Leicester Hockey Club

Leicester's long trip to Hampshire on Sunday to play Trojans was rewarded by three points and a six goal haul, keeping Leicester three points clear of dogged chasers, Reading. Leicester's 100% record was never under threat but it took until the 30th minute for Beckie Herbert to get her side off the mark finishing off a penalty corner move. By four minutes into the second half it was all over as Herbert notched her second in open play and Crista Cullen powered home a penalty stroke. Trojans' resistance finally crumbled and Leicester scored three open play goals in the last ten minutes through Lauren Turner, Herbert for her hat-trick and club top scorer, Hannah MacLeod.
Sunday's goals saw Herbert and Cullen join Macleod as scorers of more than 40 English Hockey League goals for Leicester, a fine achievement by all three. So, with half of the League programme completed Leicester sit top with 27 points and a +23 goal difference, ahead of Reading on 24 and +18 and a big gap to Slough on 19 points.
Next Saturday, Leicester's visitors are Brooklands Poynton, a much tougher prospect this season but already beaten away in League and Cup. The match takes place at 12.30 at Leicester Grammar School.
Leicester 2nd team is hitting form and making a habit of dethroning the top side in Midlands Premier. This time the victim was Kettering whose only previous loss had been to Worcester, also toppled recently by Leicester. The Leicester side won this encounter 2-1 and Kettering slip from top spot. Leicester has beaten all of the top three sides and is comfortably placed fourth in the League with 15 points half way through the League programme. Next Saturday the side travels to Towcester to take on a side currently 8th in the League and 8 points below Leicester.
Leicester 3rd team stays very much in contention in Leicestershire Premier after a 7-0 demolition of Charnwood/Sileby 2s which included a hat-trick for Abi Lester. After 7 games Leicester has 18 points, one below both Loughborough Students 4ths and Ashby.
Leicester 4ths lost for the first time this season going down 4-2 to Students 5ths. Having gone 3-0 behind after silly mistakes the side fought back well and Abbie MacArthur reduced the deficit before the Students added a 4th. Jo Wyeth pulled another back but the 4th team was left ruing those early errors and a succession of missed chances.
Leicester 5ths had an excellent game in Leicestershire 1 against Melton 2nds, narrowly losing 2-1. Leicester's goal was a beauty, Rosie Hampton finisihing off fine work by Ashleigh Goodenough.