Surbiton’s title ambitions suffered a double blow this week after captain Sarah Haycroft and Georgie Twigg were ruled out for the rest of the regular season.

Haycroft and Twigg, who hope to be fit for the play-offs, were injured on Great Britain international duty in San Diego last week, with the former damaging her ankle in a 2-2 draw with the USA, and the latter breaking her thumb in a 2-1 win over New Zealand.

Head coach Brett Garrard will be confident of success in their absence, but watched as Surbiton – also without Team GB’s Giselle Ansley and Hollie Webb – lost 2-0 to Leicester in the league on Saturday.

However, they bounced back to win 4-2 – with Sandra Frankland scoring twice – at Beeston on Sunday to secure a Women’s Cup semi-final at Buckingham on March 23.

Surbiton’s men held off the MHL Premier Division leaders Beeston’s comeback to win 3-2 at Sugden Road on Sunday.

A Matt Daly double and one from Michael Watt had put the hosts 3-0 up.

Surbiton, only two points ahead of fifth-placed Wimbledon, travel to second-placed Reading on Sunday.