Pegasus has one hand at the Hockey League trophy with simple games to head after maintaining their six-point benefit over Loreto at the top of the table on Saturday. The Belfast aspect beat Cork Harlequins 3-zero at Queens to aspect ever towards the name. And Greg Thompson’s aspect will count on to seal that identify of their subsequent recreation when they play bottom membership Muckross at domestic on Saturday week. Their defeat by using Pegasus a fortnight in the past, accompanied via draws with Belfast Harlequins and UCD, all however scuppered Loreto’s hopes of pipping their competitors to the crown. However, they did at the least return to prevailing methods on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Old Alexandra. First-area goals from internationals Sarah Torrans and Nicci Daly sent them on their manner. Sarah Clarke’s overdue penalty nook strike securing the win after Emma Russell had narrowed Loreto’s benefit.
Pegasus, meanwhile, eased to victory over Cork Harlequins, Lucy McKee, and Ruth Maguire, placing them 2-0 up by using 1/2-time before Alex Speers fired domestic from a penalty nook at the hour mark. A Lorna Bateman saves from a penalty stroke averted the margin of victory from being even extra at ease. Further floor Defending Hockey League champions UCD lost in addition floor on the pinnacle two after being crushed via Pembroke Wanderers, Gillian Pinder’s penalty stroke finding out the game after UCD’s Abbie Russell had canceled out the early lead Hayley O’Donnell gave the home side.
That win continues Pembroke within the hunt for a pinnacle-4 finish, with the best Pegasus and Loreto thus far mathematically positive of qualification for the Champions Trophy. The next two spots are actually between UCD (on 30 factors with 3 video games to play), Cork Harlequins (27 points with video games left), and Pembroke (23 points with four video games to head), Cork having picked up a win from their second game of the weekend when they beat Ards 4-1 up north on Sunday.
Champions Trophy qualification is out of attaining for Belfast Harlequins, Railway Union and Old Alexandra, whilst Ards and Muckross continue to wear it out to keep away from automated relegation – Ards, still 4 points beforehand of Muckross (having played one recreation extra), continue to be the favorites to move into a play-off. Hockey League – Saturday: Pembroke Wanderers 2 (H O’Donnell, G Pinder pen), UCD 1 (A Russell); Loreto three (S Torrans, N Daly, S Clarke), Old Alexandra 1 ( E Russell); Pegasus 3 (L McKee, R Maguire, A Speers), Cork Harlequins 0; Ards 2 (B McEwen, F Kidd), Belfast Harlequins 3 (L Geddes, J Watt, G Frazer); Railway Union 2 (K Lloyd, H de Burgh White), Muckross 1 (S Cannon). Sunday: Ards 1 (F Brown), Cork Harlequins 4 (C Sargent, A O’Grady, Y O’Byrne, N Barry).
