The race for the fourth and final qualification place for the Championship play-offs will go to the last round of fixtures after both Surbiton and Bowdon Hightown won last Saturday to stay in contention.

Surbiton won 6-1 at Slough, a result which also confirmed Slough’s relegation from the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division. 

Meanwhile, Bowdon won 5-3 at Sutton Coldfield to remain a point behind Surbiton.

Surbiton host Canterbury this weekend with both sides needing to win. 

Surbiton can clinch their play-off place, while Canterbury, who hold a slim one point lead over second-placed Leicester, can qualify for Europe by finishing top of the table.

At Slough, Surbiton led 3-0 after just 13 minutes, all three goals coming from penalty corner conversions. 

Sarah Page struck in the sixth minute, and then scored a carbon copy goal two minutes later, as Slough’s defence struggled to cope with Surbiton’s penalty corner routine. 

The 30th minute also proved to be unlucky for the hosts, as Surbiton captain, Sarah Haycroft made it three conversions from three awards, putting the visitors firmly in control.

Slough pulled a goal back through leading scorer, Amy Sheehan, four minutes before half time, but any hopes of a comeback were ended by Georgie Twigg’s open play goal just before the break, which left Slough trailing 4-1.

Slough’s misery continued in the second half, Page completing her hat-trick within a minute of the restart following a breathtaking passing move.  Hannah Coulson scored her second goal in three games, with Surbiton’s fourth penalty corner conversion of the match, to give the visitors a convincing 6-1 win.