Men’s Hockey League Premier Division Review – 30/31 October 2021
Wimbledon had gone top on Saturday night with a 2-0 home win over Old Georgians, who are still awaiting their first win over Wimbledon in the Premier Division. Ed Horler broke the deadlock in the 17th minute from open play before Michael Hoare clinched the win from a penalty corner in the penultimate minute. Old Georgians dropped to third, but could regain second place if they win their game in hand over Wimbledon.
Surbiton returned to the top of the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division on goal difference with a 7-0 home win over the University of Exeter on Sunday afternoon. Ben Park opened the scoring in the 9th minute before Rob Farrington doubled Surbiton’s lead in the 16th minute, both goals coming from open play.
Luke Taylor converted penalty corners in the 24th and 34th minutes before Ben Park scored his second goal of the match in the 35th minute from open play. Farrington scored Surbiton’s sixth goal from open play in the 58th minute with the final goal coming from the penalty spot as Taylor completed his hat-trick with what proved to be a non-unlucky 13th goal of the campaign on Halloween, Exeter losing 7-0 at Sugden Road for the second successive visit.
Fourth placed Hampstead & Westminster and fifth placed Oxted were both inactive: Hampstead due to travel issues which prevented them fulfilling their fixture at Brooklands Manchester University, which was postponed as a result, whilst Oxted were on their bye week.
On Sunday, Holcombe moved into the top six with a 2-1 home win over East Grinstead, who are now four points adrift of ninth place after their fourth defeat in five matches. Holcombe led through Nick Bandurak’s fourth minute penalty stroke before Jamie Wallace levelled in the 17th minute through open play. Barry Middleton won the game for the hosts with an open play goal four minutes before the interval to give Holcombe their fourth home win over East Grinstead in six meetings.
The University of Durham moved up to seventh after a 3-2 home win over Beeston. Henry Croft’s 4th minute open play saw Durham trail early, but Beeston were behind by half time, Max Garner equalising in the 18th minute and Christian DeAngelis putting Durham ahead in the 33rd minute.
Sam Apoola seemed to have earned the Nottingham club a point with his 66th minute open play goal, but Durham’s leading goalscorer, Raunaq Rai scored the winner, again from open play two minutes from time.
Beeston are 8th, level on points with Brooklands Manchester University but having played a game more.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Surbiton | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 8 | 28 | 18 |
| 2 | Wimbledon | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 7 | 18 | 18 |
| 3 | Old Georgians | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 4 | 20 | 15 |
| 4 | Hampstead & Westminster | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 11 |
| 5 | Oxted | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 18 | -8 | 9 |
| 6 | Holcombe | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 7 |
| 7 | University of Durham | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 26 | -19 | 6 |
| 8 | Beeston | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 16 | -4 | 5 |
| 9 | Brooklands MU | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 18 | -8 | 5 |
| 10 | East Grinstead | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 24 | -16 | 1 |
| 11 | University of Exeter | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 22 | -15 | 0 |