While the rest of Surbiton’s men’s indoor squad found refuge from the weather by playing indoor league hockey the weekend before last, their USA international defender team mate, Andrew Sheridan, had an even better escape.

He jetted off to sunny South America the previous Thursday (albeit via a 4am taxi to Heathrow!) to enjoy some Southern Hemisphere summertime while playing for his country of birth in a test series against the national teams from Argentina and Chile.

The games were played all last week at the Centro Nacional de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo training complex in Buenos Aires.  This eight-day warm-weather camp was a godsend for dual-nationality Andy who is getting back to full match fitness after an operation in the autumn to sort out a long-term knee injury.

Since recovering from it, he had played only four games for Surbiton’s 2nd XI, followed by two back in the 1st XI squad. Keeping him company in the USA senior squad was elder brother Tom (“TJ”), a former Surbiton goalkeeper, who left the Long Ditton-based club in January 2007 to live and work in New York. There he plays for New York Field Hockey Club, but outfield – only going back between the sticks for the national team.

Over two weekends and the days between the USA (ranked 20th in the world) played four tests against their Argentinean hosts (ranked 11th, but missing a number of their stars who play in Europe), winning two and losing two; and one test against Chile (ranked 25th), which they won.

Andrew scored in the first game against the Argentine and, despite his trepidation, TJ quickly found his form in pads and helmet. Both brothers are planning to be home for Christmas, weather permitting.