M1 Thwarted By Wimbledon In Super 6s Semi-Final
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men were thwarted by Wimbledon in the second Super 6s semi-final at Derby Arena, going down 6-3 to end their hopes of a first title since 2020.
Surbiton and Oxted had both been promoted from Division One in 2025 and qualified for Finals day together, but having made a stunning impact on their return to the top flight, both teams fell short of reaching the final, Oxted losing 6-2 to reigning champions, Old Georgians.
Having been champions in 2017 and 2020, Surbiton were more confident of getting to the final, but having beaten Wimbledon 5-2 at Whitgift School in the Premier Division qualifier, Wimbledon successfully reached the final for the fifth year running, turning the form book upside down when it counted.
Wimbledon led 2-0 through James Vallely's eighth minute open play goal and Rory Patterson's tenth minute penalty corner conversion before Rob Farrington struck from open play in the 12th minute, Surbiton still trailing 2-1 at half time.
Wimbledon took the game away from Surbiton in the third quarter, scoring three goals in four minutes to give Surbiton a mountain to climb with a 5-1 deficit. Duncan Scott and the Premier Division's leading goalscorer, Ed Horler scored from open play in the 22nd and 23rd minutes respectively before a second penalty corner from Patterson in the 26th minute put Wimbledon in control.
Surbiton's top scorer, Tommy Austin converted from a penalty corner at the end of the third quarter, but Maxime Plennevaux all but ended Surbiton's hopes of a stunning comeback early in the fourth quarter. Nick Nurse scored what proved to be a third consolation goal for Surbiton in the penultimate minute, but Wimbledon qualified to meet Old Georgians in the final for the fourth time in a row.
In the first semi-final, Oxted were on parity in the fourth minute, Chris Porter cancelling out Chris Griffiths' opening goal before Old Georgians pulled away to lead 5-1 at half time, Tom Carson scoring in the 10th and 11th minutes; James Carson in the 18th minute and Pablo Usoz on the stroke of half time. James Carson scored Old Georgians' sixth goal with 15 minutes to play, Josh Nurse completing the scoring for Oxted in the 34th minute.
In the Final, Wimbledon stunned Old Georgians by rushing into a 3-0 lead after just four minutes, Patterson's penalty corner expertise proving effective either side of Scott's open play effort. Old Georgians were determined to hold onto their championship, but remained patient, levelling up in the 27th minute through Alan Forsyth after Ashley Jackson and James Carson had scored in the seventh and 18th minutes. Wimbledon immediately reacted with Horler converting penalty corners at the end of the third quarter and in the 34th minute to put Wimbledon 5-3 ahead, but Old Georgians' resilience saw them force a shootout as Griffiths scored in the 38th minute and Jackson in the last minute, again from penalty corners as Wimbledon's set-piece defence was exposed.
Wimbledon's only victory in the final against Old Georgians had come via a 3-2 shootout win after a 3-3 draw in the last Men's final at the Copper Box Arena in 2023, but there was to be no repeat in the East Midlands as Kei Kaeppeler and Plennevaux were denied and Jackson and Tom Carson were successful, securing a 2-0 win and a third successive Super 6s title after 6-4 and 7-4 wins in 2024 and 2025.
Old Georgians will be back in Europe in 2027 and compete in the EuroHockey Indoor Club Cup in Sant Cugat del Valles in Spain from 13-15 February, when they will be in Pool B with Harvestehuder; Hokej Klub Zelina and hosts, Junior HC. AH&BC Amsterdam, HC Olten, Royal Leopold Club and TJ Pizen-Litice comprise Pool A.
The results, scorers and lineups for all the matches in the Open/ Men's Super 6s Finals can be found at the England Hockey Altius website here
The information for the Premier Division qualifiers can also be found at the England Hockey Altius website here
The finals day action can be watched at the England Hockey You Tube channel here