The city of Exeter is set to host three big national hockey league games next weekend, weather permitting.

The big freeze affected last week’s hockey programme, with all but two games put on ice. Players at University of Exeter, Exe and Isca University will all be keeping a close eye on the weather forecasts this week.

University of Exeter are set to resume their England Hockey League Men’s Premier Division campaign at home to Nottingham side Beeston on Sunday at University Sports Park (12.30pm).

Exeter resume the second half of the season – following the midwinter, mid-season break – seeking to move off the bottom of the top flight.

The student side head into the weekend two points below relegation rivals Bowdon and Southgate, with seven EHL games remaining, starting against fourth-placed Nottingham, the visitors on Sunday.

After Sunday’s game, the Greens face back to back away fixtures – at sixth placed Hampstead & Westminster and leaders East Grinstead – before finishing the term with a run of four successive home league games next month.

Olly Deasy’s young side will focus on Sunday’s home EHL encounter buoyed by winning through to the British Universities & Colleges Sports semi-finals at Beeston during the annual league break.

Isca University hope to get the second half of their ice-delayed Investec Women’s Hockey League Conference West season under way a day earlier when they host third-placed Barnes Hounslow Ealing at University Sports Park (Saturday, 12.30pm).

Exeter-based Exe Ladies will also seek to get back on track at home to Staines at St Luke’s Science & Sports College (1pm). Isca’s game at Staines – due to take place last Sunday – will have to be rescheduled as will Exe’s trip to Bristol to play Firebrands, after both games were postponed.

Great Britain’s bid for a first gold medal at the women’s FIH Champions Trophy ended in disappointment as they lost 1-0 to hosts and favourites Argentina in Rosario on Sunday.

The world champions dominated the first half and, although Danny Kerry’s side picked up the tempo after the break, they were unable to create chances against a disciplined defence.

Had it not been for a number of good saves from Reading goalkeeper Beth Storry, particularly two from second-half penalty corners, the winning margin could have been greater. But second place was the team’s highest finish in this tournament, contested by the world’s top eight, and shows they will be contenders for a medal at this summer’s Olympics in London.

Britain beat Argentina 2-0 in a warm-up event last month, but from the outset the South Americans took control and put pressure on the visitors. The British defence, which had not conceded from a penalty corner in the competition, held out until the 28th minute when Silvina D’Elia slapped a fifth set-piece of the game through the legs of Storry.

Kerry, Britain’s head coach, said: ‘It wasn’t to be, but we won four, drew one and lost just one in a major world level tournament. We’ve made history by winning the silver medal and we have set ourselves high standards.”