W1 Come From Behind To Beat Durham University 3-2
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women had to come from 2-0 down to beat Durham University 3-2 at Maiden Castle and clinch first place in the Women's Hockey League Premier Division at the end of Stage 1.
Surbiton had never faced Durham University before in the Women's Hockey League but the newly promoted club who were champions of Division One North last season, led 2-0 after 19 minutes and threatened to take away the visitors' unbeaten record this season.
Fortunately, Surbiton managed to pull a goal back just before half time and after equalising, grabbed a late winner to secure their ninth victory in eleven games.
Surbiton would have finished top even if Durham had won as Reading stunned second placed Hampstead 3-0 at Paddington Recreation Ground, to ensure that Surbiton carry forward a four point advantage into Stage 2.
Durham started the season with two successive wins, but after a run of five successive defeats, won their last three games to give them an excellent opportunity to qualify for the Top Six in their first-ever season in the Premier Division.
Lizzy Pocknell had scored nine of Durham's goals before the last match of 2025 and it was Pocknell who struck twice from open play to leave Surbiton trailing for the first time this season, with goals in the sixth and nineteenth minutes.
Amy Costello started the fightback in the 34th minute from a penalty corner with her seventh goal of the campaign and Surbiton had to wait until the 46th minute to get back on level terms, Erica Sanders slotting a penalty stroke past home goalkeeper. Ffion Horrell.
Sanders broke Durham's hearts in the 68th minute, with a penalty corner conversion winner, but Durham had the consolation of seeing their qualification for the Top Six confirmed as Loughborough Students could only win 3-1 at Bowdon and missed out on a top six place on goal difference. Loughborough also had to come from behind after Margot Willis gave Bowdon a fifth minute lead, but a brace from Hannah Boss after Mia Moore equalised gave the students all three points but not a spot in the top six.
The University of Birmingham's faint hopes of joining Durham on 15 points were ended by a 2-1 home defeat by East Grinstead. Millie Giglio gave East Grinstead the lead, but although Betsan Thomas equalised before half time, there was another late winner with Ellie Rayer converting another 68th minute penalty corner.
Hampstead had won 5-1 at Reading in the last game of 2024 to replace the Berkshire club at the top of the Premier Division table, but Reading returned the favour with a 3-0 win at Paddington Recreation Ground, but only succeeded in moving up from fifth to fourth. Lorna Mackenzie, Caroline Spence and Anna-Rose Gabbitass inflicted Hampstead's second successive home defeat.
Wimbledon dropped to fourth after trailing the University of Nottingham three times before salvaging a point in a 3-3 draw in the East Midlands. Charlotte Watson cancelled out Amelia Pollock's opener; Sienna Dunn restored Nottingham's lead from the penalty spot only for Sarah Robertson to level within a minute and after Kate Barker gave Nottingham a 3-2 lead with eleven minutes remaining, Lydia Macdonell earned a point six minutes from time.
In spite of their point, Nottingham will go into 2026 trailing Clifton Robinsons by three points after the Bristol club came out on top 5-3 at Barnes. Clifton led 2-0 thanks to goals from Steph Botha and Evie Grindal, with Claudia Swain scoring her first goal of the season for Barnes eight minutes before half time. Grindal restored Clifton's two goal advantage early in the third quarter, Swain reducing the deficit to 3-2 five minutes later. Darcy Shields scored Clifton's fourth goal in the 48th minute, only for Megan Lewis-Williams to score for Barnes three minutes later. Verity Clark ended Barnes' resistance in the 53rd minute.
Barnes are five points from safety and Clifton Robinsons are now within three points of Bowdon.
Surbiton's Darcy Bourne finishes Stage 1 as the divisional top scorer on 12 goals with Pocknell on 11.