SVHC played Marden HC in a friendly pre-season set of matches held at Sutton Valence School pitches. Both clubs took the opportunity to have players from higher teams playing and test the match fitness of the remainder. Marden got the better of SVHC in this game where SVHC lost 5-0. For SVHC , we witnessed a lot of players returning to hockey post the summer's cricket season, with the action being end to end testing both sides. There were several rolling substitutions in the matches, which may have caused disorganisation in the SVHC side as match fitness took it’s toll , Marden certainly benefiting from their Summer League participation. SVHC 4’s held the game well in the first half and faded away in the second half allowing Marden to score well.