M1 End Old Georgians' Title Run With 2-1 Victory
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men ended Old Georgians' run of three successive Men's Hockey League Premier Division titles with a 2-1 victory over their Elmbridge rivals at Nottingham Hockey Centre on Sunday.
Surbiton were also the last team to beat Old Georgians in domestic league competition on 23 September 2023, when they won 3-2 at St. George's College and just as with that victory, it was Struan Walker who scored the winning goal to end Old Georgians' unbeaten run.
In 2024-25 Old Georgians had only dropped points in a thrilling 5-5 draw at Wimbledon and after defeating Oxted 4-0 in the semi-final on the Saturday, were confident of giving veteran goalkeeper George Pinner the send-off he deserved after a superb career with a fourth successive league title.
However, Surbiton had shown glimpses that they were capable of beating Old Georgians in March when they led 3-1 before Old Georgians fought back to win 4-3.
Just over a month later, Surbiton succeeded where everyone else had failed, to earn England's top European ranking and a place in the FINAL8 in 2026, whilst Old Georgians and Wimbledon are likely to have to start at the KO16 stage.
In colder conditions in the East Midlands, Surbiton played in their all black strip with Old Georgians in white and sky blue. This season Surbiton have had a habit of scoring goals in the 13th minute, but on Sunday were slightly more patient, waiting until the 14th minute to open the scoring.
Rob Farrington attacked down the left wing before playing a one-two move with James Gall, passing from near the left backline for Jake Payton to find the backboard in the far right corner before celebrating in emphatic style to show how much the goal meant to the Surbiton players.
Old Georgians were level in the 20th minute after a move which started from the right side-line. The ball found its way to Tom Carson who spun round to elude his marker before deftly lobbing James Mazarelo from the edge of the circle, the ball just bouncing in front of the goal-line before ending up against the backboard.
The winning goal in the 42nd minute was scored whilst Old Georgians' David Ames was in the sin-bin after being shown a green card. Tim Nurse's aerial pass was brought down by Stuart Rushmere in the right of the circle after his shot rebounded off the inside of the left post, Walker was in position to send the rebound into the roof of the net to give Surbiton their first title in 2020 when there were no playoffs due to Covid-19 and their first playoff title in normal time, their victories in 2017 against Wimbledon and in 2018 against Hampstead & Westminster coming via shootouts after draws in normal time.
Surbiton also won the title without forcing any penalty corners in the final, a curiosity considering the sheer firepower of Luke Taylor and Gareth Furlong as clinical drag-Flickers.
Captain, David Goodfield lifted the trophy to the Surbiton supporters' delight and Surbiton can now plan for the defence of their Athleteq.App Premier Division Finals title in the 2025-26 season.
Wimbledon claimed the third European ranking after needing a shootout to see off Oxted's brave challenge. Oxted had finished sixth after the 16 game regular season, but pipped Holcombe to a place in the final four before bowing out 4-0 to Old Georgians on Saturday.
Oxted held Wimbledon to a goalless draw after 60 minutes play and were ahead in the shootout 2-1 before former Surbiton goalkeeper Ore Ogunlana turned the shootout around.
Michael Royden-Turner put Oxted ahead, but Wimbledon's equaliser came from Ed Horler's penalty stroke after Rhys Bradshaw was brought down by Oxted goalkeeper, Max Christopher.
Charlie Axford chipped Ogunlana to restore Oxted's lead before Duncan Scott levelled with an attempt in the top left corner. Ogunlana calmly knocked away the ball from Thomas Finnegan before Rory Patterson sealed the deal to give Wimbledon a 3-2 shootout victory.
All the action from Sunday's matches can be watched back via the England Hockey channel on You Tube here.
More information about the Premier Division Finals can be found at the England Hockey Altius website here.