Men’s Premier Division side Surbiton have been the club flying the flag in Europe in recent seasons. With Old Georgians and Wimbledon currently out in Hamburg at the Euro Hockey League, Mark Pearn’s side will be looking to get their first win of the season at home and put down an early marker in the Championship bid.
East Grinstead will visit Surbiton on Saturday in a double header encounter between the two clubs, the west Sussex side fresh from a late 3-2 win over University of Exeter. The match will see several Commonwealth stars in attendance, with the women also in action beforehand, as the club aims to latch on to the success of the international summer.
Newly-promoted Reading will aim to keep their season off to a winning start when they head to Beeston, the Nottingham side having lost their previous five matches.
Oxted, eager to set their sights on a top sic place this season, make the trip to Exeter looking to continue their run of excellent form on the road, with four consecutive wins this far.
Meanwhile Holcombe, who drew with Surbiton last time out, host Hampstead & Westminster.
In the Vitality Women’s Premier Division, early leaders Hampstead & Westminster also travel to face Holcombe, who fell to an opening defeat at Clifton Robinsons last weekend.
Hampstead, under new coaches Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh, began their campaign with a 5-0 victory over Loughborough Students.
Surbiton women host East Grinstead, the Sussex side buoyed by their first win in five matches after a last-gasp winner from Chloe Brown.
Elsewhere, Reading, who lost to Wimbledon last weekend, entertain the Robbies. Alex Danson scored the last time the two sides met back in 2017.
On the European stage in the EHL, Wimbledon rallied after losing 4-0 to Hamburger. Karl Stagno’s team prevailed in a thriller 5-3 over CA Montrouge in the ranking match.
Old Georgians debut in the competition on Saturday against SV Arminen. The winner will meet either Pinoke or Slavia Prague.
