Results versus predictions

Thanks to the randomness of British weather, it was going to be the final round-up of the season but that'll be postponed, just like the matches which were called off due to snow being obviously the cause! Whilst not all games have been played (as mentioned!), the results of some mean relegation and league winners are obvious, as they are for the East and West conferences.

Sooooo.... I was wrong about Richmond and Wimbledon, although picking them was a case of cheating by waiting until the last minute. Next season I'm going to have to go all out and pick them before the end of the season; right at the beginning, to make things more interesting!!

Prem
Relegation: Brooklands are going straight back down unfortunately in spite of the odd good result and fight they put up. Their loss by a single goal to Surbiton means things remain unchanged.

Playoffs: no matter the result for Southgate, Brooklands' result means the North London side won't be relegated but will be into the playoffs and will need to come at least second to assure their premier league place for next season.

East
Winners: Wimbledon go top on goal difference, putting five past Cambridge City without replying, meaning they are three goals ahead of rivals Holcombe. This means youngster Tom Millington will get his first taste of premier league action as a starter (he got a few games behind McGregor when at Loughborough obviously), though he helped Exter to promotion to the same league (I think he then moved to Wimbledon after, so makes some kind of sense that opportunity changed...).

Relegation: Peterborough are relegated after a series of streaky results meant they dropped down quite a bit and will be back in the East Premier League next season, presumably looking to restructure and get back to the national league as soon as they can, given their experiences of two or more seasons (need to check the amount, oops!).


Playoffs: Cambridge are into the playoffs, with Richmond's win over Peterborough making sure the Surrey side secured another season in the national league after their return this one and ensured it would be the other Cambridge side fighting for their place as all the other teams will be during the deciding playoffs!

West
Winners: in an extremely close encounter (of the hockey kind!), Cardiff go top by just a single point! Finding out it was a nil nil draw was quite something! Personally, given their status as a strong university hockey set-up, I would have liked to see Exter make an effort to bounce straight back into the premier league, but things were not to be.  As the university side bring in new players and their others mature, it should create a suitable balance to push for promotion again some time soon. Interesting to see the season progress as there were about four teams looking to win the league, but the rest fell away from the pack after decisive results recently.

Relegation: Firebrands were automatically relegated a while back so will be back in the West Regional Prem league, looking to rebuild again to get back to national league where they were for a while deservedly, previously.

Playoffs: with Cheltenham's win over Firebrands, Whitchurch are going into the playoffs, something I don't think they've experienced before or in a while, so they'll be looking to stay up and fight to secure national league hockey for another season.

North
Winners: that won't be certain until the rearranged games are played and the snow goes away!

Relegation: Preston are definitely going back down again as any result now won't change things (obviously!).

Playoffs: Doncaster's draw didn't do much for them as they needed a win over Wakefield to ensure complete security, but their opposition held them and so scraped to that assurance.