Rover Oxford Ladies 1 Surbiton Ladies 7

Resuming after the mid-season break, Surbiton Ladies maintained their four point lead at the top of South Clubs’ Women’s Hockey League Division One, but had to recover from falling behind in the fourth minute to lead 3-1 by the 10th; sealing a comprehensive victory with four goals in the second half.

Colt players Emma Broad and Kate Holmes made their first-team debuts, with Broad immediately in the action, confidently passing to Helen Grant.

Grant could have given the visitors the lead in the second minute following excellent support play from Eleanor Jolly and Maddie Tait, but it was the home team who took a shock lead through Rebecca Hibbert, with the Surbiton defence partially handicapped by a blinding sun.

Rover’s joy was short-lived, as Grant equalised for Surbiton from the restart. Three minutes later, Sian Craze set up Grant’s second goal of the match to give the visitors the lead.

In the 10th minute, Surbiton’s lead was extended courtesy of a home defender, but the goal was credited to Kelly Taylor as own goals are not awarded in hockey.

There was no further scoring in the first half, both sides failing to score from set-pieces: Rover Oxford shooting wide from their only penalty corner award; and Surbiton likewise unable to convert any of their three.

In the second half, Surbiton’s penalty corner conversion rate dramatically improved thanks to Emma Jones drag flicking two successive penalty corners in the 44th and 48th minutes, to leave Rover Oxford trailing 5-1.

With 15 minutes remaining, debutante Holmes was ideally positioned at the left post to poke home a cross from the right, to allow Surbiton to match their six goal tally in the opening game of the season at Sugden Road in September.

Seven minutes from the end, Grant completed her hat-trick with her 13th league goal of the season, as Surbiton coincidentally breached the Rover Oxford defence for the 13th time over the two league matches.

Reading 1A remain four points behind the leaders after a 1-0 home win over Hampstead & Westminster.

Southampton’s game at Epsom was postponed, so Surbiton’s win extended their lead over their nearest promotion rivals to nine points, with Southampton having a game in hand.

Woking, who are just above Rover Oxford on goal difference in ninth place, are the visitors to Sugden Road on Saturday (February 6) with an early pushback at 10 am.

SURBITON LADIES: Heunis (GK & Capt.), Jenkins, Heptonstall, Philp, Jolly, Taylor, Jones, Grant, Tait, Broad, Craze. Subs: Clacher, Holmes.