Surbiton Ladies completed their pre-season preparation, drawing with Conference East rivals, Ipswich, at Reed’s School on Saturday, and easily beating South Clubs’ Women’s Hockey League Division 2 runners-up, Teddington, at St George’s College on Monday evening.

Kelly Taylor, making her first appearance of the season against Ipswich after missing the first three matches, made an immediate impact, finishing off Surbiton’s first penalty corner in the eleventh minute, and then becoming goal provider, Molly Hanson Akins touching in Taylor’s shot at the left post in the 26th minute.

Emma Millar pulled a goal back for the East Anglian side four minutes before half time, converting their first penalty corner. Hannah Martin equalised from open play in the 53rd minute.

SURBITON LADIES: Davies (GK); Heptonstall (Capt.), Jenkins, McDonald, Ford, Robinson, Rowland-Jones, Tait, Hanson Akins, Teasdale, Morgan. Subs: Tranquille-Day (GK), Grant, Taylor

Surbiton eased to victory against Teddington, but only after they took time to find their rhythm in a game played over three periods.

Hanson Akins gave Surbiton the lead in the tenth minute; with Emma Rowland-Jones converting a penalty corner seven minutes later to double their lead; but they received a much needed wake-up call in the 20th minute, Aimee Byrne’s strike bringing Teddington back into the game.

A team talk at the end of the first 25 minute period worked wonders, as within two minutes of the restart, Rowland-Jones converted her second penalty corner of the game to restore Surbiton’s two goal lead.

After failing to score from several chances, Surbiton scored twice in two minutes: Vicky Bryant scoring from open play in the 41st minute, closely followed by Victoria Heptonstall’s penalty corner deflection, which sent the ball high into the roof of the net, to establish a 5-1 lead.

Bryant completed her hat-trick, and the rout, with two further open play goals in the 49th and 55th minutes to ensure that Surbiton finished their pre-season in seventh heaven.

SURBITON LADIES: Davies (GK); Gordon, Heptonstall (Capt.), Jenkins, McDonald, Ford, Robinson, Rowland-Jones, Teasdale, Morgan, Bryant. Subs: Brooker, Hanson Akins, James, Royce

With the Sugden Road water-based pitch being re-carpeted, Surbiton will play their first-ever England Hockey League match against Dereham, on Saturday, at Reed’s School, Cobham (push back 2.30).

It will be an historic day for both teams, as the Norfolk based visitors are also playing their first EHL game, having won the East League last season.