Surbiton qualified for the Premier Division Finals with a 6-1 win over Reading and 2-0 win over Loughborough Students in Pool A. This takes their winning streak up to 10 games this season and also maintains their record of qualifying for the finals in every season since joining the top-flight in 2012-13. Wimbledon will join them in the Finals after albeit closer results against the same opposition. They beat Loughborough 1-0 for Jess Buchanan’s ninth clean sheet of the season and she was denied a tenth by Reading’s late consolation in a 2-1 win. Surbiton host Wimbledon this weekend. For Reading it means that their title defence is over, they are the first reigning champions via end of season playoffs to fail to qualify for the finals since they were reintroduced in 2009-10.
In Pool B, Hampstead & Westminster qualified for the Finals with two wins: 4-2 over Durham University and 3-0 over University of Birmingham. Both of these teams upset the formbook with 3-2 wins at East Grinstead meaning the Sussex side failed to qualify for the finals for the first time since their first Premier Division season in 2015-16. Durham and Birmingham meet this Saturday to determine who will join Hampstead at the finals.
In the relegation pool, already relegated Barnes won only their second league match of the season defeating 11th placed Clifton Robinsons 4-3. Bowdon v University of Nottingham ended 1-1, the third draw the teams have played out this season. This extends Nottingham’s advantage over Clifton to two points. Bowdon are five points clear of the Bristol team.
Premier Division Top Scorers
Darcy Bourne (Surbiton) 16
Biba Mills (East Grinstead) 15
Erica Sanders (Surbiton) 15
Lizzy Pocknell (Durham University) 14
Coca Hall (University of Birmingham) 10
Premier Division Clean Sheets
Jessica Buchanan (Wimbledon) 9
Miriam Pritchard (Hampstead & Westminster) 7
Ayeisha McFerran (Surbiton) 6
Tilly Woodhead (University of Birmingham) 4
Open/Men’s Premier Division
The current champions, Surbiton, kept up their 100% record with two wins in Open/Men’s Pool A to secure a place at Finals weekend in a fortnight’s time. They beat Holcombe 8-2 on Saturday and Cardiff & Met 6-0 the day after. Hampstead & Westminster also beat the same opposition on the reverse days, overcoming Cardiff 5-1 on Saturday and Holcombe 5-3 the day after. The Holcombe game was 3-3 going into the last ten minutes before second goals of the game from Damon Steffens and Jolyon Morgan, secured the win for Hampstead who join Surbiton in the Finals. The teams play next Saturday to determine top spot in Pool A. Holcombe now haven’t reached the final four since 2022-23.
In Pool B, Old Georgians qualified for the Finals weekend in style with a 5-1 win over East Grinstead and a 10-0 win over Oxted which saw Sam Ward’s four goal haul, his third hat-trick of the season. Wimbledon too have secured their spot at Finals weekend with 6-3 and 6-1 victories over Oxted and East Grinstead. They meet OGs this weekend and after two 1-1 draws to date this season it may take a shootout to decide who gets top spot. For Oxted there will be no repeat of the finals appearance last season, they meet EG on Saturday hoping to end an eight-game losing streak.
Both relegation play-offs ended in 1-1 draws. Brooklands MU’s draw at Beeston means that they are relegated and for the home team it means their hopes of joining them are diminished as they trail Reading and Southgate by four and three points respectively after those two teams played out a draw at Sonning Lane.
Premier Division Top Scorers
Nick Bandurak (Surbiton) 28
Damon Steffens (Hampstead & Westminster) 22
Sam Ward (Old Georgians) 19
Henry Croft (Old Georgians) 17
Teague Marcano (Holcombe) 17
Premier Division Clean Sheets
James Mazarelo (Old Georgians) 7
Calum Douglas (Surbiton) 6
Dom Dixon (Holcombe) 3
