M1's League Title Hopes Denied By Old Georgians
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men's hopes of a first league title since 2020 were denied by Elmbridge rivals Old Georgians, who won 3-1 in the Men's Hockey League Premier Division Final on Sunday evening to complete a hat-trick of championships.
Surbiton were the only team to beat Old Georgians in the domestic league in 2023-24, but in spite of a lightning start and strike from Struan Walker, Old Georgians battled back to clinch their third league title after finishing top of the Premier Division table in 2021-22 and beating Holcombe 5-1 in the Premier Division final last season, also at Surbiton HC.
Surbiton played in all black with Old Georgians in light blue as the temperature cooled after a second successive warm day at Sugden Road.
Old Georgians were stunned after just 63 seconds as Struan Walker beat Old Georgians goalkeeper, George Pinner from the right of the circle to put Surbiton 1-0 ahead.
The reigning champions were patient before equalising in the 22nd minute as Lee Morton sent the ball into the roof of the net, followed by emphatic celebrations that they were back on level terms.
In the 36th minute, Surbiton had the chance to restore their lead from the penalty spot after Alex Williams was brought down by Liam Sanford, but Luke Taylor could only roll the ball along the ground before Pinner saved easily.
Old Georgians took the lead for the first time in the 45th minute, Dan Shingles sending the ball into the top left corner as Old Georgians once again celebrated in emphatic style aware that their hat-trick of titles was back on track.
With three minutes remaining, James Carson scored Old Georgians' third goal from close range to seal their third title in a row. Both Surbiton and Old Georgians will be in the 2024-25 Euro Hockey League and are the last two English teams to come back with bronze medals: Surbiton in 2022 and Old Georgians as recently as last Easter.
The match can be watched back via the England Hockey TV channel on You Tube here
Wimbledon will also be in the Euro Hockey League as England's third team after they needed a 4-3 shootout win to get past Hampstead & Westminster in the third-place playoff.
Wimbledon had to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and force the shootout. Hampstead led 2-0 at the end of the first quarter after Kei Kaeppeler opened the scoring in the ninth minute and Matt Guise-Brown converted a penalty corner on the quarter hour mark.
David Condon halved the deficit in the 27th minute and Ian Sloan equalised with nine minutes to play.
Wimbledon then took goalkeeper Ore Ogunlana off with just over five minutes to play, but had to settle for the shootout.
Wimbledon went first in the shootout and made a bad start as Toby Reynolds-Cotterill saved from Sam Hooper. Jolyon Morgan found the backboard to give Hampstead a 1-0 lead.
Euan Gilmour and Kei Kaeppeler both scored to make the score 2-1 to Hampstead. Jack Waller levelled at 2-2 for Wimbledon but Ogunlana saved from Tom Crowson.
Ben Francis put Wimbledon ahead for the first time at 3-2 before Sam French conceded a free hit from his attempt.
There was another twist in the tail as Rory Patterson hit the right post and James Sutcliffe found the backboard to force sudden death with the score 3-3.
The order was swapped with Hampstead going first only for Morgan's attempt to be hit away by Ogunlana. Jack Waller had the potential winning attempt and he made no mistake as Wimbledon claimed the last European place.
The third-place playoff can be watched back via the England Hockey TV channel on You Tube here
The official record of the Men's Premier Division Finals can be found at the England Hockey Altius website here