Leading scorer Matt Daly’s absence and an injury to Great Britain international Michael Grassick proved the difference as Men’s Cup favourites Surbiton failed to lift the trophy on Saturday.

Head coach Todd Williams, shorn of four first team players ahead of the weekend, saw Grassick limp out in the warm-up to his side’s 5-1 defeat to Reading.

Daly’s absence due to work commitments, saw Surbiton miss all four of their penalty corner attempts, while Reading – beaten in both league encounters with the Sugden Road outfit this term – bagged four goals from their six.

Surbiton’s short-staffed second string fielded five Kingston Grammar School students and two Reed’s School pupils and were subsequently overpowered 3-1 by Cannock in their cup final at the same Queen Elizabeth Park venue.