Women’s All Ireland hockey league weekend match previews… can Pegasus pile more pressure on Ards and will formbook favour Ulster Elks at Loreto?

Zara Malseed was on target twice for Ards when they last met her old club Pegasus (Picture: John McMurtry)

LORETO will hope to return to winning ways against Ulster Elks following two straight draws in this weekend’s Women’s EY Hockey League.

Pegasus visit Ards in an Ulster derby that could prove pivotal for both teams while Catholic Institute and Old Alex will try to keep pace as they go up against UCC and UCD.

Resurgent Railway Union face Pembroke as both sides hope to continue their climb up the table.

Women’s EY Hockey League (Saturday, November 23)

ARDS v PEGASUS

(Londonderry Park, 2.30pm)

HAVING played out a 2-2 draw in the opening game of the season, with Zara Malseed on target twice for Ards against her old club, these two sides have ended up on slightly different trajectories. After a bright start, Ards have struggled to find the back of the net, with last week’s draw against Ulster Elks the only points the side have managed since Round 3. Pegasus meanwhile have focused on making themselves very tough to beat, with most of their wins and losses being by just a single goal, leaving them with a record of two wins, five draws and just two losses

If Ards can find the net early, they could force Pegasus to come out in search an equaliser. But the longer the game remains level, the more you’d expect the probability to swing in favour of Pegasus.

Umpires: Russell Donaldson, Ellie Duffy.

LORETO v ULSTER ELKS

(Loreto Beaufort, 1.15PM)

LEAGUE leaders Loreto host sixth placed Ulster Elks at Loreto Beaufort. Elks have proven themselves to be tricky customers so far and will be looking at the form charts thinking they couldn’t be catching Loreto at a better time, given the home side have dropped points in three of their last four games. Loreto will need to find their feet again quickly, with the gap between them and those behind them narrowing.

Umpires: Eimear Linehan, Shane O’Donnell.

UCC vs CATHOLIC INSTITUTE

(The Mardyke, 1.00pm)

TENTH placed UCC host second placed Catholic Institute in an EYHL Munster derby. Since their first fixture which ended 3-0 in favour of Catholic Insitute, UCC have made themselves a much harder team to beat, picking up six points so far (albeit all from draws). Catholic Institute have yet again proven themselves as one of the countries’ top sides. Stopping Naomi Carroll will be just one of the tasks that UCC will have to complete if a similar outcome to round 1 is to be avoided.

Umpires: Julie Beamish, Jim Butler.

OLD ALEXANDRA v UCD

(Alexandra College, 1.30pm)

OLD Alex have worked their way to third in the table and have looked good enough to justify their league position so far. They face a UCD side who find themselves lower down the table than they are typically used to at this stage, but that are much improved after their slow start, accumulating three wins from their last four games. A win is a must for both sides as the second half of the season begins.

Umpires: Kris Cholewa, Simon O’Connor.

PEMBROKE WANDERERS v RAILWAY UNION

(Serpentine Avenue, 4.15pm)

HAVING been slow out of the traps, both Railway and Pembroke have enjoyed a return to fine form over the last few weeks. This has seen both teams climb into the top half, well within reach of Catholic Institute and Old Alex.

Now very different to the two teams that faced off in Round 1, a scoreline in this fixture is impossible to predict. No doubt though this game will be a brilliant one to watch.

Umpires: Sarah Craig, Fiona Davitt.

STANDINGS