Surbiton host rivals Canterbury in the Investec Women’s League Premier Division on Saturday afternoon, in a repeat of the league finale last season where the London side were crowned champions.
They edged to a 2-1 victory back in April, but with just one win from their first three matches the pressure is on to start climbing the table, which sees Canterbury in second spot with two wins from their opening three games.
“We pre-seasoned without quite a few of our core group with internationals and Southern hemisphere players not being around, so the first few weeks is about getting everyone back together and getting points on the board,” said Surbiton women’s Performance Manager Mark Atherton. “So far we’ve been happy with the chances we’ve created, but we’ve been a little rusty in front of goal. It’s early days, and really we won’t know who the form teams are until the table settled down around Christmas.”
Elsewhere, the only side with a 100 per cent record is the University of Birmingham, and they will want to maintain that record as they host Holcombe.
East Grinstead have adapted to the top flight well and are third in the early table. They entertain Reading on Sunday with the visitors searching for their first win of the season. Clifton are on the road at Leicester and two teams without a win so far, Bowdon Hightown and Buckingham play each other at Stowe School.
Both with a 100 per cent record so far, leaders Sutton Coldfield are at home against second-placed Swansea City in the Investec Conference West on Saturday.
And third-placed Stourport go to fourth-placed Oxford Hawks in what could prove to be a crucial weekend for all those teams’ title hopes.
Two unbeaten teams also face each other in the Investec Conference North, with leaders Wakefield heading to Whitley Bay and Tynemouth. Meanwhile, Loughborough Students could go top if they win at Springfields and Wakefield fail to win their match.
In the Investec Conference East, leaders Slough are on the road to Maidenhead and will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent start, while Maidenhead are still searching for their first points.
Elsewhere unbeaten Hampstead and Westminster are hosting Chelmsford, and Cambridge City – who lost to Slough last weekend, go to Wimbledon.
* The above photo of Surbiton players is by Matt Henderson.
Investec Women’s Hockey League (Saturday, October 3 2015)
Investec Premier Division
Buckingham v Bowdon Hightown 12:00
Univ of Birmingham v Holcombe 12:30
Leicester v Clifton 14:00
Surbiton v Canterbury 15:30
Investec Conference East
Maidenhead v Slough 13:30
Hampstead and Westminster v Chelmsford 13:30
Wimbledon v Cambridge City 14:00
Harleston Magpies v St Albans 14:00
Ipswich v Sevenoaks 14:30
Investec Conference North
Brooklands Poynton v Ben Rhydding 11:45
Belper v Liverpool Sefton 12:00
Whitley Bay & Tynemouth v Wakefield 12:30
Univ of Durham v Beeston 12:00
Springfields v Loughborough Students 14:00
Investec Conference West
Bristol Firebrands v Olton and West Warwicks 11:30
Gloucester City v Trojans 12:00
Oxford Hawks v Stourport 12:00
Univ of Bristol v Isca 13:00
Sutton Coldfield v Swansea City 14:00
Investec Women’s Hockey League Sunday, October 4 2015
Investec Premier Division
East Grinstead v Reading 12:30
This report is courtesy of England Hockey by Snowdon Sports.
