Surbiton men’s first XI travel to Reading this Sunday for the last of eight pre-season friendies against five different sides, all played away from home since the Long Ditton-based club’s water-based pitch is being re-carpeted.

It will be a chance for both teams to assess their National Premier Division prospects, in which the hosts finished on top and Surbiton third last season.

Surbiton made the trip down the A3 to Havant twice over the weekend and each time came away with a win.

On Saturday the visitors beat their hosts - about to start their third season in the Conference West after relegation from England’s elite league - by 6-2.

The home team fought back well from 4-0 down at the interval to pull back two second-half goals, before Surbiton restored their four-goal advantage with two penalty corner conversions in the last five minutes.

Sunday’s game was a much closer affair. After a goalless first half, Surbiton opened the scoring in the ninth minute after the interval and Havant equalised within six minutes, only for Surbiton to hit what proved to be the eventual winner two minutes later, all the goals coming from open play.

Surbiton Ladies seem to have found their form as they prepare to play their final two pre-season games this weekend. They completed a double over last season’s England Hockey League Conference West runners-up, Barnes Hounslow Ealing, with their second consecutive 2-0 victory, and clean sheet, in a week, the latter obtained at Reed’s School last Saturday.

Surbiton have used various combinations of players in their first three games to identify the strongest squad available.

Although several new players have taken part, it was two members of last season’s squad who combined to score both goals.

Hannah Oakes scored from close range in the 16th and 21st minutes following excellent support play by Helen Grant which penetrated the Barnes defence.

The following day’s match versus Havant was cancelled. Surbiton complete their pre-season preparation with matches against last season’s EHL Conference East champions Ipswich, tomorrow (Saturday) at Reed’s School (12 noon); and last season’s SCWHL Division Two runners-up, Teddington at St. George’s College on Monday evening, (8 pm).

Surbiton were without Maddie Tait at the weekend, as the youngster was selected to play for England’s Under 18 Girls team at the Sainsbury’s UK School Games in Newcastle.

England, the defending champions, suffered a surprise 4-2 defeat against Ulster in their opening match, after leading 2-1 at half time.

Ulster went on to win the championship by winning all three games; whilst England beat Wales 2-0, and Scotland 4-2 to finish as runners-up. Tait started against Ulster and Scotland, and was a substitute against Wales.