Bourne Three: Third Successive Hat-Trick At Beeston
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Ladies' Darcy Bourne scored her third hat-trick in succession in the Vitality Women's Hockey League Premier Division Top Six, helping Surbiton to a 7-1 win against Beeston at Nottingham Hockey Centre.
And after scoring three goals at home to East Grinstead and at Hampstead & Westminster, Bourne went one better in the East Midlands, scoring four times to ensure Surbiton maintained their four point lead.
It's not the first time a player has scored three successive hat-tricks in the Women's Premier Division. Imogen Robertson scored hat-tricks against Hightown, at Sutton Coldfield and at home to Ipswich in October and November 2001 for Clifton before the run ended in a 0-0 draw at Slough in a top of the table clash.
And later in the season, Tina Cullen scored hat-tricks in three successive matches for Hightown at Sutton Coldfield and at home to Ipswich and Clifton, but spread out between November 2001 and February 2002 due to a Christmas break and a rearranged international tournament.
Beeston suffered their biggest ever home defeat at Premier Division level, having previously lost 5-0 against Reading and East Grinstead and having also lost 6-2 against Surbiton in their first ever season back in 2013-14.
On a day which alternated between overcast skies and sunny spells, Surbiton took the lead in only the second minute, the Beeston defence pulled apart by a flowing move starting with captain, Sarah Evans, Alice Sharp and Sophie Hamilton, Bourne finishing at the left post.
Five minutes later, Hamilton had another assist as Maddie Long, who had opened the scoring when Surbiton drew 1-1 with Beeston at Sugden Road a month previously, doubled the visitors' advantage to show that the league leaders intended to be clinical.
In the tenth minute, Steph Elliott missed the chance to put Surbiton 3-0 ahead, her shot going past the right post from Surbiton's first penalty corner award.
Surbiton largely dominated possession with Alice Sharp forcing a save from Beeston goalkeeper, Steph Tirrell with Beeston's Sophie Robinson, Maddie Pendle and Bea Bell also working hard in defence in the first half.
Despite all their efforts, Surbiton still led 2-0 at half time, but that changed at the start of the third quarter as Hamilton again fed the ball through for Bourne to score her second goal of the match in the 38th minute and then was fouled in the circle two minutes later. After a brief umpire consultation, the decision was made to award a penalty stroke rather than a penalty corner, Bourne dispatching the ball into the roof of the net to complete her third hat-trick in as many matches, with all three trebles containing a penalty stroke.
Trailing 4-0, Beeston battled and were rewarded with what proved to be a consolation goal in the 44th minute, Lucy Millington running at the Surbiton defence and slipping the ball past Surbiton goalkeeper, Louisa Bray and into the far corner from the right of the circle.
Long's run down the right set up Bourne's fourth goal with the Beeston defence allowing her too much space and time as the ball ended up in the back of the net.
With three minutes to play, Surbiton converted their third penalty corner of the match, Georgie Twigg's deft touch at the right post earning them their sixth goal of the game.
And in the penultimate minute it was Sharp who was in seventh heaven as she was also allowed too much space and had plenty of time to run the ball into the goal at the right post.
The game can be seen again via the Bee TV You Tube channel here
East Grinstead remain four points behind Surbiton after winning 2-1 at Wimbledon and Hampstead & Westminster are third, six points behind after a convincing 5-1 win at Clifton Robinsons, Surbiton's next opponents at Sugden Road next Saturday (19 March) push back 1.30 pm.
In the Bottom 5, Buckingham lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 home win over Swansea. The University of Birmingham beat Loughborough Students 3-1, also at home meaning Loughborough are now tenth on goal difference behind ninth-placed Holcombe. Buckingham and Birmingham's wins were the first home wins in the Bottom 5 section since the Premier Division was split.