England Hockey have this week confirmed the final 3 games of the season for Phase 3 which begins on Saturday.
Southgate Men face an immediate re-match as they head to Sonning Lane to take on Reading who took a comfortable 1-5 win with them back from Trent Park on Saturday afternoon. A fine goal by Barney Bithell to equalise did little to soften the blow of Southgate’s heaviest defeat since the loss to Surbiton in November. It ended an undefeated run of 4 games for Huw Stevens and his players.
Southgate v Reading – EH Men’s Premier Division Lower Six at Southgate Hockey Centre, Trent Park, London, UK on 11 April 2026.
Photo by Simon Parker/SP Action Images
Southgate will need at least 4 points from the final 3 games to help sure up their Premier Division status for next season. The crunch game is likely to be Beeston played at home on Saturday 25th April at 18:00 before they welcome the almost certainly relegated Brooklands for the final game of the season on Saturday 2nd May.
A win on Saturday against Reading would go a long way to ensuring a top 10 finish and take the pressure of captain John Sterlini and his players ahead of the final games. Yet Reading with their bad run of form upended on Saturday will have their tails up, coach Todd Williams is a wily operator and will ensure his team are prepped and raring to go to meet the boys in red and black.
Xavier Guy, Richard Swann, Ryan Grey and Simon Walker are available to the Southgate coach once again after missing last weeks game- although Blackstick international James Hickson remains currently suspended following the red card awarded on the 28th March. Either way the Southgate players will travel down the M4 with a deeper squad than was available last weekend- could that prove the difference?
Southgate v Reading – EH Men’s Premier Division Lower Six at Southgate Hockey Centre, Trent Park, London, UK on 11 April 2026.
Photo by Simon Parker/SP Action Images
GAME 1
Saturday 18th April
READING vs SOUTHGATE (A)
17:00
GAME 2
Saturday 25th April
SOUTHGATE vs BEESTON (H)
18:00
GAME 3
Saturday 2nd May
SOUTHGATE vs BROOKLANDS MU (H)
18:00