Hampstead & Westminster Secure First-Ever Win At Sugden Road

Men’s Hockey League Premier Division Review – 13/14 November 2021

The race to finish top of the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division at the end of the first half of the season is set to come to a thrilling conclusion after Hampstead & Westminster ended Surbiton’s unbeaten record on Saturday night in the match rearranged from October due to both teams competing in the Euro Hockey League.

Hampstead won 2-1, but had to come from behind, Ben Boon putting Surbiton ahead in the 46^th minute from open play. Matt Guise-Brown equalised from a trademark penalty corner four minutes later before Rupert Shipperley secured Hampstead’s first ever league win at Sugden Road from open play in the 59^th minute.

Hampstead also won on Sunday, beating the University of Durham 4-0 at home to close to within four points of Surbiton and Old Georgians. Matt Ramshaw scored the only goal of the first half from open play in the 9^th minute, but further open play goals from James Oates in the 37^th minute and Joe Sharp in the 62^nd minute came either side of Matt Guise-Brown’s tenth goal of the campaign, scored from the penalty spot in the 57^th minute.

Wimbledon opened up a three point lead over both Surbiton and Old Georgians, having played a game more, courtesy of their 7-0 home win over Brooklands Manchester University on Saturday night. Brooklands trailed 1-0 at half time, Peter Scott scoring from open play in the 27^th minute, but Scott’s 37^th minute penalty corner conversion was the first of six second half goals for the hosts. Eddie Way added two quick penalty corner conversions in the 41^st and 43^rd minutes; Evan Kimber notched a brace of open play goals in the 45^th and 52^nd minutes and David Condon had the last word with an open play strike two minutes from time.

Old Georgians joined Surbiton on 21 points but remained in third place after a convincing 5-1 home win over Oxted on Sunday. James Carson gave Old Georgians a quick lead in the second minute from open play, only for Lewis Fraser to level in the 13^th minute from a penalty corner. James Albery restored the hosts’ lead from open play on the half hour mark. Ed Carson’s 38^th minute open play goal and Tom Carson’s 53^rd minute penalty corner took the game away from Oxted with Dan Shingles completing the scoring from open play in the 61^st minute.

Holcombe almost clinched their top six spot with a 5-2 home win over Beeston. Holcombe led 3-0 through Nick Bandurak’s 13^th minute and Tim Guise-Brown’s 22^nd minute penalty corner conversions and Tom O’Keefe’s 27^th minute open play goal. Beeston mounted a mini comeback, Henry Croft pulling a goal back from open play in the 29^th minute and Gareth Griffiths scoring from a penalty stroke four minutes later to reduce Holcombe’s half time advantage to 3-2. Robert Field ended Beeston’s hopes with a second half open play brace with goals in the 51^st and 68^th minutes.

The University of Exeter’s wait to end their losing run of losing matches goes on after East Grinstead beat them 3-2 in Devon. Daniel Faulkner gave East Grinstead a 3^rd minute lead from a penalty corner, before Sam Taylor equalised on the stroke of half time in the same manner. Exeter led 2-1 in the 43^rd minute courtesy of Rhys Bradshaw’s penalty stroke but East Grinstead turned the match around thanks to Louis Gittens’ open play leveller in the 46^th minute and Ben Mackey’s penalty corner winner in the 59^th.

With Surbiton due to host Wimbledon next Saturday and visit Old Georgians the following Sunday, there are bound to be further twists and turns before the first half of the season comes to a close.