W1 A Point Away From Super 6s Qualification

Surbiton Women realistically need a single point from their two matches on Sunday to qualify for the Super 6s Finals Day at Derby Arena on 1 February.

A 5-1 win over Clifton Robinsons and a 10-0 victory over Harleston Magpies sees Surbiton go into the last day of competition on 13 points in third place, with fifth placed Holcombe on 8 points, a point behind fourth placed Harleston, who are in the last qualification place.

Although Holcombe trail Surbiton by five points and there are six points on offer on the final day, Surbiton have built up a goal difference of plus 23 compared with Holcombe's plus 2, meaning that Holcombe would have to overturn a 21 goal deficit in two games, which is unlikely.

Holcombe face Harleston at 1000 on Sunday in a match which could help to decide which team is going to clinch the fourth and final qualification place.

Results, scorers and lineups plus other tournament stats can all be found at the England Hockey Altius website here

At Repton School, Surbiton had to wait until the 16th minute to open the scoring against Clifton, Izzy Petter converting a penalty corner. Erica Sanders doubled Surbiton lead from another set piece in the 23rd minute, but Clifton proved that they could also be adept with scoring from penalty corners as Evie Grindal halved the deficit in the 27th minute.

Any hopes of a Clifton equaliser were quickly dashed as Katie Southorn scored from open play in the 29th minute and Isy Key converted another penalty corner on the stroke of the end of the third quarter to put Surbiton in control with a 4-1 lead.

Sanders put the icing on the cake with an open play goal with seven minutes remaining to cement Surbiton's place in the top three.

Before Surbiton met Harleston, the top two teams, Sutton Coldfield and East Grinstead met, with the West Sussex club salvaging a point in a 1-1 draw as Biba Mills levelled in the final minute after Sally Walton gave Sutton the lead from the penalty spot.

Surbiton were ruthless against Harleston and briefly went top of the table on goal difference from Sutton Coldfield after their massive win. Sanders helped herself to a hat-trick to take her Premier Division goalscoring tally to 16 goals, 3 behind East Grinstead's Mills. Claudia Swain also netted a treble with Key, Southorn, Petter and Josie Hippe also breaching the Magpies defence.

Harleston had a real contrast in fortunes as they thrashed Beeston 9-0 in their other game of the day with Beth Gardens scoring seven goals. The result confirmed Beeston's relegation back to Division One with two games to play.

Buckingham look to be the other team to be relegated as they secured their only win so far with a 7-0 defeat of Beeston, and ironically will be relegated if they lose to Surbiton at 1100 on Sunday as they would at the very least trail by four points with one match remaining.

Bowdon and Lansdown are on course to replace them in the 2027 Premier Division as Bowdon, the leaders, lead Repton and Reading by six points and Lansdown have a five point advantage with two matches to play.

Surbiton finish their qualification campaign against seventh placed Slough at 1400.