Saturday at Jubilee Park, had a lot to offer the hockey spectators last weekend with a lot riding on the games that day. First game up saw a particularly nervous Henley Ladies 1s side set out to win their match against local rivals Sonning - doing so would secure them the bounce-back promotion to South Central Division 1 that they have been working so hard for and striving to achieve all season.

The game started slowly and calmly for the home side, with large spells of possession but no real shots or chances on goal. Defensively Sonning were solid and seeing off any threats from the Henley side. However, a trade mark block tackle by defender Mel Joyce saw her beat the Sonning attacker and play the ball forward to striker Georgie Metcalfe. With great vision, Metcalfe passed the ball to youngster Caitlin Barrass who, showing some excellent individual skill, cut through the Sonning defence, and slotted the ball past the Sonning keeper with great composure, to give the home side the lead. Sonning worked hard to keep Henley at bay and had a few chances of their own which were calmly managed by the defensive line of Rachel Herbert, Mel Joyce, Lucy Jean-Jean and Amelie Bayfield however, Henley headed into half time only a goal to the good - a bit tight for their liking!

After a steadying half time team talk from coach Rhys Joyce, Henley came out the blocks in the second half with even more grit and determination and really asserted themselves on the game - showing more of the dominance they have played with against teams this season. Some excellent attacking opportunities came from the right-hand side with Kiera Halloran and Caitlin Barrass both working well, finding pockets of space, often resulting in penalty corners. It was from one of these that Henley managed to find that elusive next goal. Thanks to a perfectly played 1 - 2 short corner routine between Georgie Metcalfe and Rachel Herbert, it was Herbert that slung the ball to the right of the keeper from close range to make it 2-0. The Henley side had the cushion they so desired and could now settle into the game, knowing that they just needed to be defensively sound to secure the victory. And indeed, that is what they did. Sonning didn’t really have any real threat on goal in the second half. The Henley forwards worked tirelessly to win the ball back deep in the away side's half, creating an abundance of chances as Henley continued their onslaught. A final goal came from a perfectly worked counterattack between Kiera Halloran, Georgie Metcalfe, Emma Jean-Jean and ultimately finding Caitlin Barrass who got her second goal of the game just before the final whistle.

Following some champagne celebrations, news began to creep in that their closest league rivals, Southampton, had slipped up in their quest to win the league (with two teams getting promoted) and the Henley side had leapfrogged the South coast side to regain their top of the table position. With two games to go, it is in the hands of Henley to finish off the season not only with promotion but as league winners. Next week they face Trojans, away (on the South Coast again), before the final game of the season at home to Basingstoke. Can they do it?