By Lucas Ball
Holcombe face Hampstead & Westminster in their first Premier Division double-header of the season on Saturday evening.
The Kent side play host to the Londoners with Vitality Women’s Premier Division action kicking off the acion at 4pm before the men’s game at 6pm under the lights.
Holcombe’s women opened their campaign with a 2-0 loss away to Clifton Robinsons but return to Holcombe Park in positive spirits with debuts out of the way for many of their new signings and Nick Bandurak having coached his first competitive match in charge.
Hampstead & Westminster, meanwhile, were 5-0 victors over Buckingham in their opener with Lily Owsley, Anna O’Flanagan, Sarah Robertson, Holly Hunt and Lauren Turner.
Barry Middleton’s side will also have their sights set on three points as they welcome Hampstead & Wesminster to Kent following a 2-2 draw with Surbiton last Sunday.
In an exciting encounter, Tom Russell gave the hosts the lead before a spirited Surbiton turnaround, only quashed by Phil Roper’s equaliser on debut inside the final 15 minutes.
Their opponents this weekend, similarly billed as potential title-challengers in 2022/23, were defeated 4-2 at home by Wimbledon, another of the sides expected to be in the upper reaches of the Men’s Premier Division table come the end of the season.
Commonwealth Games top scorer Bandurak will be keen to get off the mark for the season in front of his home supporters, while Middleton will look to the likes of Ollie Payne and Tim Guise-Brown to put in a strong defensive showing on Saturday night.
The last few games between these sides have been incredible to watch, including a dramatic 4-3 victory for Holcombe in March of this year.
Come down to watch an exciting pair of games – entry is FREE for both matches!