University of Bristol HC have won promotion the national Men’s Hockey League for the first time.
The students have built up a runaway lead at the regional West of England & South Wales Hockey League summit and following a 4-2 round 19 win at Taunton Vale and cannot be caught by third placed promotion and cross-city rivals Firebrands.
Second placed Cardiff & Met A’s first team already top EHL Men’s Conference West and therefore rules don’t allow for more than one club to be represented in the national league so Met A cannot gain promotion.
Bristol boast an eight-point advantage over their nearest title rivals heading into round 20 today and a home game against Team Bath Buccanneers A at the Coombe Dingle Sports Complex (1100).
Next weekend the table-topping champions elect play their final away Premiership game of the season at Truro (1330).
The Bristol students end their promotion-winning season at home to University of Exeter A on Saturday March 12 (1100).
• Defending perennial Mens Hockey League Conference West champions Cardiff & Met - skippered by Jimmy Devney - can clinch the title again this weekend with four points from games at home to Indian Gymkhana HC (today 1230) and 24 hours later at Cheltenham HC.
