Surbiton Ladies 4 Oxford Hawks Ladies 0

Surbiton Ladies ended their recent disappointing run of form to finally clinch the South Clubs’ Women’s Hockey League Division One title with a 4-0 win over seventh-placed Oxford Hawks at Sugden Road on Saturday.

Reading 1A kept up the pressure on the leaders with an 8-0 home win over Harrow, but finished the season as runners-up, one point behind.

Aware that a victory was needed, Surbiton’s Hannah Oakes challenged the visiting defence in the second minute, only to send her shot past the right post.

A minute later, she had another shot blocked following good support play from Sian Craze and Kelly Taylor.

Taylor also probed the defence by carrying the ball down the right wing and along the byline; and Craze was unlucky as Hawks goalkeeper Evelyn Hargraves made an excellent glove save to stop a reverse-stick shot.

Penalty corner specialist Emma Jones was also unfortunate as, from Surbiton’s first penalty corner, her shot was deflected past the left post by a defender’s stick; and Hargraves saved from the home team’s second award.

Surbiton took the lead five minutes before half-time, Emma Royce passing to Molly Hanson-Akins, whose cross from the left was turned in by Taylor.

Having made the breakthrough, Surbiton looked to extend their lead in the second half, Helen Grant shooting past the left post from a Hanson-Akins pass.

Minnie James attacked down the right; but Surbiton had to wait until their third penalty corner award in the 54th minute before they could double their lead.

Grant converted from the edge of the circle to score her 20th league goal of the season, and 25th in all competitions.

Three minutes later, Surbiton showed their devastating attacking potential as a one-two breakaway move involving Craze and Grant split the Hawks’ defence, Grant making the final pass for Craze to send the ball into an empty goal with an outstretched stick.

With six minutes remaining, Hannah Oakes scored Surbiton’s fourth goal, to ensure that Surbiton won their second successive SCWHL league title, having been promoted from Division Two only the previous season.

Surbiton will now have to wait for various promotion and relegation play-offs to be completed in the England Hockey League in May, before the 30 teams who will compete at Conference level next season will be decided, and then geographically allocated to the appropriate regional Conference.

SURBITON LADIES: Heunis (GK); Jenkins, Heptonstall (Capt.), Royce, James, Hanson-Akins, Tait, Jones, Taylor, Oakes, Craze. Subs: Grant, Holmes, Jolly