W1 Aiming To Clinch First Place This Weekend
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women will be aiming this weekend to clinch a first place finish at the end of Phase Two and as a minimum, earn the second European qualifying place as they entertain Durham University on Saturday (push back 1430) and travel to East Grinstead on Sunday (push back 1400).
Both games should be available via You Tube, the Durham University match on the Surbiton Hockey Club channel here
The East Grinstead match on the East Grinstead Hockey TV channel here
Surbiton go into the weekend knowing that they need a point to see off Hampstead & Westminster's challenge as the Paddington Rec club trail Surbiton by six points but only have two games left, having brought forward Sunday's originally scheduled visit to Reading to 15 March so that both clubs had more time to prepare for European action next week.
A victory over Durham University on Saturday would be enough as they hold a seven point advantage over third-placed East Grinstead, who have three games left, including hosting Hampstead on Saturday.
Surbiton face a Durham University side which has made an impact in its maiden season in the Women's Hockey League Premier Division, qualifying for the Top Six at the first attempt.
Durham almost ended Surbiton's unbeaten record at Maiden Castle in November, leading 2-0 through Lizzy Pocknell's brace, but Amy Costello and Erica Sanders' double rescued the visitors and earned Surbiton a 3-2 win.
Pocknell is Durham's leading goalscorer with 11 goals, with Ava Findlay on 5 and Lorna Crawford on 4. Durham's other 13 goals have been shared by 10 players, proving that the newly promoted club have several scoring options.
Durham had mixed fortunes last weekend as in a home doubleheader, they beat reigning champions Reading 2-0 on Saturday before going down narrowly to East Grinstead 3-2 on Sunday.
Having made the long trip back down South, Reading lost 1-0 to Surbiton on Sunday after Hampstead & Westminster were beaten 5-1 at Sugden Road on Saturday.
It turned out to be family weekend at Surbiton last weekend as on Saturday, Olivia Hamilton scored Hampstead's consolation goal while Sophie scored twice for Surbiton. On Sunday, Maddie Axford scored the only goal for Surbiton against Reading after Charlie had scored for Oxted as they lost 5-2 in the Open/ Men's Premier Division encounter.
In the Top Six on Saturday, Reading host Wimbledon and then on Sunday, Durham make the short trip to Wimbledon as they spend the weekend in London.
In the Lower Six, the University of Birmingham and Loughborough Students currently hold the two qualifying places for the Premier Division Finals pools, locked together on 18 points with Bowdon four points behind.
On Saturday, Clifton Robinsons' faint hopes will be extinguished if they lose at home to the University of Birmingham, whilst Loughborough Students will be looking to cement their position with a positive result at Barnes. Bowdon will try and stay in contention as they visit the University of Nottingham.
On Sunday, Bowdon host the University of Birmingham; Loughborough Students welcome the University of Nottingham to Leicestershire and Barnes visit Clifton Robinsons.