What could possibly be better than a weekend of all the goals, tensions and drama of an action-packed play-offs finals weekend? Well, how about two finals weekends in one? With more players, more teams and more spectators than ever before, this year’s Investec Women’s Hockey League and Men’s Hockey League finals weekend at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre is shaping up as an event not to be missed.
Who’s in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Finals?
At the time of going to press, the reigning Investec Women’s Premier Division Champions, Surbiton, had already secured their place in an attempt to hold on to the winner’s title for a third successive year. This has been an excellent year for the Sugden Road team, and they have been on top form all season.
However, the board leaders at the University of Birmingham have also been hammering the competition on the indoor and outdoor pitches. Their fantastic campaign has allowed them to reach the Super 6s semi-finals for the first time in their club’s history. Phil Gooderham’s side has also landed their first ever a place in the outdoor play-offs.
Last year’s runners-up, Canterbury, will also be there. Their fast and attacking style of hockey, backed up with excellent defence techniques, has meant that they fared well this season. After last year’s disappointment, this might be the hungriest team in play and one to get behind.
Coming up behind are East Grinstead, Holcombe and Clifton fighting it out for their places. If their luck turns, Leicester, currently in seventh place, could be cleaning their field hockey equipment in time for a trip down to London. But who will take the Investec Women’s Premier Division this year? It is still all up in the air.
And What About the Investec Men’s Hockey League Final?
At this stage, Holcombe’s Men’s Team will be there. Having jumped up to the leader’s position in this, amazingly, their debut season, Holcombe is in a very good position which looks to be getting better the longer they play.
With their field hockey equipment at the ready to pick up the last points they both need to confirm their positions, Reading and Surbiton are right behind them.
Likewise, Wimbledon is manoeuvring into place but is yet to confirm, and Brooklands MU are hot on their heels, ready to steal any points that the Wombles give up.
In the men’s competition, the Beeston and East Grinstead teams are trailing behind this year, but anything could still happen. These two sides, while not yet out of the running, will seriously need to up their game if they want to get an invite to these prestigious finals.
As always, even before the finals, this is a field hockey battle to keep you tense. So stay tuned: here come the finals for men and women, and it’s still all to play for in these title play-offs.
