Surbiton’s depleted men’s indoor squad finished the first stage of the National Premier Division on a high.

After losing their opening three games of the weekend fixtures, Surbiton beat Team Bath Buccaneers 8-5 on Sunday to lift themselves out of the two relegation spaces.

Surbiton, promoted from Division One last season, looked likely to lose all four games after finding themselves 5-4 down to Bath with just five minutes left.

However, they turned it around to claim what appeared to be an unlikely win. On Saturday morning Surbiton – missing four of their 12-man squad – lost 6-5 to Bowdon from 4-2 up at the interval, and in the afternoon they lost 8-6 to Holcombe.

Then on Sunday morning the pattern was repeated by losing 5-1 to second-place Canterbury after holding them 0-0 at the interval.

There were some positives from the weekend as Chris Grassick finished second in the goal-scoring tally with nine.

The indoor season resumes on the first weekend in January, with the top four qualifying for the the finals at Wembley.

Surbiton will have their work cut out as they face leaders and reigning champions East Grinstead, third-placed Sevenoaks, Beeston and Reading.