W1 Miss Out On Top Spot In Top Six

Surbiton Women missed out on claiming top spot in the Women's Premier Division Top Six at the end of Phase 2 after East Grinstead fought back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to win 5-3 at Sugden Road on Saturday afternoon.

Leaders Hampstead and Westminster could only draw 2-2 at home to Reading, meaning that a Surbiton victory would have seen Surbiton finish top on goal difference, but the reigning champions had to settle for second place with Hampstead finishing top for the first time in their history.

The match against East Grinstead can be watched back via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here.

All the games in the Premier Division started at 1400 as it was the last day of Phase 2 action, yet after 21 minutes, Surbiton seemed to be in control with a 2-0 lead.

Giselle Ansley had converted Surbiton's first penalty corner in the eighth minute, with Erica Sanders adding the second with a superb shot from open play after rotating to face goal before smashing the ball into the net giving visiting goalkeeper, Mila Welch, no chance.

But East Grinstead, who had hopes of finishing third if Reading had suffered a heavy defeat at Hampstead, were level by the 28th minute, Biba Mills converting their third penalty corner inside the left post in the 25th minute and Tess Howard running into the circle before scoring in fine style from the right of the circle.

Surbiton were briefly down to nine players for a short period near the start of the third quarter as Darcy Bourne joined Alice Sharp in the sin-bin, but having coped whilst being short-handed, Surbiton's lead was restored in the 43rd minute from the home side's sixth penalty corner, Bourne finding the backboard to leave East Grinstead trailing 3-2.

Another penetrating run from Howard in the 48th minute was again finished with aplomb from the right of the circle as the conclusion of Phase 2 proved to be more thrilling than Surbiton would have liked as they were pegged back to 3-3.

East Grinstead led for the first time in the 59th minute as Olivia Shannon converted the West Sussex club's fourth penalty corner to lead 4-3.

With four minutes remaining, Surbiton thought they had equalised after Alice Sharp beat Welch from an acute angle from the left of the circle, but after the umpires consulted, the goal was disallowed.

East Grinstead sealed the victory in the 68th minute, Mills scoring her 13th goal of the campaign, diving to poke the ball home just inside the left post, to confirm Hampstead's first place finish.

Mills leads Bourne by one goal in the Premier Division scoring charts with three games to go.

Hampstead led twice at Paddington Recreation Ground through Catherine Ledesma and Lucy Hyams, but Reading equalised twice thanks to Caroline Spence and Annie Wilson to finish Phase 2 in third place.

Becky Manton scored both goals as fifth-placed Wimbledon won 2-0 at sixth-placed Loughborough Students.

The two playoff pools will consist of:

Pool A: Hampstead & Westminster; East Grinstead; Wimbledon; Bowdon.

Pool B: Surbiton; Reading; Loughborough Students; Clifton Robinsons.

Fixtures:

5 April: Surbiton v Clifton Robinsons

12 April: Surbiton v Loughborough Students

26 April: Surbiton v Reading

Clifton Robinsons finished seventh overall after beating Sutton Coldfield 2-1 in Bristol. Carmen Ansley and Livvy Lane scored for Clifton, Lane scoring a minute after Emma McCabe levelled for Sutton Coldfield.

Bowdon saw a run of four successive wins ended at the University of Birmingham as the Midlands students ran out 3-0 winners, but it wasn't enough to qualify for the playoffs. Hannah Pearce, Laura Graham and Carter Ayars scored for Birmingham.

With three games also left in the relegation playoffs, Birmingham are all but safe from the drop, holding an eight point advantage over eleventh placed Holcombe. Holcombe lost 3-2 at the University of Nottingham, for whom Freya Diamond scored twice, either side of Maddie Axford's strike. Leisa Randall and Tessa Reid netted for Holcombe. Nottingham have a five point advantage over Holcombe.

Surbiton will face Durham University and Barnes in the Premier Division next season. Barnes were crowned champions of Division One South last weekend following their 5-2 win at Surbiton Women's 2s and Durham University clinched their place with a 4-3 win at Gloucester City on Saturday to finish three points ahead of runners-up, Beeston.

Both Barnes and Durham University will play in the Premier Division for the first time in 2025-26.