Tindall fires OG’s back to the summit of Men’s Premier League

Men’s Hockey League Premier Division Review – 23/24 October 2021

Old Georgians returned to the top of the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division after their 6-0 home win over the University of Durham on Sunday afternoon was just enough to move above Surbiton with a one better goal difference.

James Tindall gave Old Georgians a 1-0 half time lead with an 18^th minute open play goal before Durham were swamped by five second half goals. Tom Doran doubled the hosts lead in the 43^rd minute from open play with Ashley Jackson converting a penalty corner three minutes later. Chris Proctor scored Old Georgians’ fourth goal in the 52^nd minute before Tom Carson scored in the 64^th minute and having opened the scoring, Tindall had the final say with five minutes remaining, all three goals coming from open play.

Surbiton had set the target on Saturday evening with a 6-1 win at East Grinstead. Luke Taylor converted a 7^th minute penalty corner with his tenth goal of the season, one behind leading divisional goalscorer, Sam Ward. David Goodfield quickly scored a brace with open play goals in the 23^rd and 24^th minutes, before Jamie Wallace pulled a goal back for East Grinstead with another open play goal in the 25^th minute.

Surbiton were even quicker in the second half, Jamie Golden and Ben Boon both scoring in the 38^th minute with Ben Park scoring the visitors’ sixth goal in the 52^nd minute as East Grinstead conceded three open play goals after half time.

Having played a game more, Wimbledon are also on 15 points thanks to their 2-1 win at the University of Exeter on Saturday afternoon. Both Wimbledon goals came from penalty corners, Sam Hooper netting in the 5^th minute and Ed Horler two minutes before the interval. Jake Payton scored for Exeter in the 60^th minute, but Wimbledon came away with all three points.

Hampstead & Westminster lost further ground after being held to a 2-2 draw for the second week running. Having previously drawn at Beeston, they were held at home by Holcombe on Sunday afternoon. Hampstead seemed to be on course for the win with eleven minutes to play after Toby Roche scored from open play in the 24^th minute and Sam French converted a penalty corner. But Holcombe struck twice from open play in the last nine minutes, Harry Trusler reducing the deficit in the 61^st minute and Nick Bandurak levelling in the 65^th.

Also on Sunday, Beeston had to come from behind to secure their first win of the season, 3-1 at home to Oxted. Josh Birtles gave Oxted a 19^th minute lead before Ben Collinson equalised in the 26^th minute to make the half time score 1-1. Sam Apoola put Beeston ahead for the first time in the match in the 39^th minute, with Henry Croft making sure of the win in the last minute, all four goals scored from open play.