M1 Visit Cardiff & Met On Saturday Night
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men cross the Welsh border on Saturday night when they visit Cardiff & Met for a Men's Hockey League Premier Division match (push back 6 pm).
The match will be played at the Welsh Institute of Sport, Sophia Gardens, Sophia Close, Cardiff CF11 9SW.
Surbiton qualified for the Euro Hockey League FINAL8 last weekend, but ironically will play a Welsh club in their first match back in the English League, having beaten local rivals Wimbledon 3-2 in a thrilling KO8 match-up last Sunday.
Cardiff & Met are in their second Premier Division season, and hosted Surbiton last October when Surbiton won 8-0, Luke Taylor and Gareth Furlong scoring twice with Louis Gittens, Jack Hobkirk, Alex Williams and Struan Walker also scoring.
Cardiff are still looking for their first ever home win in the Premier Division having won four times away from home, including their this season's opening day 3-1 victory at Southgate. Holcombe ruined their hopes of a first home win when they won 4-1 a fortnight ago and last week they lost 2-1 at Beeston.
Rhys Gowman has scored twice this season for Cardiff with the other three goals shared between Ieuan Davies, Rhodri Furlong and Ioan Wall.
With Surbiton's home game against Wimbledon, postponed due to the Euro Hockey League, not rescheduled until 7 November, the league table looks slightly disjointed.
Surbiton are fourth on six points but have a game in hand on the teams above them including Old Georgians and Holcombe who have both won their first three matches.
Cardiff are ninth above Southgate, Bowdon and Richmond, who are all looking for their first points this weekend.
Surbiton started off with a 4-2 home win over Oxted before winning 8-0 at Richmond in their last league match before the Euro Hockey League KO16 took centre stage.
Struan Walker is on four goals with Luke Taylor on three. Rob Farrington, Ben Park, Jake Payton, Stuart Rushmere and Conor Williamson have also scored for Surbiton this season.
Elsewhere, the top two meet in Kent as Holcombe host Old Georgians with both teams' one hundred per cent records on the line. Third-placed Beeston, who are unbeaten after winning twice and drawing once, welcome fifth-placed Oxted to Nottingham Hockey Centre.
Hampstead & Westminster make the long trip to Bowdon, whilst Wimbledon, who also have a game in hand on their rivals after their European exploits, are at home to Southgate.
The final game sees Richmond visit East Grinstead after a baptism of fire in their first ever season in the Premier Division.