A large crowd at Sugden Road were treated to a thrilling finale to the Slazenger England Hockey League season this afternoon as Surbiton played host to East Grinstead.
Here are the maths. If EG won the match they would take the Premiership title. If they lost and Beeston won at Hampstead, Beeston would be crowned champions. If both lost, then Reading would be in with a chance, provided the score improved their goal difference. There were several permutations in between, but you may have got the flavour of the importance of winning. The England Hockey President, Martin Gotheridge, was at Sugden Road, along with the League Trophy, not knowing whether he would have to drive with the trophy to Paddington Rec, or Sonning Lane, or simply stay put to make the presentation
East Grinstead got off to a dream start, with their German international Martin Haner cracking in a penalty corner within the first four minutes. Matt Daly replied after 15 minutes and at 1-1 that is how the match went into the break. Five minutes in the second half Danny Hall put EG back into the lead but James Tindall equalised literally seconds later. Then the whole match seemed to fall apart for Grinstead. A breakaway and solo run by Matt Daly left only George Harris left between Daly and the East Grinstead net. When they met at the top of the ‘D’, Daly was upended (see our picture), and umpire Andrew Kennedy pointed straight to the penalty spot, before producing a yellow card for Harris. Ben Hawes stepped up and put Surbiton in the lead for the first time in the match. East Grinstead looked demoralised as the match started to slip away from them.
But the match was to have a fairy tale ending for East Grinstead. Their Dominic Male scored twice in the space of five minutes to give them the lead and, just to add some icing to the cake Haner scored his second from a penalty corner as the match came to its conclusion. Final score: 5-3 to East Grinstead. Although it was East Grinstead’s day, they deserve credit for the part that they played in putting on a display of entertaining hockey.
As it happens, the threat of stealing the trophy, had East Grinstead lost, came from Reading, not Beeston. What seems like an annual tussle between them and Cannock for the title ended with Reading winning 5-0. Austin Smith scored a hat-trick , with Richard Mantell and Jonty Clarke getting themselves on the scoresheet. Cannock, who have long been out of contention, finished their season in fourth place, five points behind Beeston.
There was a school of thought that Beeston’s match against Hampstead & Westminster was an obvious win for Beeston. But Hampstead’s Will Naylor had other ideas. Having seen the lead that his early goal had given his side wiped out by Beeston’s Richard Stamp, he scored two more in the last four minutes to give his side a 3-1 win.
In other matches, the match between Havant and Southgate was won 3-2 by Havant. The fate of these two stuggling sides has been known for some time, and Southgate go out of the Premiership after only one season, whilst Havant will have their future decided in the play-offs. Bowdon went down to a late James Osborne goal to Loughborough Students and finish one above the play-off place.
SLAZENGER ENGLAND HOCKEY LEAGUE MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
Champions: East Grinstead 41 points (+31)
Runners-up: Reading 38 points (+28)
Relegation play-off: Havant 12 points (-28)
Relegated: Southgate 5 points (-41)
At the top of the MEN’S EAST CONFERENCE, goals by Neil Turk and Johannes Kloess gave Oxted the win they needed against Sevenoaks to stay ahead of Canterbury. Canterbury, who were playing Indian Gymkhana, also won today. The final score was 4-3, although the outcome could have been different if Gymkhana’s Tejinder Hanspal had not missed a penalty. Chelmsford recorded a 6-3 win over Chelmsford, pulling them clear of the relegation play-off spot. City of Peterborough now occupy that slot, courtesy of a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Old Loughtonians.
SLAZENGER ENGLAND HOCKEY LEAGUE MEN’S EAST CONFERENCE:
Promotion play-offs: Oxted 43 points (+38)
Runners-up: Canterbury 41 points (+29)
Relegation play-off: City of Peterborough 7 points (-54)
Relegated: Ipswich 6 points (-62)
Brooklands and Belper met in a match that would decide the MEN’S NORTH CONFERENCE. Brooklands held onto their unbeaten league record thanks to two late second half goals from Ollie Cooper. The final score of 3-3 keeps Brooklands one point ahead of Belper. By coincidence, the ninth and tenth side also met today but their future had already been decided. Just for the record, Telford and Wrekin beat Formy 4-0.
SLAZENGER ENGLAND HOCKEY LEAGUE MEN’S NORTH CONFERENCE:
Promotion play-offs: Brooklands MU 44 points (+53)
Runners-up: Belper 43 points (+45)
Relegation play-off: Formby 12 points (-44)
Relegated: Telford & Wrekin 4 points (-43)
In the MEN’s WEST CONFERENCE Firebrands may live to fight another day. Their 2-1 win over Bournville lifts them above Cardiff, who lost 3-1 to Bath Buccaneers. Firebrands will now have to go forward to the play-offs to discover their fate. Promoted Exeter University won their remaining match, beating Stourport 4-3.
SLAZENGER ENGLAND HOCKEY LEAGUE MEN’S WEST CONFERENCE:
Promotion play-offs: University of Exeter 42 points (+25)
Runners-up: Guildford 32 points (+32)
Relegation play-off: Firebrands 16 points (-36)
Relegated: Cardiff & UCWIC 14 points (-20)
