Wimbledon Waltz To Emphatic First National Indoor Title On unforgettable Super 6s Finals Day

Wimbledon delivered a blistering exhibition of wall-to-wall hockey to blow away East Grinstead and clinch their maiden indoor national title on Super 6s Finals Day at the Copper Box Arena.

On Hockey’s Big Day In at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the three-time Finals Day participants emphatically banished their finish-line demons as Evan Kimber and Benjamin Francis’ hat-tricks helped them avenge their 2018 and 2020 semi-final heartache.

Francis, Duncan Scott, Liam Ansell and Kimber got the party started for the West Londoners as Wimbledon opened up a commanding 4-0 advantage at the interval.

That left East Grinstead – whose women’s team had won the title earlier in the day – with a miracle to muster but more goals from Francis, Kimber, Duncan Scott, Peter Scott and Rhys Smith after half-time propelled Wimbledon to victory in front of a buzzing Copper Box crowd.

East Grinstead, who finished fourth behind Wimbledon in their Premier Division group, held the scores at 0-0 for the majority of the first period before Francis broke the deadlock.

And it was after the first quarter when the Stratford floodgates really opened, with Scott, Ansell and Kimber all grabbing goals to thrill the travelling contingent.

The score at the halfway stage left East Grinstead with a mountain to climb if they were to emulate their women’s team – and it proved insurmountable as a similarly one-sided second half unfolded.

Francis and Kimber netted two more in the third quarter before Rhys Smith made it seven heaven at the start of the final phase.

East Grinstead chalked a consolation through Richard Lane but two more goals from the Scotts – Peter and Duncan – bolstered by Kimber and Francis completing their hat-tricks fired Wimbledon to an unforgettable first Super 6s title in style.

Earlier in the day, the Copper Box atmosphere was rapidly reaching fever pitch by the time Surbiton and East Grinstead took to the pitch for the first clash of the afternoon.

And roared on by a raucous away following behind the goal, it was East Grinstead who secured the first spot in the men’s final after a thrilling, shootout-fuelled encounter.

The Sussex side emerged the fastest from the traps as Daniel Faulkner fired home across goalkeeper Luke Taylor after just three minutes.

They soon doubled their advantage when Sam Hatherley netted but Surbiton, who beat Holcombe to be crowned men’s kings in 2020, showcased all their battling spirit when Zach Wallace intelligently cut the deficit.

East Grinstead responded almost immediately as Ben Mackey’s piledriver into the roof of the net re-established their two-goal cushion.

Gareth Furlong grabbed a quickfire double to level the scores after the first break but just before half-time, Ross Stott netted East Grinstead’s fourth to edge them back in front at the interval.

Surbiton responded once more, however, when in-form Jamie Golden racked up his 21^st goal of the Super 6s campaign to tee up a nerve-jangling, see-saw last 20 minutes under the lights.

Golden looked to have grabbed the dramatic clincher with just one minute left on the clock but battling East Grinstead just wouldn’t go away as Niall Stott levelled once more.

Surbiton almost snatched it right at the death when Golden – who was green-carded along with Faulkner and James Gall in an increasingly heated affair – was brilliantly denied by goalkeeper Richard Curtis.

That meant the game went to a dramatic shootout – and it was Grinstead goalkeeper Richard Curtis who proved the hero as his saves to deny David Goodfield and the usually-clinical Golden fired his side into the final.

Wimbledon saw off Hampstead & Westminster in the day’s second men’s semi-final as Kimber and Francis grabbed yet more Finals Day goals.

The first half was a nip and tuck affair but Kimber’s strike at the end of the opening quarter proved enough to haul the 2020 semi-finalists in front.

Hampstead & Westminster – who finished above their opponents in second in the Premier Division table – did well to keep themselves in the contest up to half-time but just after the break, Wimbledon turned the screw.

Francis struck shortly into the third-quarter to open up daylight between the sides and give Hampstead a mountain to climb.

Teague Marcano pulled one back for Hampstead but when Ansell netted a fine third for his side after a free-flowing passing move, Wimbledon’s place in the final was secure – laying the foundations for that unforgettable display and their first ever indoor trophy.