ENGLAND INTERNATIONALS RETURN TO LEAGUE ACTION

By Seán Cotter for “Surrey Comet” and “Surrey Advertiser Elmbridge Edition” 18 September 2009:

Surbiton will have all five of their European gold medallists back on board for the first time since England’s triumphant 18-man squad lifted the European Cup with a thrilling 5-3 victory over world top-ranked Germany in Amsterdam at the end of August when their start their league campaign in Cheshire against Bowdon this Sunday.

Three of them – Ben Hawes, Rob Moore and James Tindall – returned for the first time when Surbiton, who finished fifth of ten last campaign, achieved the considerable boost of a 2-1 away win over National Premier Division runners-up Reading in their final pre-season friendly last Sunday afternoon.

After the hosts had still led 1-0 at half time from a 10th-minute penalty corner, Alberto Esteban, one of the Elmbridge club's two new Spanish signings, equalised two minutes into the second half and then six minutes later Tim Pinnock dragflicked home from a penalty corner what turned out to be the winner.

With the England trio’s squad mate Matt Daly having played in Surbiton’s 5-2 penultimate pre-season friendly home win over newly-promoted University of Exeter on Saturday the previous week, only Richard Alexander of the “famous five” has not appeared in Surbiton colours since Amsterdam.

Other new signings who played against Reading as well as Esteban and are all in the squad for Bowdon are Alejandro Iglesias (another Spaniard from Club de Campo), Mike Houlihan from Southgate, Joseph (Sam) Middleton from Bournville and goalkeeper Chris Bristow from Havant.

This season the top five premier division clubs will compete in a newly-instituted post-season play-of competition to determine the three Euro League places on offer and Surbiton start their quest to qualify for Europe for the first time since 2003 against a team who finished eighth last season, just avoiding the relegation play-offs and losing twice to their visitors, 4-5 away at Sugden Road and 1-4 at home.