Old Georgians Beat M1 4-2
By Colin Pike
Reigning champions Old Georgians avenged their sole defeat of the Men's Hockey League Premier Division season by winning 4-1 over Surbiton Men at Sugden Road on Saturday night in front of a massive and enthusiastic crowd.
The supporters of both teams were treated to a feast of enthusiastic hockey and classic goals as Old Georgians opened up a three point lead over their local rivals in the quest of a successful defence of their league title.
The game can be watched back via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here
The first quarter was scoreless, but within two minutes of the start of the second quarter, Old Georgians took the lead, James Carson finding the backboard with a superb finish.
Surbiton drew level in the 29th minute, Alex Williams' shot blocked illegally on the goal-line leading to the award of a penalty stroke which Luke Taylor slotted to George Pinner's right.
Old Georgians led 2-1 at half time, James Carson scoring his second goal of the match with the final play of the second quarter, the ball rebounding off the backboard from a penalty corner.
Old Georgians extended their lead to 3-1 in the 45th minute, Chris Griffiths rifling a shot into the top right corner to give James Mazarelo no chance, however, Surbiton battled back five minutes later, Taylor beating Pinner with a penalty corner drag-flick into the bottom corner to reduce Old Georgians' advantage to 3-2.
The goal which sealed Old Georgians' victory in the 59th minute was quite simply breathtaking, Henry Weir's long pass towards goal finding Tom Carson wide of the right post: the ball guided beautifully into the goal to complete the 4-2 win.
Surbiton were left still looking for their first ever home Premier Division win over Old Georgians, having won twice at St. George's College.
In the only other Top Six match, Hampstead and Westminster also won 4-2 away, at Southgate. Tom Crowson gave Hampstead the lead before Matt Ramshaw and Kwan Browne turned the match round for Southgate to lead 2-1. Hampstead responded with three goals in eleven minutes, Matt Guise-Brown's penalty corner brace following Sam French's equaliser from open play.
Wimbledon and Holcombe will meet in South West London on 29 February, but Wimbledon's 6-3 loss to HAHK Mladost of Croatia at the EuroHockey Indoor Club Cup in Vienna meant that they were set to face Royal Leopold Club to avoid relegation to the second tier, but a 9-4 defeat to the Belgian club means that Old Georgians will play in the Trophy in 2025.
Wimbledon beat French club Luc Ronchin 7-4 on Sunday morning to finish in seventh place.
In the Lower Six, the University of Nottingham won their first game of the season, 3-2 at Reading. Reading had won 3-2 at Nottingham Hockey Centre in October, but Harry Stone, Luke Holland and Ollie Lander ensured that the formbook would be reversed at Sonning Lane. Lewis Fraser scored both Reading goals, opening the scoring in the second minute and completing the scoring with two minutes remaining.
Oxted beat Cardiff & Met by the same scoreline in Surrey, Cardiff losing 3-2 for the second week running. Cardiff led 1-0 through Rhys Gowman, but Nick Giles, Michael Royden-Turner and Guy Morgan gave Oxted a 3-1 lead. Gowman scored a second goal with ten minutes to play, but Cardiff couldn't find the equaliser.
The goal fest of the week was at Saint Hill where Beeston returned to Nottingham with all three points after a stunning 6-4 victory. Jamie Rawlings and Henry Croft earned a 2-0 lead for Beeston before Hugh Pembroke struck twice for East Grinstead to level the score at 2-2. Early in the second half, Beeston led 4-2 with Croft and Gareth Griffiths scoring, but East Grinstead fought back again to level at 4-4 with eight minutes left thanks to Trevor De Lora and Max Lowrey.
Beeston scored twice in the last ten minutes courtesy of Rawlings and Brendan Andrews and this time East Grinstead couldn't respond.
Surbiton head to Holcombe next Saturday to try and avenge their first defeat of the season in September when Holcombe won 3-2 at Sugden Road. Push back at Holcombe Park is at 1800.