Over the weekend, the English Hockey League saw two days of intense competition as teams battled to secure their position in the league tables. In the women’s competition, Surbiton faced the Clifton Robinsons and Beeston, securing two wins and securing their place at the top of the regular season table. This guarantees them a place in the European competition for the 2023/24 season.
On Saturday Surbiton faced a tough challenge against Clifton Robinsons. While Meg Dowthwaite put Surbiton ahead, Clifton Robinson managed to tie with a Livvy Hoskins goal in the third quarter. However, Surbiton managed to prevail through a late goal from Giselle Ansley, who netted from a penalty corner with just four minutes remaining. This win put Surbiton within reach of top spot heading into Sunday’s game against Beeston.
In Sunday’s game against Beeston, Surbiton got off to a difficult start as they fell behind in the eighth minute through a Hannah Grieve goal. However, they managed to turn things around in the second half, with four goals securing the win. Sophie Hamilton and Leah Wilkinson scored to make it 2-1, followed by an Izzy Petter goal to extend the lead to 3-1 in a ten-minute period. Hannah Martin then completed Surbiton’s win.
The victory is a significant boost for Surbiton, who are preparing for their EHL FINAL8 match against Düsseldorfer HC. It also shows the team’s ability to maintain their composure under pressure and turn games around in the second half.
position
equipment
P
W
D.
L
F
TO
managing Director
points
1
surbiton
14
13
0
1
51
7
44
39
2
Wimbledon
fifteen
9
5
1
25
13
12
32
3
hampstead and westminster
fifteen
8
4
3
40
18
22
28
4
east of grinstead
14
7
4
3
39
22
17
25
5
Beeston
fifteen
6
3
6
22
31
-9
twenty-one
6
Clifton Robinson
fifteen
4
4
7
22
28
-6
sixteen
VWHL First Division 22-23 (Top Six)
In the men’s competition, the Old Georgians clinched first place in the regular season with two wins over the weekend. They defeated Hampstead & Westminster 2-1 on Saturday, with Sam Ward scoring a brace. Hampstead & Westminster tried some underhanded tactics, discovered by enthusiastic supporters when the team’s coaches failed to clear the tactics board after the pre-game team talk.
On Sunday, they followed up with a 3-0 win over Holcombe, further cementing their credentials as favorites to retain the national title.
The league now enters the final stretch of the regular season, with one more weekend of games remaining before the playoffs begin. The teams in the Top 6 group will advance to the season-ending playoff group stage, along with the top two from the Lower Six section. The top eight teams will be divided into two groups of four, with the best two from each group advancing to the semifinals. With so much to play for, the competition promises to be intense and exciting as teams battle it out for the national title.
