W1 Beat Loughborough Students 9-1

Surbiton Women were in record breaking fashion for the second successive home league match as after beating the University of Nottingham 8-0 a fortnight earlier, Surbiton beat Loughborough Students 9-1 with another clinical performance.

With Hampstead winning 4-1 at home to Durham University, Surbiton extended their goal difference advantage to eleven goals with both Surbiton and Hampstead on 16 points after five games.

The game can be watched back via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here

As against Nottingham, the first quarter was goalless, but Loughborough's defence was unlocked from Surbiton's first attack in the second quarter as the hosts attacked straight from the restart with a flowing move up the right side, brilliantly finished off by Sophie Hamilton to score her first goal of the season.

Also as against Nottingham, Surbiton led 2-0 at half time, Darcy Bourne finding the backboard from the hosts' fifth penalty corner with the last play of the half, Bourne having scored a minute earlier against the other East Midlands students, with no indication that the final score would be so dominant and that Bourne would score four goals in a match for Surbiton for the second time.

Surbiton still held their two goal lead at the end of the third quarter, but both teams scored in the third period, Bourne converting her side's sixth penalty corner in the 41st minute and Loughborough scoring what turned out to be a consolation goal at the end of the quarter, Hannah Boss scoring with a shot which appeared to be too high from Loughborough's fourth penalty corner, but after a lengthy umpire and player consultation, the visitors' goal was allowed to stand.

Surbiton were unstoppable in the final quarter, scoring six goals without reply with a mixture of high quality open play goals and penalty corner conversions as they showed their true attacking potential.

Alice Sharp stretched Surbiton's lead to 4-1 with an excellent deflection finish which completely deceived Loughborough Students goalkeeper Molly Smith in the 54th minute. Two minutes later, Erica Sanders also struck, this time with an emphatic finish smacking the backboard to put Surbiton completely in control.

After two entertaining examples of open play goals, Surbiton scored with their eighth and ninth penalty corner awards, Bourne scoring Surbiton's sixth goal in the 59th minute to complete her hat-trick and Amy Costello converting in the 63rd minute as Loughborough's defence which had only conceded four goals in their first five matches was ripped to shreds by a Surbiton attack which was determined to show no mercy and perform clinically.

Martha Taylor had scored Surbiton's eighth goal against Nottingham and repeated the trick against Loughborough with yet another superb finish in the 69th minute, but this time it was Bourne who was destined to have the final say, this time with an open play goal to go with her penalty corner conversions to repeat her feat of scoring four goals in a Premier Division match at Sugden Road, which had only been achieved two weeks previously.

Surbiton visit Clifton Robinsons on Sunday (push back 1400) and are yet to concede an open play goal this season.

Tyler Lench scored twice with Esme Burge and Lucy Hyams also on target in Hampstead's 4-1 home win over Durham University, Ava Findlay scoring for Durham. Hampstead are at home to the University of Birmingham on Sunday.

East Grinstead are three points off the top after a convincing 6-2 home victory over the University of Nottingham. Biba Mills scored a hat-trick with Millie Giglio, Laoise Nelson and Sally Sime also contributing to the win. Freya Robinson scored both Nottingham goals. Loughborough visit East Grinstead on Sunday.

The University of Birmingham, Wimbledon and Reading are all locked together on 11 points, five points behind the top two teams. The University of Birmingham had to come from behind to beat Barnes 5-2 in the West Midlands, Coca Hall scoring twice, Lottie Bingham, Sarah Parkinson-Mills and Betsan Thomas completing the comeback. Aleesa Ferguson and Sarah-Jane McCann gave Barnes a 2-1 lead before Birmingham recovered. Barnes face an important match with the University of Nottingham on Sunday.

Reading were held to a 2-2 draw by Bowdon, Lizzie Neal and Georgia Howe scoring for the Berkshire club, Freya Bellamy and Annabel Mills replying for Bowdon. Reading host Durham University and Bowdon travel to Wimbledon on Sunday.

Wimbledon beat Clifton Robinsons 2-1, Sarah Jones and Millie Holme giving the South West Londoners the win, with Livvy Lane scoring for Clifton.