W2 Are Division One South Champions
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women's 2nd team made history as they beat Harleston Magpies 4-1 at Sugden Road on Saturday afternoon to become Women's Hockey League Division One South champions.
Surbiton are the first second team champions of a second tier Women's Hockey League Division since club second teams were allowed promotion from regional leagues in 2018-19.
Surbiton W2 and Wimbledon W2 were champions of the Conference West and Conference East in 2019-20, but at third tier level after Division One North and South were introduced in that season.
Second teams cannot be promoted to the Premier Division, plus two teams from the same club cannot play in the same Women's Hockey League Division, therefore Surbiton W2 will defend their championship in 2024-25.
The second team will be promoted instead and with one game remaining, Holcombe moved into the runners-up spot with a 3-2 home win over Barnes, who were second pre-match. Holcombe lead Barnes by two points with Barnes due to host Surbiton W2 and Holcombe at home to Wimbledon W2 on the final day of the season when all games will start at 1400.
Having failed to clinch the title in the last two weeks after a 3-0 home defeat to Sevenoaks and a 3-1 loss at Slough, Surbiton made no mistake at the third attempt running into a 3-0 lead over Harleston at the end of the first quarter.
Issy Yonge opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Imogen Davies converted Surbiton W2's first penalty corner five minutes later. At the end of the first quarter, Charlotte Calnan smashed the ball home from a penalty corner rebound to put the champions elect firmly in control.
After a goal fest in the first quarter, the situation calmed down with Harleston pulling a goal back at the end of the third quarter as Hannah De Selincourt converted Magpies' third corner of the match.
With four minutes remaining, Amie Hunt added the icing on the cake with Surbiton W2's fourth goal coming from open play before the final whistle resulted in celebrations on the pitch as Surbiton W2 were crowned champions.
Surbiton will go into their final fixture with a seven point lead over second-placed Holcombe. Team Bath Buccaneers were relegated after their 3-1 home defeat by Southgate left them five points adrift of safety. The second relegation place will be between Wimbledon 2s and Canterbury. Canterbury trail Wimbledon 2s by a point and are home to Southgate whilst Wimbledon 2s visit Holcombe.
Guildford have won promotion from the Conference East as they lead second-placed London Wayfarers by seven points with one game to play. Guildford beat Ipswich 5-0 whilst London Wayfarers were held to a 2-2 draw by Old Georgians.
Bristol Firebrands will be promoted from Conference West as champions as they lead Clifton Robinsons 2s by four points. Bristol Firebrands beat Exeter 4-3, Clifton Robinsons 2s won 5-2 at Trojans, but the away win was not quite enough.