Super 6s Preview: Hampstead & Westminster v Wimbledon

The second men’s semi-final taking place at the 2022 Super 6s Finals Day on Sunday 30 January will be an all-London affair between Hampstead & Westminster and Wimbledon.

There was a total of 14 goals scored when they met in the Men’s Premier Division earlier this month – will they match that tally this weekend?

Road to the Copper Box

Hampstead & Westminster set the early form in the Men’s Premier Division, winning each of their opening five games to sit top of the group. They suffered two narrow defeats in their final three matches but were missing players on international duty and, with many of them due to return, will be confident they can get back to winning ways at the Copper Box.

Wimbledon were the second highest scorers in the men’s league and put 12 past Brooklands in their third fixture. They lost just once and were the only team to inflict a defeat on eventual table toppers Surbiton but two draws meant they narrowly missed out on finishing in second place.

Super 6s history

Neither side has claimed a national indoor title before, meaning both will be chomping at the bit to lay their hands on the trophy for the first time at the end of Finals Day on Sunday.

This will be Wimbledon’s third appearance at the showpiece event in recent history, having been knocked out by Team Bath Buccs in the 2018 semi-finals and Surbiton at the same stage two years later.

Hampstead & Westminster have only reached the final four once in the last few years, suffering defeat at the hands of East Grinstead in 2019.

Head-to-head

This will be the first meeting between the two teams at a Finals Day, with their three previous indoor clashes coming in the Men’s Premier Division.

Hampstead & Westminster have won two of those games – including an 8-6 victory earlier this month – meaning Wimbledon will be wanting to level proceedings by walking away with a win on Sunday.

Players to watch

Teague Marcano provided much of Hampstead’s firepower in the Men’s Premier Division, the 21-year-old finding the net 15 times in just eight matches. Experienced Irish athlete Chris Cargo could feature alongside fellow internationals Toby Reynolds-Cotterill, Rupert Shipperley, Matt Guise-Brown, Will Calnan and Dan Kyriakides while exciting youngsters James Oates and Matt Ramshaw may also feature.

Ed Horler was similarly lethal for Wimbledon during qualification, his tally of 19 goals bettered only by Surbiton’s Jamie Golden. His abilities in front of goal will be complimented by the experience and guile of goalkeeper James Bailey at the other end of the pitch. Several international players could feature, including Liam Ansell, Rhys Smith and Jack Waller, while Wales’ Ben Francis will look to add to the nine goals he scored in the Premier Division.