Surbiton Put Their Perfect Record on the Line as England’s Women Hit Matchday 9
Eight games, eight wins, and nobody has come close to stopping them yet. Surbiton host Durham University on Saturday 14 November, and the Women’s Premier Division leaders have a perfect record to protect.
Surbiton brushed aside Reading 6-0 last Saturday at Sonning Lane, scoring twice in the first quarter through Darcy Bourne and Lizzy Pocknell and never taking their foot off the gas. Amy Costello’s corner made it three before half-time, Izzy Petter and Ellie Mackenzie added field goals in the second half, and Costello struck again in the 59th minute to make it six. That’s eight from eight now, and the gap at the top keeps growing.
Durham are no pushovers though. They started the season with four straight wins, including a 5-0 win at Buckingham, and they were the only other side keeping pace with Surbiton in the early weeks. They’ve scored freely and they’ve been hard to break down. This is the toughest test Surbiton have faced in weeks, and it’s at Sugden Road at 3:00pm on Saturday.
The rest of Saturday’s card
Hampstead & Westminster host Reading at Paddington Recreation Ground at 3:30pm, and that’s a big game in its own right. Hampstead have been Surbiton’s closest challengers all season, and Reading are coming off that 6-0 defeat. Reading need a response, and Hampstead need to keep winning to stay in touch at the top.
The University of Birmingham host East Grinstead at 2:30pm, and Loughborough Students host Wimbledon at 2:00pm. Loughborough put seven past their opponents last weekend, so Wimbledon will need to be sharp. The early games see the University of Nottingham host Bowdon at 12:00pm at the Nottingham Hockey Centre, and Buckingham host Teddington at 12:00pm at Stowe School. Buckingham are back in the top flight this season after winning promotion as champions last year, and every point matters for them.
For our money, Surbiton against Durham is the game of the day, and it’s not just about the result. Durham are the last side who looked like they could live with Surbiton over a full season. If Surbiton win again, and win well, the title race starts to look like a procession. If Durham take something from Sugden Road, the whole division opens up again.
