W1 Host Reading On Saturday
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women conclude Stage 2 of the Women's Hockey League Premier Division season when they welcome Reading to Sugden Road on Saturday.
As this is the final weekend of the Top Six, all matches will start at 1400.
Supporters unable to visit Sugden Road can watch the match via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here
Reading won the reverse opening day fixture at Sonning Lane 3-2, but Surbiton rebounded by winning the next eleven before losing 1-0 at East Grinstead before a 6-1 home win over the University of Nottingham and a 4-1 home victory over Bowdon ensured that Surbiton go into the final round of fixtures with an eight point lead over second-placed East Grinstead and third-placed Reading, securing a first-place finish and a minimum of the second European place, which earns qualification for the second-tier European competition.
Reading have been consistent, but fell away due to four defeats this season: two coming at the hands of East Grinstead, both at home; and away defeats at Hampstead & Westminster and the University of Nottingham.
Reading avenged the defeat against the University of Nottingham by hitting them for six without reply last weekend.
Mia Moore is Reading's leading goalscorer with eight, Caroline Spence and Phoebe Nixon next on five goals apiece. Shona McCallin, who scored twice last week, is on four with Lizzie Gittens and Lucie Daman both on three.
Sophia Clark, Sarah Spooner and Fran Clements have each scored twice, whilst Katie Robertson, Eliza Chippendale and Jo Pinner all scoring once to maintain the Berkshire club's challenge.
In 12 top-flight meetings, Reading have won twice, once at Sonning Lane and once at Sugden Road. Incredibly, when Lizzie Gittens opened the scoring for Reading in September, she was the first Reading player to score against Surbiton in the regular season since Rebecca Halle scored their winning goal in a 2-1 victory in October 2013.
Reading haven't scored on their last four visits to Sugden Road and also failed to score in their previous four meetings at Sonning Lane after Alex Danson-Bennett earned Reading a late point in February 2013.
Yet, during the goal drought, Reading scored three goals in two successive WHL Championships semi-finals, Dirkie Chamberlain scoring in 2014 when Surbiton won 4-1 at Sonning Lane and Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh both scoring in a 2-2 draw at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre before Surbiton prevailed in a shootout.
Surbiton won 4-0 in October 2022 at Sugden Road and that was also the score in Surbiton's first-ever Premier Division match in September 2012, when Sarah Page scored after just two minutes.
Surbiton won 7-0 at home in October 2015 in a stunning performance, yet in the return won 1-0.
East Grinstead have a five better goal difference than Reading before they head to the University of Nottingham on Saturday afternoon. Hampstead & Westminster are guaranteed to finish fourth and Bowdon sixth before they meet at Paddington Recreation Ground.
In the Lower Six, Wimbledon and Clifton Robinsons have qualified for the League Finals. Wimbledon visit the University of Birmingham and Clifton Robinsons host Loughborough Students.
Isca & University of Exeter will be relegated if they fail to beat Beeston, whilst the Nottingham club will aim to close the five point gap between themselves and Loughborough Students. Isca's only victory of the season came at home to Beeston and Beeston return to Devon on Saturday.