EY All Ireland hockey league weekend previews featuring Elks v Ards in Ulster derby and Cup rehearsal

Ulster Elks v Ards in league will be an Irish Senior Cup first round rehearsal (Pic: Bob Given)

THE Women’s EY Hockey League reaches its halfway point this weekend, with Round 9 promising some exciting match ups. Loreto continue their dominance, topping the league with an impressive tally of 22 points, and are the only side who maintain an unbeaten record. In pursuit are Old Alex and Catholic Institute, who face each other in a battle over second place. Ulster Elks face Ards in an Ulster derby and Irish Senior Cup first round rehearsal.

Women’s EY Hockey League – Saturday

UCD v PEGASUS

(Belfield Water 1.00pm)

Sixth place Pegasus make the trip to Dublin to face eight place UCD in the earliest game of Round 9, with the away side coming off the back of a 1-1 draw with league leaders Loreto last week. Pegasus have made themselves a very tricky side to beat so far this campaign, recording just 1 defeat in their eight games. UCD will need to identify the defensive chink in Pegasus’ armour if they are to get anything from this game.

Umpires: Liz Clifford, Aaron Donnell.

LORETO v PEMBROKE WANDERERS

(Loreto Beaufort 1.15pm)

Table topping Loreto entertain a Pembroke Wanderers side who have enjoyed a gradual climb up the table over the last few weeks. The hosts, however, would be expected to put a stop to their ascent given their almost perfect record of 22pts from a possible 24 so far. Having said that, Pembroke have already taken one scalp in the form of Catholic Institute just a fortnight ago and have lost just one of their last five games so are not to be written off.

Umpires: Julie Beamish, Linda Coughlan.

OLD ALEXANDRA v CATHOLIC INSTITUTE

(Alexandra College 1.30pm Live on Hockey Ireland TV)

The Game of the Week sees 2nd placed Old Alexandra take on 3rd placed Catholic Institute, with the two sides separated by just a single point. Both sides boast significant goal threat in the form of joint top scorer Naomi Carroll for CI and Jessica McGrane with both players scoring four times in the last five games. This is likely to be a game decided by which defence can thwart their opposition more effectively; this one is just too close for us to call!

Umpires: Ellie Duffy, Amy Jones.

RAILWAY UNION v UCC

(Park Avenue 1.30pm)

Fourth place Railway Union host bottom of the table UCC, with Railway hoping to continue the climb up the ranks with a third win on the bounce. UCC are no rollovers though and have forced penalty shootouts against the likes of Pembroke and Pegasus since the start of the season. While Railway will likely be favourites, UCC could well cause their opposition plenty of problems as they continue to improve in their first season in the EYHL.

Umpires: Kris Cholewa, Gary O’Connor.

ULSTER ELKS v ARDS

(University of Ulster 2.30pm)

Ninth placed Ards travel to Jordanstown to take on Ulster Elks in an Ulster derby in the last women’s game of the day. Ulster Elks will be slight favourites but if Ards can start scoring goals again, after their recent drought, they can make a match of this occasion.

Umpires: Sarah Craig, Aaron Saunders.

STANDINGS