The race for the South Clubs’ Women’s Hckey League Division One title will go down to the wirte after Surbiton Ladies drew 0-0 at eighth-placed Harrow on Saturday.

Surbiton held a nine-point lead over Reading 1A five games ago but, while Surbiton have managed just four points from their past four games, their rivals have won all four of their ties.

They were grateful for a fine double save from keeper Jeanne Heunis in the first half at Harrow, while Surbiton were unable to convert any of their five penalty corners.

That means they must beat Oxford Hawks at Sugden Road on Saturday (11.30am) to clinch the title. Reading, 3-1 winners at Epsom on Saturday, host Harrow in their final game.

Surbiton have already clinched promotion to the England Hockey League, as Reading 1A cannot be promoted because second teams are not allowed to play in the EHL.

It’s all a lot more complicated for the men’s first team, who can finish anywhere from second to fourth in the final table after the final round of the elite 10-team National Premier Division fixtures, which all take place at 2pm this Sunday, with Surbiton at home to seventh-placed Bowdon.

Basically, they need to win and hope second-placed East Grinstead lose at home to Cannock to ensure a home semi-final against the Sussex side on Sunday, April 25.

But a defeat, coupled with a win for fourth-placed Beeston at home to Loughborough Students, would mean a home fixture in the fourth/fifth play-off the previous day, with the winners at home to Reading in the semi-finals.

Any other combination of results would mean third place and a semi-final away to East Grinstead.

Surbiton put themselves in this position by losing away to Reading on Sunday after dropping from second to third after East Grinstead won 4-3 with a late goal at Loughborough Students in one of the four other fixtures all played on Saturday and Beeston caught up three points on them with a 3-1 home victory over Bowdon in another.

At Sonning Lane the next day, Richard Alexander, one of three of their four World Cup England World Cup internationals returned from India, scored for the visitors from open play in the second minute and captain Tim Pinnock from a penalty corner with six minutes remaining, but in between his team conceded three goals to the already-confirmed league table toppers.