Surbiton Ladies have a two point lead at the top of the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division following their 1-0 home win over Clifton Robinsons. After two rounds of matches, Surbiton are the only team with a one hundred per cent record.

Surbiton made two changes, bringing in Olivia Chilton and Izzy Petter for Alice Sharp and Lucy Holder. In spite of creating several chances from open play and forcing eight penalty corners, the reigning champions were only able to score once against their Bristol based visitors, Petter turning the ball in from Holly Payne’s cross in the eleventh minute.

Clifton Robinsons were captained by former Surbiton player Hannah Coulson and having won 1-0 at Canterbury the previous week, put in another strong defensive performance, although Surbiton came close to doubling their lead late in the second half when Chilton struck the left post.

Surbiton kept their second successive clean sheet but will be tested at East Grinstead tomorrow (Saturday) when they face former player Sophie Bray on her return to West Sussex from Dutch club Kampong.

Surbiton Men were held to a 1-1 draw by newly promoted University of Exeter under the Sugden Road floodlights. The teams hadn’t met in the top flight since 2012 and Exeter were aiming to bounce back from a 4-1 home defeat to East Grinstead in their first match.

Ben Boon came close to giving Surbiton an early lead but although both teams showed attacking intent, the game remained goalless at half time.

Exeter fell behind in the 49th minute, James Royce finding the backboard against his former club after returning to Surbiton via the University of Western Australia and Reading.  Surbiton’s lead lasted just three minutes, Exeter equalising after James Thomas rifled a shot into the top right corner from the visitors’ third penalty corner.

With seven minutes to play, David Goodfield’s goal was disallowed following an umpire consultation, allowing Exeter and their loyal supporters to celebrate their first point of the season on the final whistle.

Surbiton Ladies play at East Grinstead at 4pm followed by Surbiton Men at 6 pm.