Hockey: Sunderland still hopeful

Apr 8 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

SUNDERLAND came from behind to take their hopes of playing in next season’s Women’s National Hockey League Premier Division to another week.

The Wearsiders beat Birmingham University 3-1 on the final day of the campaign to finish second in Division One. Their reward is a play-off against Poynton, with the winners playing in English hockey’s top division next season.

Sunderland started badly at Meadowfield, conceding an 11th-minute penalty corner converted by Laura Bainbridge. But Susan Hamilton equalised six minutes later and Tracey Mckeown put Sunderland in front a minute before half-time. Claire Dobison added a third in the 54th-minute, all the goals coming from short corners.

Poynton only escaped automatic relegation from the Premier Division on goal difference after a last-day win over Chelmsford.

Cat Horn scored a hat-trick as Durham University won 4-2 at Harleston Magpies. Her goals, all scored in open play, came in the tenth, 45th and 67th minutes. Loren Sherer got the students’ other goal.

Whitley Bay and Tynemouth endured a frustrating last day of the season in the North Division as they bombarded relegation-threatened Sheffield Hallam without reward.

The visitors were quickly out of the blocks but could not breach the Hallam defence. Cath Pendlebury hit the crossbar and put a second shot centimetres wide of the post.

Bay thought they should have had a penalty flick when Kath Smith was tackled a number of times in the D, while at the other end goalkeeper Nat Favell was so well protected by defenders Sophie Berry and Lesley Cairns she didn’t touch the ball.

RESULTS

WOMEN – National League Division One: Harleston Magpies 2, Durham University 4; Sunderland 3, Birmingham University 1. North Division: Sheffield Hallam 0, Whitley Bay & Tynemouth 0.