M1 At Home To Wimbledon On Sat. Evening
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men will hope to bounce back from last week's 2-1 home defeat to Hampstead & Westminster when they host leaders Wimbledon on Saturday evening (push back 5 pm).
Surbiton are three points behind Wimbledon but have a game in hand as the end of the first half of the Men's Hockey League Premier Division season is set for an interesting finish.
Wimbledon can guarantee a finish above Surbiton with a win, but if Surbiton win on Saturday and Old Georgians win at Brooklands Manchester University on Sunday, all three teams will be on 24 points and will set up a first half title decider when Surbiton visit Old Georgians next weekend.
Both Surbiton and Wimbledon have been in high scoring form this season, with Wimbledon going top after a 7-0 home win over Brooklands Manchester University.
Wimbledon started the season with a 3-2 home defeat by Hampstead but are on an eight game winning streak. A 3-2 win at Beeston was followed by a 2-1 win at home to Holcombe. The next two matches saw Wimbledon score 14 goals without replay with a 6-0 win at Oxted and an 8-0 home win over the University of Durham.
The University of Exeter made them battle to a 2-1 win in Devon before they inflicted Old Georgians' only loss with a 2-0 victory. A 4-2 win at East Grinstead was then followed by last week's 7-0 win over Brooklands.
Fourteen players have scored for Wimbledon this season with Evan Kimber and Ed Horler leading the way with five goals apiece. Duncan Scott and Eddie Way have scored four each, Peter Scott and Sam Hooper have both notched three goals this campaign with David Condon, Ben Francis, Ronan Harvey-Kelly and Arthur Hughes all scoring twice and Callum McKenzie, Ian Sloan, Rhys Smith and Michael Hoare each scoring once.
This was due to be Hampstead & Westminster's bye week, but as with Surbiton last week, they are spending the Saturday of their bye week playing a rearranged match, this time making the trip to Brooklands after the first attempt was halted due to travel difficulties.
On Sunday, as stated, it is Old Georgians' turn to visit Brooklands, whilst Beeston are at home to the University of Exeter. Holcombe host Oxted and East Grinstead make an even longer trip to the University of Durham.