L1 Host East Grinstead On Saturday
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Ladies are at home to East Grinstead in the Investec Women's Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday (push back 12 noon)
Surbiton go into the match in second place behind newly promoted Hampstead & Westminster, both teams having won their first two games.
In contrast, East Grinstead have struggled this season, losing both games. They lost 1-0 at Holcombe on opening day to a 61st minute goal from Lorna Jane Cruickshank.
And then last week, Loughborough Students, back in the top flight for the first time since 2000-01 won 5-1 at Saint Hill with former Surbiton player Izzy Petter amongst the Students' goalscorers. Chloe Brown netted for East Grinstead.
Surbiton won 3-2 at Loughborough on the opening day of the season, having been pegged back from 2-0 up to 2-2 in an entertaining first half.
Last Saturday, Surbiton converted three penalty corners in six minutes with Giselle Ansley and Hannah Martin (2) seeing off Beeston 3-0. Hampstead also scored their three goals in the first half when beating the University of Birmingham 3-0 at Paddington Recreation Ground.
Hampstead are at home to Clifton Robinsons on Saturday, whilst Buckingham, two points behind the top two teams entertain the University of Birmingham.
Loughborough are at home to Bowdon Hightown and Holcombe visit Beeston.
And it's also a historic day for Surbiton Ladies 2s as they make their national league debut at home to Basingstoke at 2 pm.
Surbiton pipped Wimbledon 1A to the South Clubs' Women's Hockey League Division One title by two points and won promotion to the IWHL Conference West with club's second teams being allowed to play at national league level for the first time.
Basingstoke finished third, four points behind Surbiton, Basingstoke also visited Sugden Road on the opening day last season, Surbiton winning 3-0 thanks to goals from Stephanie Addison, Hannah Denison and Maddie Long.
The return fixture in December ended in a thrilling 4-4 draw, Long scoring twice with Peggy Winterborn and Fran Rowley also on the scoresheet for Surbiton.