Hockey: Fleeting glimpse of life at the top

Feb 19 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

SUNDERLAND led the women’s National Hockey League Division One for just 24 hours at the weekend.

The Wearsiders leapfrogged Trojans by beating them 2-0 at Meadowfield on Saturday, only to undo their good work by dropping two points at struggling Doncaster the next day.

Sunderland goalkeeper Jo Spotswood made three important saves in Saturday’s early stages and Lisa Garbutt capitalised when Claire Dobison put her one-on-one at the other end. Hannah Baker marked her final Sunderland home game with a fantastic short-corner strike.

But Sunderland were held to a 3-3 draw after an end-to-end game in South Yorkshire where Susan Hamilton scored either side of Baker’s seventh goal this season.

They were almost done a favour by next-to-bottom Durham University, who lost a seven-goal thriller at home to Trojans on Sunday.

Buoyed by Saturday’s 3-1 win at Doncaster, the students led through Gabrielle Foster, Loren Sherer and Cat Horn only to concede two goals in the last five minutes.

Liverpool Sefton took third place in Division One from Whitley Bay and Tynemouth with a 3-1 home win.

Kath Smith scored Bay’s goal but with only two points between second and fifth place, those trailing runaway leaders Cannock have plenty to play for.

Durham University as good as wrapped up the men’s Northern League Premier Division title with a 6-3 win at home to nearest rivals Preston. Chris Borrett (2), James Warburton, Richie Jenkins, Scott Cooper and Andrew Baggs were the scorers.

Durham need two points from their last four matches to wrap up the title, though not promotion.

The champions will play a round-robin tournament with those from the southern, midlands, western and eastern divisions, plus the 10th-placed team in the National North and South Divisions. The top two play in next season’s National League.

Second-placed Wakefield’s 5-1 win at home to Whitley Bay and Tynemouth pulled them two points ahead of Stockton, who drew 1-1 with Crewe Vagrants.

On Saturday, Tyne drew 3-3 at Leeds University.

RESULTS

MEN – Northern League Premier Division: Durham University 6, Preston 3; Deeside Ramblers v Newcastle University postponed (frozen pitch).

Division One: Leeds University 3, Whitley Bay & Tynemouth 3; Stockton 1, Crewe Vagrants 1; Didsbury Northern 2, Durham University II 2. Sunday: Wakefield 5, Whitley Bay & Tynemouth 1; Rotherham 2, Stockton 7.

Division Two East: Gateshead 7, Slazenger 2; Northumbria St Georges 2, Sheffield University Bankers II 2; Durham City 3, City of York II 2.

WOMEN – National League Division One: Doncaster 1, Durham University 3; Sunderland 2, Trojans 0; North Division: Liverpool Sefton 3, Whitley Bay & Tynemouth 1. Sunday: Doncaster 3, Sunderland 3; Durham University 3, Trojans 4.

Northern League Division One: Broom 1, Lockwood Park 2; Berwick 2, City of York 3.