Seán Cotter previews a big weekend at Surbiton HC (27.3.2009):

The England Hockey president, Martin Gotheridge, will be at Sugden Road on Sunday (29 March) to present the Slazenger EHL Premier Division Trophy.

But sadly it will not to be to Surbiton Men’s 1st XI. A 2-1 defeat by Beeston at Highfields Hockey Centre last Saturday (21 March) and results elsewhere in the penultimate round of league games put paid to the visitors chances of both the championship and a top-three EuroLeague-qualifying spot.

If leaders East Grinstead (38 points) win in Long Ditton this Sunday, then president Gotheridge will be presenting them with the Trophy. But if Surbiton (31 points) win or draw he could be jumping into his car and hot rodding it to Paddington Recreation Ground where second-placed Beeston, who trail the leaders by just one point, meet Hampstead & Westminster (only 14 points), currently seventh in England’s elite 10-team league.

Or, if both EG and Beeston lose and third-placed Reading (35 points) beat fourth-placed Cannock (32 points) by enough goals, his journey could be down the M4 to Sonning Lane.

The best fifth-placed Surbiton on 31 points can hope for is to finish fourth, one better than last season. But there is still plenty to celebrate at the Elmbridge club this weekend.

Its Ladies’ 1st XI clinched the South Clubs’ Women Hockey League Division Two championship with a 5-2 win away to Teddington last Saturday (21 March). For good measure they then defeated Maidenhead 2-1 away at Altwood School on Sunday (22 March).

Surbiton Ladies 1st XI celebrate winning the South Clubs' Women's Hockey League Division Two championship (photo - Richard Heptonstall)

The place in Division One next season will be the highest achieved in its history by the club’s Ladies’ Section, which is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this season now with six teams in all and its flagship squad only one promotion away from National English League Conference status.

So there should be a big crowd at Sugden Road at 2.30pm this Saturday (28 March) when its top team plays its last league game of the season against relegation-threatened Wanderers.

Last weekend also saw the Men’s 2nd XI clinch the championship of the prestigious Higgins Group London Premier League with 5-0 wins at home to third-placed Hampstead & Westminster on Saturday (21 March) and away to bottom-placed Old Georgians in Weybridge on Sunday (22 March).

The Twos have played their last league game, but, in the second leg of possible treble, defend the Surrey Cup in the Final against Old Walcountians 1st XI at Spencer Hockey Club on Sunday (29 March) at 2pm (frustratingly the same time as the 1st XI are playing East Grinstead at Sugden Road).

The M2 also play either Reading or Southgate in the semi final of the Higgins Group London Premier League Cup at Sugden Road on Saturday 4 April, with the Finals of all its Division’s League Cups also being at Sugden Road on Saturday 18 April.

Sadly, the 1st XI clash with Slazenger EHL National Premier Division leaders East Grinstead this Sunday (Sugden Road, 2pm) will not have the edge it would have done if Surbiton had won, or even drawn, last Sunday.

But there will still be a big crowd for Old Members’ Day at a club, now with ten men’s league sides in all, celebrating its Centenary at Sugden Road, having moved there after being founded in Balaclava Road, Surbiton, in 1874, as the second oldest hockey club in the world.

(expanded combined version of two separate previews submitted to “Surrey Comet” plus “Richmond & Twickenham Times” for Friday 27 March; and “Kingston Informer” for Friday 27 March)