M1 Visit Old Georgians on Saturday Evening
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men make the short trip across Elmbridge to St. George's College on Saturday night to face reigning champions, Old Georgians (push back 6 pm).
Former Surbiton player Alan Forsyth is set to face his old club after signing for Old Georgians for the 2023-24 season, having played in the Super Sixes last season. It was announced on Thursday that Forsyth will return to the Great Britain set up at the same time as Surbiton players, Struan Walker and Conor Williamson are being added to the GB Centralised Squad.
If Forsyth scores on Saturday night, he will become the first player to score for both clubs in the fixture, having scored twice for Surbiton in the first-ever Premier Division meeting at St. George's College in November 2019, when Surbiton won a thriller 4-3.
Former Surbiton Women's coach, Brett Garrard has moved across to join Old Georgians' men's coaching staff and former Surbiton player James Tindall scored when Old Georgians won 5-1 at Sugden Road in February 2022.
Both teams come into the fixture with good wins under their belts, Old Georgians having won 4-1 at the University of Nottingham, Sam Ward and Tom Carson both scoring twice, Louis Tipper briefly bringing Nottingham back to parity in the first quarter.
Surbiton had to battle before three goals in the final 18 minutes ended Hampstead & Westminster's challenge with a 5-2 victory. Matt Guise-Brown cancelled out Tim Nurse's opening goal before half time. Struan Walker restored Surbiton's lead early in the third quarter only for Sam Apoola to respond for the visitors. Walker struck again in the 52nd minute, but Surbiton were only sure of the three points after Luke Taylor scored in the 62nd minute and Gareth Furlong sealed the win four minutes from time.
Surbiton are still waiting for their second Premier Division victory against their local rivals as Old Georgians have won four of the last six meetings with two matches drawn.
Old Georgians did the league double last season, winning both games by a 2-1 margin. Last November, Ed Carson gave Old Georgians the lead at Sugden Road only for Louis Gittens to quickly level. Henry Weir won the game for the visitors just before half time with Surbiton unable to find an equaliser in the second half.
In the return fixture at St. George's College, the scoring sequence was the same after James Albery opened the scoring after just five minutes. Ben Park levelled in the 31st minute, but Lee Morton clinched the victory in the 47th minute with his fifth goal in the history of the Premier Division fixture.
Furlong and Forsyth have both scored three of Surbiton's 12 goals, with the other six goals shared between six players.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Oxted, 3-2 winners at East Grinstead last weekend, open their home game with a visit from Wimbledon, 5-2 victors over Beeston.
Beeston and East Grinstead meet at Nottingham Hockey Centre aiming to open their account for the season.
Hampstead & Westminster and the University of Nottingham will be in a similar situation when they face each other at Paddington Recreation Ground.
Cardiff & Met, who lost the clash of the promoted teams when Southgate won 4-1 in South Wales, travel along the M4 to Reading, who were defeated 4-0 at Holcombe.
Southgate will be able to test themselves in the top flight when they host Holcombe on Saturday evening.