Holcombe are looking for a third win in as many Premier Division matches as they travel to Hampstead & Westminster on Saturday afternoon (16:00).
Nick Bandurak’s side have opened up their campaign with 2-1 and 1-0 wins against Wimbledon and Bowdon respectively to pick up six points in two matches upon their return to the top-flight.
Hampstead perhaps provide the most stern test yet and look set to include former Holcs Miriam Pritchard, Pippa Lewis and Catherine Ledesma in their squad, while last season’s Premier Division top-scorer Madi Ratcliffe also played for Holcombe in a promotion-winning Super 6s campaign at the turn of the year.
The Londoners have taken three points from their first two, losing 1-0 to East Grinstead on the opening day, having beat them after a shootout at League Finals weekend in April. David Cooper’s side recovered, though, to bounce back and beat the University of Birmingham 1-0 at Paddington Rec last weekend courtesy of Anna Moore’s ninth-minute field goal.
Holcs sit fourth currently while Hampstead are two places further back in sixth, though would leapfrog their opponents with a win. Holcombe are one of four teams with a 100% record alongside Surbiton, Reading and East Grinstead.
The two sides last met in the Premier Division in October 2022, drawing 3-3 in Phase One at Holcombe Park with Ledesma on the scoresheet and Pritchard, playing for Holcombe, saving a penalty stroke. Hattie Jones and Freya Bull also netted for Holcs.
Olivia Shannon – one of Holcombe’s summer additions – will be looking to keep up her scoring streak having netted twice in her first two matches for the club.
Following this match on Saturday, Holcombe’s men also take on Hampstead & Westminster at 18:00 at Paddington Rec.
Premier Division fixtures:
12:00 – University of Nottingham vs. East Grinstead
12:00 – Sutton Coldfield vs. Loughborough Students
12:15 – Clifton Robinsons vs. Bowdon
14:30 – University of Birmingham vs. Reading
16:00 – Hampstead & Westminster vs. Holcombe
20:00 – Surbiton vs. Wimbledon