With the season now at the business end, every result will prove important in determining the season’s final standings. The action did not disappoint, including shock losses, unlucky results, and changes at the top. Freshered has summarised this week’s games, including explaining what it means for the league tables.
Men’s Premier National
A lot to dissect in the Premier National this week, with four fixtures worth of action to analyse. Nottingham Trent started the day on top, their 16 points only one better than their closest rivals, Loughborough. The title race should definitely be considered a three horse affair, given trialled first by only four points. All three were in action this week. Nottingham Trent hosted sixth placed Durham, with the home side hoping to maintain their unbeaten season. However, a shock 4-3 victory for the away side, only their second win of the season, cut the title race wide open.
Loughborough were able to take full advantage of their rival’s slip-up. They made the 310 mile round trip to Cardiff Met, the league’s bottom side, who had only picked up one point all season. It was business as usual, with a dominant 8-2 victory seeing Loughborough regain top spot. Their sixth win in seven games sees them move two points clear of Nottingham Trent. Third placed Nottingham were also able to take advantage, closing the gap to their rivals across the city to only one point, following a 3-1 victory away to Exeter. The top three are now only separated by three points.
In the league’s other fixture, Birmingham travelled to Bath, with the away side only three points away from bottom spot. A 1-1 draw sees Birmingham edge further away from the relegation place, with Bath sat in fifth, in a sort of a limbo. Their ten points sees them safe from relegation, but unable to launch a title bid.
ICG Women’s Premier National
Another week, and another victory for Birmingham. They travelled to eighth placed Oxford hoping to make it seven wins on the bounce, and maintain first place. They did just that, in a dominant 7-1 victory, an unusually high scoring game for the team who have managed only 22 goals all season. Despite their winning ways, they are only the leagues fourth highest scorers. However, they will still not feel comfortable at the top, with Nottingham continuing to breath down their neck. A 9-0 thrashing of bottom side Cardiff Met sees them trial the leaders by only three points. For the Welsh side, they remain winless, but with some hope given they are three points from safety.
In the other game in the league, Loughborough, who started the day level on points with Nottingham on 15, lsot ground in the title race. They travelled to fourth place Durham, hoping to continue their five game winning streak. However, resolute defences from both sides meant the game ended in a rare 0-0 draw. The teams remain in third and fourth respectively, with Loughborough now trailing first by five points.
Result of the Week
The third round of the ICG Women’s Northern Conference Trophy saw Chester 2’s face off against Liverpool 3’s for a place in the quarter finals. With Liverpool sitting a tier above their opponents, their quality shone through, proving too much for Chester. A dominant 13-0 victory sees this result worthy of the title, with Liverpool facing York 2’s for a place in the semi finals. This result is made even more impressive as they had played, and won, a league fixture just a day before.