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_SURBITON’S PRODUCTION LINE OF TALENT CONTINUES AS ONE ENGLAND HOCKEY GREAT STEPS AWAY FROM THE CLUB SCENE, REPORTS ROD GILMOUR__ OF THE HOCKEY PAPER_. Four wins in a row to start the season

and a three-point lead for the defending Vitality Women’s Premier Division champions. Yet, ease of life at the top is certainly not what it used to be as Surbiton chase a ninth straight

league title this season. For one, the strength of their rivals seems to be growing every year - the leaders take on third-placed Wimbledon on Saturday in England Hockey’s match of the

weekend - while this season they can’t rely on one of the best centre midfielders in the Premier Division bossing play. Georgie Twigg, 31, stepped down from club hockey before the start of

the 2022/23 season and admitted that it was tough to do so. Having joined a decade earlier, her first season saw Surbiton reach the Play-Off Finals. Since then, she toasted Championship

success every year. “I had it in my mind that last season was my last,” she says. “At the end there were the crunch games, winning the title, going to Europe and so it made the decision

harder. “I let it ride all summer. But there was always the time commitment. It’s never say never for me stopping for good, but it felt like the right time. Whenever you stop it’s hard to

think how you factored it in as life is so busy.” Last weekend, the Surbiton talent production line saw coach Brett Garrard hand out another young debut as Jess Dyson scored on her 18th

birthday. Such is the success of the club’s Colts programme that Twigg admits that she hadn’t come across her name before. “That’s what Surbiton gets so right,” admits Twigg. “Yes we have a

number of internationals and the depth of the squad, but the Colts are where we are clearly doing something right, where the talent coming through is unbelievable. Brett is really good at

giving them the opportunity.” Despite this weekend being only the second time Surbiton have travelled to Wimbledon, the match-up already has a heavyweight ring to it, underlining the

emergence of more teams keen to halt the perennial champions’ dominance. Twigg says: “It’s great that the Premier Division is now more competitive. For us, Hampstead & Westminster, East

Grinstead and Wimbledon are some of the big crunch games and there is a real rivalry now. Last year was the hardest season for us and Hampstead looked like they would win the league.” Yet it

was Surbiton who clinched the title, with Garrard’s side also now focusing on another before their EuroHockey tilt at Easter, with hopes of atoning for a quarter-final defeat to Gantoise -

the first Belgian women's team to play in the EHL - last season. Meanwhile Surbiton manager Tony Jones says the new format and phases for the Premier Division this season makes for a

lively and competitive structure. He says: “The objectives from England Hockey were to make every game count and that looks like what they are going to get. There is no luxury of trying

things out, you have to make sure they are fully formed and ready. That’s all exciting for the players.” Jones hailed the debut of Dyson last weekend in the win away at Buckingham as she

made her foray into the club’s extended squad. “Very quick and physical” was Jones’ assessment of the 18-year-old, which fits into Surbiton’s continued attacking style in recent seasons.

Together with the continued return to the club of players from university or abroad, Surbiton will be tough to beat this season. Especially if Sophie Hamilton, one of the breakthrough

England stars of 2022, continues her form in front of goal. “It’s about blending experience with exciting kids,” adds Jones. It also helps that Surbiton 2s are playing competitively too in

Division One South, with the wider squad training together one day a week at Sugden Road. The surroundings at the club are also beginning to bear fruits as part of Surbiton’s ‘Masterplan

2024’ redevelopment. Two new pitches have been laid, with no difference in quality between Pitch 1 or 2, while a third half-size pitch will aid the juniors, as well as providing space for

goalkeeper training. The next phase of the plan is to raise funds and rebuild the clubhouse, which would see the club become more aligned with a European club feel. Twigg has a touch of envy

at the club’s vision. “I’m stopping playing and we will have a snazzy clubhouse!” she joked. “But the club is doing everything it can to professionalise as much as possible. It’s great for

the club." On stepping away, Twigg adds: “When you play a team sport and do a lot socially, I will miss all that but I will still get to matches when I can.” She will be celebrated too,

with the club set to recognise her achievements at the club’s last home game in December. _Vitality Women’s Premier Division Saturday: Wimbledon v Surbiton, 2pm_