first reverse for coventry
Coventry retained first place in Division One even though their final match of the opening phase ended in a 5-4 defeat by Otter at Marlborough College (19/20 October).
From the start, there was little between the sides, Coventry leading 4-3 at the end of the third period thanks to goals by Claire Walmsley (3) and Danielle Elliot. Early in the last, Dunn equalised and that's how it remained until 27 seconds from the end when GB Olympic captain Fran Leighton won a penalty for the London team and Alex Higlett found the target.
On day one, Coventry defeated champions Manchester 12-6. They held a slender 4-3 lead at the half way stage but goals in the third quarter by Rhianne Oscroft, Vicki Hawkins, Elizabeth Palmer and Danielle Elliot put them firmly in charge.
Five goals by Elisabeth Holmes steered Peguin Emperors to their first win - 14-9 against Liverpool Liver Birds. In addition to Coventry, the Super 5s qualifiers are Liverpool Lizards, Manchester, Otter and, for the first time, Caledonia.
In Division Two at Walsall, Leeds Sharks, Otter Lutra, Mid Sussex Marlins, Welsh Wanderers and Sheffield Sharks qualified for Championship 1.
The final Division Three weekend at Liverpool saw Hucknall take Birmingham's unbeaten record with a 4-3 win. Birmingham then came from 7-3 down in the last quarter to defeat Leeds Hammerheads 10-9.
Photo (Trevor Hyde): Penguin's Julia Petchey (blue cap) battles with Victoria Witko, of Caledonia.
birmingham leave it late
Division Three leaders Birmingham were given a fright by battling Sunderland before retaining their 100 per cent record with a 9-8 win at Walsall (5/6 October).
It was 6-6 at the halfway stage and 8-8 when Emily Pilkington scored for Sunderland midway through the final period. The Birmingham winner, from Laren Keight, followed shortly afterwards - and neither side could fashion another goal in a tense finale.
Consolation for Sunderland was a 10-5 day one win against British League newcomers Devonport Royal.
It was an excellent weekend for Southampton. Jo Davies scored three in a 7-5 victory over Hucknall. Then Southampton beat Leeds Hammerheads 7-3 - unusually, with every one of their goals scored by one player, Katherine Rogers!
COVENTRY WIN AGAIN
Coventry pulled off a shock 10-9 win over Liverpool Lizards to go top of Division One at Walsall (29 September). The Midlands side trailed by a goal near the end but grabbed the points with goals from Vick Hawkins and Daniella Elliot.
Manchester continue to dominate, defeating Penguin 7-1 and Caledonia 21-2.
The first day of Division Two action at Ponds Forge, Sheffield (28 September) ended with four teams - Otter Lutra, Mid Sussex Marlins, Leeds Sharks and Welsh Wanderers - all on maximum points from three games.
Wanderers were the first to suffer defeat on day two, going down 9-6 to Leeds. Mid Sussex Marlins trailed 9-8 to Otter Lutra after three quarters but then hit back to win 13-10.
hannah's 10-goal blitz for otter
Hannah Patchett, just 16, helped herself to ten goals as Otter Lutra hammered Liverpool Water Beatles 19-4 in women's Division Two at Walsall (14/15 September).
Welsh Wanderers held their nerve to beat Polytechnic 3-2 and also recovered from 3-1 down after two periods to beat Sheffield Sharks 7-6. Wanderers won the third quarter 5-1 but it was 6-6 until Claire Wyatt slotted the winner with eight seconds remaining.
Leeds Sharks and Tyldesley were also all square at 6-6 at the start of the final period of their match. Then goals by Emma Little and Rhiannon Foulds gave Leeds the points at 8-6.
Tyldesley's Grace Morley scored seven against Otter Lutra - but still ended on the losing side, 13-11.
hammerheads, devonport start with wins
New clubs enjoyed mixed fortunes on the opening day of matches in Women's Division 3 at Ponds Forge (7 September).
Leeds Hammerheads beat Sunderland 8-4, including six goals by L Pochin, but Devonport Royal went down 9-3 to Hucknall.
On day two, Birmingham outplayed Iceni 25-3 and Devonport collect their first points - a 10-6 victory over Leeds Hammerheads.