Surbiton Ladies extended their lead at the top of the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division to six points following their 2-1 home win over second placed Buckingham on Saturday afternoon. East Grinstead are now second and Holcombe, Surbiton’s next opponents tomorrow (Saturday) are third.

Buckingham took the lead through Lottie Porter in the eleventh minute before Georgie Twigg equalised with a 26th minute penalty corner conversion. The match was decided by a goal of the season contender, Alice Sharp beating defenders with a left flank run before bearing down on goal and unleashing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net in the 49th minute.

Surbiton’s Giselle Ansley, Sarah Evans, Sabbie Heesh, Hannah Martin and Erica Sanders have all been selected to represent Great Britain in the last Women’s Champions Trophy in Changzhou, China from 17-25 November. The squad will be captained by Surbiton’s Hollie Pearne-Webb.

Surbiton Men were held to a 2-2 draw by second placed Hampstead & Westminster on Saturday evening on a weekend when four of the five Men’s Hockey League Premier Division games ended all square. Surbiton’s advantage over Hampstead remains mere goal difference.

Hampstead had just conceded two goals in their first six league games, but Surbiton only needed four minutes to breach their defence, Arjan Drayton Chana’s run setting up the opportunity for Alan Forsyth to turn and score his twelfth league goal of the campaign. Hampstead were on level terms seven minutes later when Paul Melkert equalised from open play, but Tim Atkins’ penalty corner conversion six minutes before half time restored Surbiton’s lead.

Former Surbiton player, Rupert Shipperley rescued a point for Hampstead in the 48th minute, again from a penalty corner. Surbiton visit Holcombe on Sunday.

Surbiton’s Brendan Creed, James Gall, David Goodfield, Harry Gibson, Luke Taylor and Zach Wallace were in the England squad which finished fourth in a Four Nations tournament in Valencia. England lost to Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain all by a 2-1 scoreline; their semi-final 3-0 to Spain and the bronze medal match 4-3 in a shootout after a 2-2 draw with Ireland in normal time.