L1 Face Beeston in Home Opener on Saturday

Surbiton Ladies welcome Beeston to Sugden Road for their first Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division home game of the season on Saturday (push back 4 pm).

Surbiton were given a scare by newly promoted Loughborough Students last Saturday, winning 3-2 in Leicestershire after being pegged back to 2-2 having led 2-0 after just 13 minutes.

Georgie Twigg’s 10^th minute penalty corner conversion and Alice Sharp’s close range finish three minutes later seemed to put the reigning champions in control, but former Surbiton player, Izzy Petter pulled a goal back in the 17^th minute on her club debut and Beth Peers levelled two minutes later to put Surbiton under pressure.

Emily Defroand scored Surbiton’s winning goal in the 40^thminute, but before they could claim all three points, Surbiton had a let off when Lucy Millington missed a penalty stroke and Petter’s fierce shot was saved by Surbiton goalkeeper, Sabbie Heesh before the Surbiton defence cleared a last minute Loughborough penalty corner.

Beeston faced newly promoted Hampstead and Westminster in Nottingham. Grace Balsdon opened the scoring in the sixth minute and Sarah Robertson doubled Hampstead’s lead in the 17^th minute before Rosy Stephens replied for Beeston three minutes before half time. Further goals from Robertson and Esser in the 43^rd and 45^th minutes gave Hampstead a 4-1 victory.

In the corresponding fixture last season, Beeston won 2-1 at Sugden Road after Susie Catlin gave Surbiton a third minute lead. Eloise Stenner, now back with Surbiton, levelled in the 40^th minute and Bridget Kiddle scored the winning goal in the 53^rd minute, both Beeston goals coming from penalty corners.

Surbiton had found the going easier in the first match in Nottingham, winning 3-1 after Jenna Woolven scored in the 10^th and 13^th minutes. Lauren Burrell pulled a goal back in the 16^th minute but Olivia Chilton restored Surbiton’s two goal advantage in the 19^th minute.

In other matches on Saturday, Hampstead and Westminster are at home to the University of Birmingham; Loughborough Students visit East Grinstead; Clifton Robinsons are at home to Holcombe and Bowdon Hightown are at home to Buckingham.