M1 Finish Regular Season With 4-0 Win At Reading
By Colin Pike
Surbiton ended the regular season with a second successive clean sheet as they won 4-0 at Reading to finish eight points behind Old Georgians and seven points ahead of third-placed Wimbledon in the Men's Hockey League Premier Division.
Surbiton had injury concerns with Louis Gittens in the first quarter, but took the lead in the 18th minute, thanks to Arjan Drayton Chana.
Alex Williams ensured that Surbiton led 2-0 at half time with an insurance goal three minutes before the interval.
Rob Farrington scored in the 44th and 66th minutes, all goals coming from open play as James Mazarelo kept his goal intact for the second game running after Surbiton beat Hampstead & Westminster 2-0 last Sunday.
Old Georgians finished the regular season unbeaten as Wimbledon lost 3-1 at St. George's College. Ben Francis equalised for Wimbledon after James Carson opened the scoring for the hosts, before James Tindall and Liam Sanford netted in the second half to keep up Old Georgians' impressive record.
Holcombe protected fourth-place with a 3-1 away win at fifth-placed Hampstead & Westminster. Nick Bandurak and Louis Parker gave the Kent club a 2-0 half time lead and after Parker scored a third goal in the second half, Hampstead could only reply through Kei Kaeppeler.
In the Lower Six, Oxted and Beeston earned the coveted top two places to qualify for the Phase 3 playoffs. Oxted beat the University of Nottingham 3-1 in Surrey. The first meeting had finished goalless and after a goalless first half, the formbook suggested a similar result for the second meeting.
Lucas Ward and Brad Sherwood gave Oxted a 2-0 lead and although Charlie Axford pulled a goal back, Owen Williamson's penalty stroke in the penultimate minute sealed the victory.
Beeston drew 2-2 at East Grinstead. Charlie Taylor put the West Sussex club ahead, only for Henry Croft and Rohan Bhuhi to give Beeston a 2-1 lead. Tom Crowson salvaged a point two minutes from time.
Brooklands Manchester University and the University of Exeter drew 2-2 for the second time this season. Peter Flanagan opened the scoring for Brooklands, only for Ollie Shelton and Lewis Wilcher to give Exeter a 2-1 lead. Finn Ward levelled two minutes from the end.
The Phase 3 Fixtures will be released shortly.