Surbiton failed to qualify for next season’s Euro Hockey League after losing the second of two qualifying play-offs in the midlands last weekend.
Having finished fifth in the English National Premier Division, the Surrey club found themselves up against fourth-placed Cannock on Saturday, where they pulled off a 5-3 win thanks to two goals from James Tindall and strikes from Phil Messent, Fergus Dunn and Tim Pinnock.
That meant they faced Beeston, who lost the other play-off, but, despite another Tindall goal and Pinnock’s late penalty corner conversion, they lost 3-2 to make it 10 years since they last qualified for Europe.
Surbiton Ladies were brought back down to earth after last week’s cup heroics, as they lost their first match in the Investec Promotion Tournament, 2-1 against Conference West champions Buckingham at Bisham Abbey on Saturday, with Amy Bryant scoring.
They have to win matches against Slough and Beeston to keep alive hopes of a place in the Premier Division.
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