Both local EHL Premier Division sides had their final fixtures of the first half of the season postponed because of Saturday's freezing conditions, writes Sean Cotter.

It leaves Surbiton and Teddington still eight points and three places apart in the 10-team elite league.

Surbiton made the short journey down the A3 for their noon fixture against Guildford only to find the pitch declared unplayable 90 minutes before the game was due to start.

Manager Lee Pettifer was not too unhappy.

"At least it means we will have the injured Martin Dyn and Stefan Saliger, who is in Germany, available for when the fixture is rescheduled," he said.

All in all, it has been a satisfactory start to the season for the Long Ditton-based side, who are currently second in the league, where they finished last season.

Surbiton are still a distant nine points behind Reading despite Stuart Head's goal giving them a 1-0 win over Hampstead and Westminster in their last game.

However, Surbiton do have a game in hand on the Berkshire club, who beat Old Loughtonians 6-1 in the only fixture not to fall foul of the freeze on Saturday.

Teddington were at least spared the journey around the M25 for their 2pm fixture at Trent Park against bottom-of-the-table Southgate.

It was a game the Chiswick-based side badly needed to win.

Although they are just in the top half of the table, Teddington are only five points clear of Guildford in the dreaded relegation play-off position which they themselves occupied at the end of last season.

The Premier Division now takes a 12-week break to accommodate February's World Cup in Malaysia.

Surbiton hopes to supply three players for the England squad James Wallis, Brett Garrard and Billy Waugh.

Teddington's Danny Haydon is also likely to be in the party.

While they are away, the two clubs are due to meet in the fifth round of the EHA Cup on Sunday, February 3 at Sugden Road, with the winner going through to the sixth round on March 3.

League games then resume on March 24.

Before that, however, Surbiton have five games in the specially-arranged EHA Premier League Cup.

Teddington and three other Premier Division clubs have declined the invitation to compete.

December 28, 2001 15:01