from Tilly Woodhead, recently selected in the 2025 Great Britain Elite Development Programme (EDP).

Holcombe will be empowered to ensure that they take full advantage of the previous result as they look to inflict another defeat on Bowdon.

Elsewhere in the Lower Six, bottom-of-the-table Sutton Coldfield travel to the Nottingham Hockey Centre to face University of Nottingham.

The University side will be keen to make home advantage count and add to their point earned last week in the all-university clash with Birmingham.

Sutton will be desperate to finally break their winless streak and secure the maximum points.

In the final Lower Six game, University of Birmingham travel to Bristol to face Clifton Robinsons. 

Clifton will want to ensure that they get the three points following their defeat last week against Bowdon.

In the previous game at the University of Birmingham, the points were shared in a 1-1 draw in Phase One.

In the Top Six, league leaders Hampstead and Westminster host in-form East Grinstead.

Last week, the Sussex-based team delivered a very confident away display against Wimbledon winning 4-2 with Biba Mills scoring a brace.

Hampstead were also winners last week as they beat Loughborough Students 2-1.

Depending on results elsewhere, three points for East Grinstead could reduce the gap between second and fourth to just one point.

A win for the Paddington Recreation outfit could see them extend their lead at the top of the table, currently four points.

Reading will be hoping to get back to winning ways following a heavy loss to Hampstead in the last round of Phase One matches and a draw against third-placed Surbiton last time out at Sugden Road.

In the final game, it is an all-London affair with Wimbledon facing Surbiton.

The Wombles will be keen to return to winning ways following their defeat last week, while Surbiton will be looking to continue to apply pressure on second-placed Reading.

Image: Gaby Hull