M1 Facing Relegation Battle In Super 6s
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men face a battle to preserve their Premier Division status in the Super 6s after a disappointing first weekend at Whitgift School saw them lose all four games.
Surbiton will return to Croydon next Saturday, knowing that they will have to turn around their form if they are going to have any chance to play in the Premier Division in 2025. They are currently three points adrift of both Holcombe and Ashmoor, with East Grinstead a point further ahead. Surbiton are due to take on both Holcombe and East Grinstead next Sunday, but if results don't go their way on Saturday, when they face Wimbledon and Sevenoaks, even two wins against their relegation rivals might not be enough.
Surbiton's disappointment of losing to Ashmoor and Team Bath Buccaneers, the two teams promoted from Division One last season, on the opening day deepened with two heavy defeats at the hands of leaders Old Georgians (9-1) and Hampstead & Westminster (8-2).
Old Georgians had thrashed East Grinstead 7-1 and Ashmoor 9-3 on the first day, and showed no signs of stopping in their third game as they led Surbiton 6-0 at half time. Former Surbiton player Alan Forsyth opened the floodgates in the third minute, Surbiton struggling to stem the tide as Tom Carson and Henry Weir scored in the seventh and eighth minute respectively. Ashley Jackson converted a penalty corner in the ninth minute before Forsyth struck again in the 14th minute and James Carson scored Old Georgians' sixth goal from another penalty corner two minutes before the interval.
Chris Griffiths added Old Georgians' seventh goal two minutes into the third quarter, Adam Buckle scoring what proved to be a consolation for Surbiton in the 29th minute. Chris Proctor and Edward Carson both scored in the fourth quarter to complete a fully professional performance as Old Georgians firmly stated their case for an initial national indoor title after suffering shootout disappointment against Wimbledon in the 2023 final.
Surbiton had higher hopes of getting a win against Hampstead & Westminster who had lost 5-4 to Holcombe and 6-2 to Wimbledon but beaten Team Bath Buccaneers 6-1, but unfortunately once again it was one way traffic towards the Surbiton goal early in the game.
George Carson scored in the third and fifth minutes but although Jonny Gall pulled a goal back for Surbiton in what proved to be a lucky 13th minute, Carson completed his hat-trick a minute later and James Sutcliffe converted a penalty corner a minute before half time to help Hampstead turn round with a 4-1 advantage.
Surbiton were caught out early in the third quarter as Kei Kaeppeler scored Hampstead's fifth with Sutcliffe's penalty corner expertise and a goal from Joe Hillyer in the 26th and 27th minutes putting Hampstead firmly in control. Gareth Furlong scored with a penalty corner at the end of the third quarter, but Tom Crowson scored Hampstead's eighth goal with eight minutes to play to end a miserable first weekend for Surbiton.
At the halfway point, Old Georgians have a three point lead over both Wimbledon and Team Bath Buccaneers, with Sevenoaks five points behind in fourth.
Hampstead are a point away from a qualification place on six points, while East Grinstead are on four, Ashmoor and Holcombe are both on three with Surbiton hoping to get their first points next weekend and improve on a goal difference of -18.
More information about the Men's Super Sixes Premier Division qualifying tournament can be found at the England Hockey Altius website here