Premier League Round 4 Preview

Published Thu 30 Apr 2026

Premier League hockey returns for Round 4 after a lengthy layoff, with a combination of the National Under 16 Championships and Anzac Day making for a 3-week break between matches for the sides.

In the first game of the day in the Men's competition, Canterbury will take on DiamondBacks. The interruption to the season probably came at a bad time for Canterbury, who missed the chance to carry that momentum from their last quarter rally against University, and they face another stern test this week up against a DiamondBacks side that has enjoyed two convincing wins either side of a loss to NWG.

OHA will be hoping to put a tough opening stretch behind them as they search for their first points of the season up against NWG. The Bulldogs sit in third place on the ladder following a mixed start to the season, with an impressive win over DiamondBacks sandwiched between a defeat to University and a draw with Derwent.

University will take on Derwent, having had a long time to stew on their late collapse against Canterbury in Round 3, following a yellow card to their goalkeeper, which contributed to a 3-0 final quarter lead evaporating in a 3-3 draw. Prior to that, the defending Premiers had looked in scintillating touch through the first 11 quarters of the season, outscoring sides 14-3. The Strikers head into the contest following a win over OHA and a draw with NWG in their past 2 outings to leave them in a 3 way logjam in the middle of the table, tied with NWG and Canterbury on 4 points and a -1 goal differential.