Could Surbiton return to their throne at the top of the domestic game? Could Hampstead and Westminster win their first title?

Who would take the third place, East Grinstead or Wimbledon? Finals day gave plenty of entertainment, and here’s how it panned out.

Hampstead and Westminster 1-3 Surbiton.

Surbiton regained the domestic title and ensured they rule the domestic women’s game once more after a 3-1 win over Hampstead and Westminster.

The hosts trailed after a beautifully taken backhand strike by the league’s top scorer Madi Ratcliffe. Surbiton fired back with a well-worked corner routine converted by Leah Wilkinson and then Alice Sharp edged them in front from another penalty corner.
A splendid individual goal from Sophie Hamilton just before full time made the game safe and sent the title to Surbiton.

Surbiton captain Steph Elliott couldn’t hide her delight at winning the title in front of the home crowd:

“I think a lot of people know how much I love hockey. It’s a little bit sad, really, but this is exactly what we deserve this season. The hard work we have put in, I said to my girls at the end, the nights we’ve trained with the horrible weather, every week, week in, week out, we put the hours in, you know, we spend time on video. We’re together when we don’t even need to be together. And it just creates special bonds and it just creates strengthened teams. And it means that this for me, is what we deserved at the end and I’m so pleased.”

Despite the glory of the day, Elliott is back down to earth with a bump tomorrow:

“I’ve just had three weeks off with the Easter holiday, so I’m not sure I can really wangle a day off! Yeah, I might just be going in with a sore head, but I’m actually fine with that!


East Grinstead 1-1 Wimbledon (4-3 after shootout.)

East Grinstead’s Ellie Rayer spoke in glowing terms about goalkeeper Issy Field after the young stopper came up with some superb saves to secure third place for the Sussex side in a shootout win over Wimbledon. 

“We’re proud after yesterday didn’t go to plan. Today didn’t either but I’m proud of the girls getting it done via a shootout. Issy our keeper is a bit of a hero.” Rayer said afterwards.  

“What’s really nice is Issy is so young, but she’s growing in confidence all the time she’s just cemented the no1 spot this past year. She’s really grown and progressed. We’re lucky as she’s one of many young players we have and they’ve all had this trajectory.”

The teams had drawn 1-1 in a very evenly-contested affair. Lily Walker opened the scoring for East Grinstead six minutes after half time, but Megan Crowson’s goal with nine minutes left on the clock sent the match into a shootout. 

There was an element of controversy early on in the shootout – the horn to signal time up sounded a few seconds into Crowson’s shootout. Although she scored, a re-take was ordered and the second time around, Field denied the Wimbledon No14.

Although Nicky Cochrane saved from Alex Malzer, Field denied Jennifer Eadie and East Grinstead went on to win 4-3.

Despite being pleased at bouncing back from yesterday’s semi-final disappointment, Rayer stressed the side from Saint Hill’s desire to be in the final next time around.

“Once you’ve won it once, you get the appetite for it. I don’t think people expected us to win the trophy last year this year there was more pressure riding on us. We didn’t play how we wanted to yesterday, but that’s sport and that’s what happens. Hopefully future years we’ll be playing in the later game and going for the trophy.”