Holcombe are looking for a fourth straight Division One South win on Saturday afternoon (12:30pm) when they visit Slough.
Nick Bandurak’s side have beaten Wimbledon 2s, Southgate and Sevenoaks in their last three league matches, either side of beating Wimbledon 2s again in the cup quarter-finals and winning Super 6s promotion under the stewardship of Richard Lane.
Sevenoaks were put aside after an impressive first quarter saw Holcombe take a 2-0 lead through Phoebe Steele, who has three goals in her last two appearances, and Catherine Ledesma, though there could have been more goals to put the game out of sight.
Slough, meanwhile, have lost their last three and four of their last six but still sit in fifth place, currently five points above the bottom-two and ten off the promotion spot as it stands, with Surbiton 2s – Holcombe’s opponents on Sunday (Holcombe Park, 1:30pm) – top and unable to be promoted.
Losses to Sevenoaks, Southgate and Barnes have pulled Slough closer to the relegation battle, with Team Bath Buccaneers and Harleston Magpies picking up some form in recent weeks.
Holcombe beat Slough 3-1 at Holcombe Park back in October, Deanna Ritchie scoring a hat-trick with Juliette Inverdale on the scoresheet for this weekend’s hosts.
Slough could become the third side that Holcombe complete a league double against so far this season, having beaten Southgate and Sevenoaks – the only other two teams they have played twice – in both fixtures.
Heading into their double-header weekend, Holcombe are the joint top-scorers in the league with 37 in 11 matches, Surbiton notching the same amount in 11 games – while only three teams have scored less than Slough’s 18 goals.
The hosts also have the worst defensive record in the top-five, conceding 22 in their 12 matches. Holcombe, by comparison, have conceded 18 in 11.
The likes of Steele and Lottie Bingham will be hoping to continue their good form with Bingham a recent winner at the Hockey Writers’ Club Awards, while top-scorer Ritchie is looking for her first goal in five matches, her last two coming in a 7-1 home win against Canterbury in November.
Bandurak’s side also take on the league leaders on Sunday afternoon, with entry free at Holcombe Park. Updates of both matches will be provided across our social media channels.