Ellie Watton hit a hat-trick in the first half as Holcombe kept up the pressure on leaders Surbiton with a 3-1 win over the University of Birmingham in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division.

The 3-1 home win leaves Holcombe just three points behind table-topping Surbiton, who secured a 2-1 win at Clifton Robinsons.

Holcombe captain Steph Elliott missed a penalty stroke in only the second minute but Watton opened the scoring just six minutes later, tucking away from a penalty corner.

She then doubled her side’s lead in the 20^th minute before completing her treble in the 30^th. Amy Costello hit a consolation for Birmingham after the break.

Canterbury picked up their third win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Bowdon Hightown. Eliza Brett and Tinesha Carey put Canterbury 2-0 up before Nat Wray hit what proved to be a consolation for the visitors.

Cathy Gilliat-Smith and Jess Denniff both scored their seventh goals of the campaign as Sevenoaks won 2-0 against Southgate to stay top of the Investec Women’s Conference East.

 

Investec Women’s Hockey League (Saturday, November 19, 2016):

 

Investec Women’s Premier Division: Holcombe 3, University of Birmingham 1; Clifton Robinsons 1, Surbiton 2; Canterbury 2, Bowdon Hightown 1; Leicester 2, East Grinstead 2.

 

Investec Women’s Conference East: St Albans 2, Chelmsford 1; Hampstead and Westminster 2, Cambridge City 1; West Herts 3, Northampton Saints 1; Wimbledon 2, Harleston Magpies 1; Sevenoaks 2, Southgate 0.

 

Picture supplied by www.groutphotography.co.uk