M1 And L1 Make Perfect Super 6s Start
By Colin Pike
Both Surbiton first teams made perfect starts to their Super 6s campaigns by winning both of their first two fixtures on the opening day of indoor action.
Surbiton Men were in devastating goalscoring form in Repton, beating Reading 12-1 in their opening fixture and following up with a 10-1 demolition of Holcombe for a total of 22 goals.
Surbiton led 3-0 after just five minutes against Reading, Brendan Creed opening the scoring with Arjan Drayton-Chana adding a quick brace.
Drayton-Chana went on to score five goals against the Berkshire club, Jamie Golden and James Gall each scoring twice with Zach Wallace and Gareth Furlong also on target.
Owen Lloyd notched Reading's consolation goal at the start of the fourth quarter as Surbiton began their title defence in fine style.
In the penultimate match of the day, Surbiton were once more off to a quick start against Holcombe, Golden scoring their first goal in the second minute with David Goodfield adding a second three minutes later. Drayton-Chana scored once this time with Wallace collecting a hat-trick. Creed, Furlong and James Gall scoring for the second match in succession and Golden completing his brace from the penalty spot just before half time.
Robert Field scored for Holcombe five minutes after the interval, but Surbiton dominated once again.
Surbiton lead the fledgling Premier Division table on goal difference from Hampstead & Westminster and Wimbledon, the only other teams with maximum points.
Wimbledon, Repton and Sevenoaks all won one of their two games on the opening day with Brooklands MU, Holcombe and Reading all looking for their first point.
More information about the Premier Division can be found at the England Hockey Altius website here
Meanwhile at Telford, Surbiton Ladies are on top of the Division One table, on goal difference from Clifton Robinsons, Surbiton and Clifton the only teams to win both games on Day One.
Surbiton beat Harleston Magpies 4-1 in their first game, Maddie Long giving Surbiton a fourth minute lead with Sophie Hamilton doubling the lead eight minutes later, both goals coming from penalty corners.
Izzy Petter scored twice for Surbiton in the second half from open play with Harleston only able to respond through Georgie Gardens when trailing 3-0.
In the last game of the day against Sevenoaks, Surbiton had to be more patient, Holly Payne putting them ahead at the end of the first quarter.
However, having broken through the Sevenoaks defence once, Surbiton scored twice in the 12th minute, Petter and Beckie Middleton striking quickly.
In the third quarter, Maddie Long extended Surbiton's lead before Maddie Thompson scored for Sevenoaks. Petter gave Surbiton a 5-1 lead before the third quarter ended and although Hannah Bond scored Sevenoaks' second goal with four minutes remaining, Middleton made the final score 6-2 in Surbiton's favour with a goal in the 37th minute.
Guildford, University of Birmingham, Sevenoaks and Harleston Magpies are all in the chasing pack with three points, whilst Reading and Gloucester City are on one point, having drawn 3-3.
Cambridge City are the only team in Division One which lost their first two matches.
More information including individual match details and various Division One statistics can be found at the England Hockey Altius website here