Maximum Points for 1s in Double Header Weekend
By Surbiton HC
Our first teams each extended their winning runs to six from six for the 26/27 season across a busy double header weekend.
Women’s 1s Beat HWHC and Wimbledon
Surbiton W1 took three points at Paddington Rec following a 2-0 away win over Hampstead & Westminster on Saturday. It has been a tougher start than usual for HWHC, who are yet to take a point this season, but Surbiton’s recent free scoring form was keep in check until late in the second quarter with Sophie Hamilton’s field goal breaking the deadlock in the 29th minute.
Ellie Mackenzie added another goal from open play shortly after half time and Surbiton saw the game out to maintain their winning run with Eloise Stenner voted MVP.
Sunday brought a mouthwatering rematch of last season’s Championship Final against Wimbledon at Sugden Road. It was a tense and hard-fought game, with Surbiton picking up three green cards and struggling to find the decisive touch to convert their chances.
Player of the Match Georgie Gardens had a penalty corner finish controversially ruled out earlier in the game, but wasn’t to be denied with five minutes to go, tipping in on her backhand from another penalty corner to spark celebrations from the Seals as they maintained their 100% win record for the season.
The W1 sit on 18 points at the top of the table with a huge goal difference of +28, with student sides Loughborough and Durham three points behind.
Next Saturday the W1 host University of Nottingham at 5pm.
Men’s 1s Take Big Victories Over Bowdon & EG
SHC Men’s 1s added another fifteen goals to their scoring tally for the season across the weekend, kickstarted by a 9-2 victory over visitors Bowdon in grim conditions on Saturday.
The M1 were 3-0 up within 11 minutes, with Gareth Furlong’s penalty corner flick and a field goal double within a single minute from Max Anderson putting Surbiton in the driving seat from very early in the game. Furlong added another penalty corner goal in the 20th minute with Bowdon getting one back to make it 4-1 going into the half time break.
Surbiton scored five further goals in the second half, with Jake Payton, Rob Farrington (2) and a penalty stroke from Nick Bandurak going in as well as Anderson completing his hat trick. Bowdon scored a late consolation three minutes before the final whistle.
The second game of the weekend took place at East Grinstead and Surbiton again scored a couple of quickfire goals in the first quarter with James Oates and Stu Rushmere striking in the 13th and 14th minutes.
Rob Farrington grabbed another brace either side of a Gareth Furlong penalty corner and with East Grinstead unable to notch up any goals of their own, Calum Douglas recorded the Seals’ first clean sheet of the season as they maintained their top spot in the table.
Scoring twice in both games (and for the fourth consecutive game), the Men’s 1s Player of the Weekend was Rob Farrington.
The next game for the M1 sees them travel to Nottingham Hockey Centre next Saturday to take on Beeston.