Doncaster ladies face anxious wait to discover relegation fate

Doncaster Hockey Club’s ladies face an anxious wait to discover their National League fate after the season was cancelled with one game remaining.
Doncaster Hockey Club ladies first team.Doncaster Hockey Club ladies first team.
Doncaster Hockey Club ladies first team.

The Town Field club needed to beat Alderley Edge in their final match to avoid an immediate return to the Northern Premier DIvision.

But England Hockey have called a halt to the 2019/20 season as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and say promotion and relegation matters will be discussed this month.

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The governing body said in a statement: “Following the suspension of hockey activity until the end of June, given the time it would take to complete the league and prepare nationally and locally for the 2020-21 season - which naturally we hope will be able to run as normal - there is now insufficient time to complete the 2019-20 season.

“Remaining games in the Men’s and Investec Women’s Hockey Leagues 2019-20 seasons will not be played. The last round of fixtures in Divisions One North and South and the Conferences scheduled for 21-22 March and three unplayed games from 14-15 March will not take place.

“The Premier Division regular season fixtures were completed. However, the League Finals between the top four teams in the Premier Division to determine the league champions and EuroHockey placings cannot be concluded in their prescribed format, nor can the Play Offs to determine promotion and relegation between the Premier Division and Division One North and South.

“England Hockey understands there are significant implications to ending the season at this point and is mindful that the integrity of the League is important.

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“We have begun a thorough process to deliver a fair and balanced outcome for teams. A recommendation will be made to the England Hockey Board in April and communicated to clubs thereafter.”

Doncaster won promotion from the regional division back to the National League last year as part of a major re-structure of the top divisions.

They ended this season in the Conference North drop zone, two points adrift of their final day opponents Alderley Edge, having won just three out of 17 games.