Seán
Cotter previews Surbiton’s trip “up North” to
play Bowdon on Sunday 15 March:
Surbiton’s bid to become England’s top men’s team
continues near Manchester this Sunday (15 March) when they play
Bowdon in that city’s delightfully leafy commuter belt near
Altrincham in Cheshire (as favoured by Manchester United footballers),
pushing off at 2pm.
The squad are travelling up on Saturday and staying overnight to
avoid travel weariness for this vital fixture.
Although the Long Ditton-based club from the equally delightful
leafy borough of Elmbridge in Surrey (as favoured by Chelsea footballers)
currently lie fifth in the elite 10-team Slazenger National Premier
Division with three fixtures remaining, they only trail leaders
East Grinstead by four points, second-placed Cannock by three, third-placed
Beeston by two and fourth-placed Reading by one.
In their final two fixtures Surbiton play Beeston away and then
East Grinstead at home. So victory at seventh-placed Bowdon, who
trail them by 14 points after 15 games and whom they beat 5-4 at
Sugden Road in November’s reverse fixture, is vital.
Although Surbiton have only lost once so far this season, seven
draws mean that top place depends on results elsewhere. But a first-three
EuroLeague-qualifying spot remains very much in the squad’s
own hands.
For those planning to make the long trip North on Sunday, directions
to Bowdon HC can be found at:
http://www.bowdonclub.com/general1/ContactUs.html
By the way, for Southerners reading this piece, if asking the way,
Bowdon is pronounced “Beau”don, not “Bough”don.
Surbiton maintained their challenge with a hard-fought 2-1 home
win over relegation-threatened ninth-placed Havant last Saturday.
Tim Pinnock put them ahead from open-play in the fifth minute, only
for their former player Calum Giles to equalise from a penalty corner
ten minutes later.
In a dour second half Olympian Ben Hawes deflected in a penalty
corner for what turned out to be the winner 16 minutes from time.
From Surbiton Hockey Club website: www.surbitonhc.com
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