Hockey: Students take title on the final day

Mar 31 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

DURHAM University are the champions of the Women’s National Hockey League Conference North, guaranteeing them as one of two North East teams whose season will go into extra-time.

While the students will be playing for the right to appear in next season’s Premier Division, Whitley Bay and Tynemouth must play-off to stay in their division.

A Loren Sherer hat-trick sealed Durham’s title with a 6-2 final-day win at Sunderland. Ruth Gordon opened the scoring for the students, Gabrielle Foster and Gwen Smith also finding the net. Two of Sherer’s goals came from short corners. Sunderland, who were guaranteed to finish eight regardless of the outcome, scored through Sarah Bell and Ali Gordon.

Whitley Bay finished a place below them after leapfrogging Ben Rhydding with a 2-0 home win. The losers were guaranteed to finish bottom, the winners have a second chance to stay in the division.

Jenny Bradley put them ahead in the 10th minute, but with a draw not good enough for Bay, goalkeeper Natalie Favell had to withstand some heavy pressure and a string of short corners to earn her first clean sheet of the season.

Last season’s top-scorer Kath Smith’s flick put the result beyond doubt from a short corner with five minutes left.

Bay’s future will now be determined by play-offs at home to Rover Oxford on April 25 and away to Sevenoaks on May 2.

Durham University finished the season third in the men’s northern conference, despite being just a point behind eventual champions Brooklands Manchester University.

Their fate was effectively sealed by last week’s shock defeat at Leek, but they at least kept the pressure up to the end with a 4-2 win at Sheffield University Bankers. Andrew Baggs scored a hat-trick of penalty corner goals, and James Warburton netted the other.

But Belper’s draw at Brooklands saw them finish above Durham on goal difference.

RESULTS

MEN – National League, Conference North: Sheffield University Bankers 2, Durham University 4. North League, Division One: Chester 3, Stockton 2. Division Two East: Northumbria St Georges 2, Chapeltown 3; Leeds Adel Carnegie 5, Gateshead 4.

WOMEN – National League, Conference North: Sunderland 2, Durham University 6; Whitley Bay & Tynemouth 2, Ben Rhydding 0. North League, Division One: Broom 2, Lockwood Park 2.