W1 Aim To Regain The Premier Division Title This Weekend
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women aim to regain the Premier Division Title this weekend when they compete in the Premier Division Finals presented by Ranmore Fund Management on home turf at Sugden Road this weekend.
Surbiton take on Durham University, who have surpassed expectations this season by reaching the Finals in their first ever season in the Premier Division, at 1315 in the second semi-final.
Hampstead & Westminster face Wimbledon in the first semi-final at 1100, to open the two days of competition.
Surbiton lost out 1-0 to Reading in last season's final at Nottingham Hockey Centre, but Reading have failed to qualify for this year's Finals, along with East Grinstead, who lost all three games in their qualifying pool to end the season in disappointing fashion.
East Grinstead's absence means that Biba Mills will not be able to add to her 16 goal tally, so the Premier Division top goalscorers' crown is likely to be worn by Surbiton's Darcy Bourne, who ended Phase 3 with 18 goals or Erica Sanders, who is currently on 16.
Durham University's stellar season has been helped immensely by Lizzy Pocknell's 14 goals, including a brace scored in their first meeting with Surbiton, when Durham led Surbiton 2-0 before Amy Costello pulled a goal back and Sanders scored twice to snatch a 3-2 away win for last season's finalists.
Durham's qualification for the Top Six meant that the teams met for a second time in March, and this time it was Surbiton who led 2-0 through Izzy Yonge and Sanders, but Durham only mustered a single goal in reply, Katie Birch scoring in the fourth quarter.
Hampstead have met Wimbledon twice this season and Hampstead won both games by a single goal with both teams having hosted a meeting.
Away from Sugden Road, the relegation playoffs conclude on Saturday, although it is now known that both Barnes and Clifton Robinsons will play Division One hockey next season. Barnes will finish their maiden Premier Division campaign at Bowdon and Clifton Robinsons travel to the University of Nottingham, who preserved their top-flight status last weekend after they beat Barnes 2-1 at home and Clifton Robinsons drew 1-1 with Bowdon.