Two strong and resilient performances from Holcombe’s first teams saw them take the spoils of the Super Saturday double header with Surbiton at Holcombe Park on the opening night of the 2016/17 Premier League season. 

In the evening’s earlier start, a short-handed Holcombe ladies ground out a 2-2 draw with the 3-time reigning champions. With both sides missing key players, a tentative first half saw little in the way of chances and saw the two teams go in to the break level at 0-0.

Two minutes into the second half, youngster Rebecca Titmuss fired the game into life with a goal on debut for Holcombe before strikes from Jo Hunter and Robyn Collins put the defending champions in a commanding position. With chances flowing at both ends, it wasn’t until the final minute that the home side forced an overtime short corner.

With the last play of the game, Captain Emma Trunks stepped up to despatch the rebound and earn a share of the spoils.

“We made it scrappy and hard for them to flow against us,” said Captain Emma Trunks, “to come back from 2-1 down is really promising to see with so many youngsters in the team and with the number of girls we have coming back into the side in the coming weeks it really bodes well for the season ahead.”

In the evening’s later push-back, last year’s league winners played last year’s league runners-up as Holcombe men hosted a new-look Surbiton side who dominated the early exchanges, taking the lead through Nick Parkes.

The home side grew into the contest as the half wore on and were rewarded with the equalizer through a piece of individual brilliance from talismanic striker Sam Ward.

With the sides level at the break, the rain began to fall in a tense second half.

An early foray down the right baseline for Holcombe was smashed home on the reverse by Gareth Andrew. At 2-1, Surbiton began to build pressure before a Holcombe short corner was smashed home in the second phase by the lively Sam Ward to extend the lead for the home side.

With Holcombe content to defend deep, Surbiton enjoyed the majority of possession and were rewarded with a late goal from Morgan Males but it proved too little too late as Holcombe began their defence of the regular season title with a vital win.

Holcombe Captain Richard Lane commented; “It was an excellent effort from all of the lads today, we really had to dig deep for the win. It’s pleasing to see Sam Ward back on fine form and it’s great to get a winning start to the season”.

Both Holcombe sides are in action again next Saturday evening away at Sonning Lane as the women and men both face Reading at 4.30pm and 6.30pm respectively.

@BandurakWriting   www.nickbandurakblog.wordpress.com