England Hockey League 2023/24 Premier Division Weekend 5 Preview

It couldn’t be tighter at the top of the Men’s Premier Division with five teams level on points. Two of those teams take on each other in a South West London derby on Saturday when Surbiton host Wimbledon (6pm).

Surbiton won both matches last season, with Wimbledon searching for their first victory at Sugden Road for over three years.

Mark Pearn’s side have mustered 17 goals from their four games so far and defender Brendan Creed believes that the tight start to the season, coupled with success in the Euro Hockey League, is a shot in the arm for the English game.

“I think teams are catching up with Old Georgians,” said Creed. “Ultimately this is what everyone wants, a proper title race rather than one team running away with it like last year. 

“So for everyone involved, it is starting to look like a competitive league and judging by performances in Europe, things are looking up for the English league which is brilliant for our sport in the UK.”

Old Georgians returned from Barcelona last weekend having qualified for the EHL Final8. They will hope to run out to a welcoming crowd when they host Reading on Saturday (6pm).

The champions are unbeaten against Reading, winning twice last season coupled with a draw and 5-2 win on the last day of the 2019/20 season.

Cardiff & Met face their second away trip of the season when they head to East Grinstead (6pm). Both sides suffered defeats last weekend and a win here looks crucial in their bid to rack up points and make the top six.

Former Hampstead & Westminster pair Kwan Browne and Will Calnan head back to their old club when Southgate travel to Paddington Rec for a 6pm push back.

Southgate last visited Hampstead in November 2014, when Hampstead won 1-0. Their last win away came in the previous season.

Holcombe, who performed so admirably at the EHL after narrowly going down to hosts Real Club de Polo, will also play in front of their home faithful when Oxted visit (6pm).

Oxted won 4-3 in Surrey in the club’s only meeting in 2022-23.

Beeston will be looking for a hat-trick of wins against rivals University of Nottingham (6pm).

Beeston won both Premier Division meetings last season: 2-0 at University of Nottingham in November 2022 and 2-1 at Nottingham Hockey Centre in February.

Vitality Women’s Premier Division leaders Bowdon are relishing a first National League meeting in 30 years against Wimbledon (13:30) on Saturday.

Unbeaten Bowdon have two successive clean sheets, while Wimbledon scored their first victory last weekend against East Grinstead.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity to face one of the top four sides from last season,” said Bowdon captain Sian French. “We know we can make it a difficult away trip for them.”

Bowdon have debuted two 17-year-olds this season, Priya Kerfoot and Katie Alexander, the latter also scoring her first Premier Division goal.

Meanwhile, French praised player of the match performances from Cat Booth and Kirsty Shea for their defensive form ahead of this first encounter since February 1993 when Hightown won 2-1.

Should Bowdon slip up, Surbiton will look to go top with victory on the road at Loughborough Students (2pm).

After their opening day defeat, Surbiton have won three on the bounce, scoring 11 goals in the process. They won 5-0 at Loughborough on the opening day of the 2022-23 season.

With two wins and a pair of draws, Clifton Robinsons are the only other side bar Bowdon to maintain their unbeaten start to this season.

The Bristolians face an away trip at East Grinstead (4pm) where they hope to come away with a first win since 2018. The West Sussex side have had the better of things since then, while last season’s regular season games were both drawn.

Fourth place Reading host University of Birmingham (16:30). The students beat Reading 3-2 in March, gaining revenge for a 4-1 away defeat last October.

In a local derby on Saturday, Beeston take on University of Nottingham (4pm) as part of the club’s double header against their local rivals.

The match will be only their second meeting, University of Nottingham playing their first ever top flight match at Beeston in a 2-2 draw last season.

Meanwhile, sixth-placed Hampstead & Westminster host Isca & University of Exeter (4pm) in what will be the Londoners second home match and the visitors buoyed by last weekend’s first Premier Division win.

*All stats provided by Colin Pike