W1 Clinch First Place Finish With Two Games To Spare
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women ensured that they will have the second European place in 2026-27 as a minimum after they beat a spirited Durham University side 2-1 at Sugden Road on Saturday afternoon.
The victory also ensured that Surbiton Women will finish top of the Women's Hockey League Premier Division table at the end of Phase 2 with two games remaining after Lucy Hyams' goal earned Hampstead & Westminster a 1-0 win at East Grinstead had effectively ended both teams' chances of a first place finish.
The game versus Durham University can be watched back via the Surbiton HC channel on You Tube here
When the teams first met at Maiden Castle back in November, Durham led 2-0 before Surbiton fought back to win 3-2. This time it was Surbiton's turn to lead 2-0, but although Durham pulled a goal back, they fell to a narrow defeat.
Surbiton took the lead in the sixth minute, an attack down the left wing culminating in a cross for Issy Yonge to blast the ball into the net for her fourth goal of the season.
Ten minutes later, Yonge became the goal provider as a run through Durham's midfield resulted in a through pass for Erica Sanders to collect the ball on the edge of the circle before running wide right to slip the ball to Durham goalkeeper, Ffion Horrell's left and against the backboard.
Early in the second quarter, Martha Taylor went close to adding a third goal, her angled shot whistling past the left post. Durham also had to work hard in defence against Surbiton's first two penalty corners, Emmie Gilbert clearing the ball after Horrell saved from Amy Costello's drag-flick from the first and then Katie Birch and Evelyn Wilson combined to deny Costello a second time.
Durham have been competitive this season, having lost 3-2 at home to East Grinstead last weekend after beating Reading 2-0, and halved Surbiton's lead in the 59th minute, Katie Birch denying Ayeisha McFerran a second successive clean sheet with a well taken drag-flick, Birch's teammates celebrating enthusiastically to show their delight on scoring on their first visit to Sugden Road.
Surbiton responded immediately from the restart, an attack seeing Maddie Axford playing a one-two move with Ellie Mackenzie before testing Horrell.
Durham had the chance to snatch a point with a penalty corner in added on time at the end of the match but the shot went past the right post with the players putting their hands on their heads realising how close they had come to getting something out of the game.
Surbiton travel to East Grinstead on Sunday (push back 1400) with a six point advantage over second placed Hampstead & Westminster, who only have one match to play; and a ten point lead over third-placed East Grinstead, who have two games remaining.
The game should be available to watch via the East Grinstead Hockey TV channel on You Tube here
Reading and Hampstead don't have a game on Sunday as they brought their match forward to allow more time to prepare for European competition. Reading will face Mannheimer in the Euro Hockey League on the back of three successive defeats, having lost 2-1 at home to Wimbledon on Saturday. Lizzie Neal gave Reading a 1-0 half time lead, but Sarah Jones and Charlotte Watson turned the game round for Wimbledon with goals in the 50th and 57th minutes.
In the Lower Six, the University of Birmingham came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Clifton Robinsons and all but seal the first qualifying place for the Premier Division Finals pools. Lilly Holmes and Steph Botha gave Clifton a 2-0 advantage in the 53rd minute, but Sarah Kirgan, Izzy Shelley and Carter Ayars gave the Bristol club's hopes of avoiding relegation a setback.
The University of Nottingham reduced Clifton's advantage over them to two points as they drew 0-0 at home to Bowdon, the third goalless draw in the top flight this season.
Barnes also came from 2-0 down but had to settle for a point and a 2-2 draw at home to Loughborough Students. Pippi Spawforth and Jess Dyson put Loughborough 2-0 up after just nine minutes, but a 55th minute goal from Olivia Martineau and a penalty stroke three minutes later from Isabella da Rocha earned Barnes their fourth point of the season.
Next season, Surbiton will face Teddington, the Division One South champions and Buckingham, who won their first Division One North match in 2026 to pip Gloucester City to promotion on goal difference. Gloucester were held 2-2 at home by Sutton Coldfield, whilst Buckingham thrashed Beeston 5-0 to return to the Premier Division after spending three seasons in the second tier.