Four Star Walker Helps M1 To 6-0 Win At Bowdon
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men warmed up for next week's Men's Hockey League Premier Division meeting at also unbeaten Old Georgians with a 6-0 win at Bowdon on Saturday night.
Struan Walker became the first player in the Premier Division this season to score four goals in a match, a week after Old Georgians' Sam Ward scored five versus East Grinstead.
Bowdon lost their ninth match of the season but battled after goalkeeper Will Grant was injured and replaced in goal by Matt Bellin. And to their credit, Bowdon kept the Surbiton forwards out until the 26th minute before Surbiton scored four goals in eight minutes to lead 4-0 at half time.
Tim Nurse opened the scoring in the 26th minute before Walker scored two goals in as many minutes (28th and 29th minutes) to put Surbiton in command. Gareth Furlong converted a penalty corner a minute before half time to leave Bowdon shell shocked.
Walker completed his hat-trick four minutes into the third quarter, but after scoring his fourth goal of the game from a penalty corner in the 48th minute, Bowdon's defence held out for the remainder of the match.
Surbiton goalkeeper, James Mazarelo kept a clean sheet for the second time this season, the first also coming away from home in the 8-0 win at Richmond back in September.
Surbiton stay four points behind Old Georgians going into next week's match, Ward scoring a hat-trick with Tom Carson scoring twice in the reigning champions' 5-0 victory at Hampstead & Westminster.
Holcombe stay a point behind Surbiton after a convincing 7-2 home win over Oxted. Matt Ramshaw and Felix Tully both scored twice for the Kent Club with Teague Marcano, Tom Russell and Alex Pendle also scoring. Michael Royden-Turner and Guy Morgan replied for Oxted.
Beeston closed to within a point of Oxted after a thrilling 4-4 draw at East Grinstead where Henry Croft scored a hat-trick with Jamie Rawlings also scoring for the visitors. The hosts' Louis Tipper matched Croft's feat by also scoring a treble with Hugh Pembroke scoring East Grinstead's other goal.
Wimbledon beat Cardiff & Met 5-0 in South West London. Ben Francis's brace following goals from Sam Hooper, Sam McCulloch and Fred Newbold keeps Wimbledon in fourth.
At the bottom of the table, Southgate drew 1-1 with Richmond. Both goals came in the first twelve minutes with Scott Wall putting Richmond ahead in the eighth minute before Archie Foster levelled for Southgate.
Surbiton's match at Old Georgians next Saturday starts at 1800.