W1 Start Their Super 6s Campaign This Weekend
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women's Super 6s Campaign starts this weekend when they compete in the nine team Premier Division at Repton.
Surbiton will be hoping to go one better than in 2023, when they finished fifth, by earning a place in the Finals in Derby on 28 January with a top four finish in the Premier Division qualifier. Surbiton were promoted from Division One as champions in 2022
Bowdon, Buckingham, East Grinstead, Leicester City, Repton and Slough all competed in the Premier Division in 2023 and in 2024 will be joined by Guildford and Harleston Magpies, who were both promoted from Division One last season.
Surbiton had a tough start in 2023, when they drew 2-2 with 2022 finalists and ultimate 2023 champions, Repton and in 2024 will face East Grinstead, the 2022 champions. who also won the title in 2016 and 2019, at 1330 on Saturday. Surbiton battled before going down 2-0 to the West Sussex club last season, but previously lost 10-2 in 2020 and 7-2 in 2015, Surbiton being relegated on both occasions.
Slough will be Surbiton's second opponents at 1830 on Saturday and although the Berkshire club haven't won the title since 2017, they have been champions on 14 occasions, starting in 1984. Slough finished sixth in 2023 and drew 2-2 with Surbiton.
On Sunday, Surbiton will face Repton for a noon showdown. Although Repton were champions last season, beating Buckingham 6-1 in the final at the Copper Box Arena, Buckingham will represent England in the EuroHockey Indoor Club Cup in Alanya, Turkey from 22-25 February after Repton withdrew.
Surbiton's first weekend will conclude against Leicester City at 1700 on Sunday. Surbiton have previously met Leicester at both Premier Division and Division One level, winning 3-1 last season after losing 7-1 in the top-flight in 2020. The Division One meeting came in 2017 when Surbiton won 3-2 after the teams had been relegated together in 2016, when the result was a 2-2 draw. In spite of Leicester's defeat, it was the East Midlands club who returned to the Premier for the 2018 season behind Division One champions Clifton Robinsons. Surbiton finished fifth.
The matches can be followed in real time over the weekend by visiting the England Hockey Altius website here
More information about the competition, including team lists, top scorers etc. plus Division One and Division Two data can also be found at the England Hockey Altius website