W1 At Home To Hampstead & Westminster On Saturday
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women host Hampstead & Westminster in the Vitality Women's Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday afternoon (push back 3 pm at Sugden Road).
Supporters who are unable to attend Sugden Road can watch the live stream via the Surbiton Hockey Club You Tube channel here
Hampstead have drawn both their away matches this season 1-1 at the University of Birmingham on opening day and Reading last week. Hampstead beat the University of Nottingham 4-1 in their sole home game so far.
After starting the season going down 3-2 at Reading without their internationals, Surbiton have beaten Isca & University of Exeter 6-1 and won 2-0 at the University of Birmingham last Saturday to stay a point behind the top three teams, Clifton Robinsons, Bowdon and Reading.
Hannah French (nee Martin) is the Premier Division's top scorer on four having scored braces against both Isca and Birmingham. Hampstead's six goals have all been scored by different players with Amy Elliott, Emily Rowlands, Esme Burge. Hannah Davey, Holly Hunt and Madi Ratcliffe having opened their accounts this season.
Hampstead were last at Sugden Road for the semi-final in last season's League Finals tournament, going down 5-3 in April.
Surbiton also won 3-1 at Sugden Road in March and 2-0 at Paddington Recreation Ground in November 2022.
Surbiton have been dominant in the Premier Division, Hampstead's only victory coming at Sugden Road in March 2022 when Grace Balsdon and Lucy Hyams earned a 2-0 win.
When the teams were both in the South Clubs' Women's Hockey League, Hampstead had a better record, becoming the first team to beat Surbiton in their Division One promotion season in 2009-10, 3-2 at Paddington Recreation Ground where Hampstead had also won 4-3 in 2006-07, when Hampstead were Division 2 champions.
Clifton Robinsons, who lead the table on goal difference, are at home to the University of Birmingham. Second placed Reading travel to the University of Nottingham whilst third placed Bowdon visit Loughborough Students.
Wimbledon and East Grinstead, who have both under performed in their first three games meet in South West London. Beeston, who lost at 3-1 at home to Clifton Robinsons last weekend after winning their first two matches make the long trip to Devon to play Isca & The University of Exeter.