W1 Visit University of Nottingham On Saturday

Surbiton Women travel to Nottingham Hockey Centre to face the University of Nottingham in their latest Vitality Women's Hockey League Premier Division match on Saturday (push back 1630).

Supporters unable to go to the East Midlands can watch the game via the University of Nottingham Sport channel on You Tube here

This is the University of Nottingham's second season in the top-flight, therefore this will be only the second time that the teams have met. Last season, Nottingham lost 4-0 at Sugden Road, Darcy Bourne scoring twice with Giselle Ansley and Leah Wilkinson also scoring.

Surbiton go into the match with a five point lead in the Premier Division as the division's top scorers with 24 goals and the division's best defensive record having conceded seven goals, whilst keeping clean sheets in their last two games versus Wimbledon and Beeston.

Nottingham are fourth on 14 points, trailing third-placed Bowdon on goal difference after gaining just one point from their first three matches. An opening day 3-3 draw at home to Loughborough Students was followed by two successive defeats at Hampstead & Westminster (1-4) and East Grinstead (2-4).

However, Nottingham are now unbeaten in their last five games after beating Reading 4-3 at home; a 2-1 win at very local rivals, Beeston; a 2-1 win at the University of Birmingham and a 4-1 home win over Isca & University of Exeter. The only blip came halfway through their winning run when they were held to a 2-2 draw at Bowdon.

Jordan Homann and Maddie Axford are Nottingham's primary scoring threats with six and four goals respectively this season. Julie Read and former Surbiton player Maddie Long have both scored three goals, with Sienna Dunn finding the net twice. Jodie Collins and Eliza Wheeler have both scored once.

With seventh-placed Hampstead & Westminster only able to attain a maximum of 20 points, Surbiton are the first team to book their place in the Top Six. But with another key match at Bowdon to come next week before the 2023 finale at home to Clifton Robinsons in a fortnight, Surbiton will want to maintain their momentum before the winter break.

Elsewhere on Saturday, third-placed Bowdon will try and keep their unbeaten record when they travel to second-placed Reading. East Grinstead host the University of Birmingham; there is another important match when sixth-placed Clifton Robinsons travel to seventh-placed Hampstead & Westminster as they try and keep their place in the top six. Wimbledon will want to take advantage of any slip-ups at Hampstead when they meet bottom club Isca & University of Exeter in Devon. Beeston take on Loughborough Students in Leicestershire as both teams aim to pull away from the bottom of the table.