Holcombe Ladies star Lauren Osborn says the club are proud of their achievements this season despite the disappointment of missing out on the Championship play-offs by a single point on the final day.

Holcs needed to match Reading’s result in their game at home to Leicester when they travelled to unbeaten Investec Premier Division champions Surbiton on Saturday, however despite battling to a 0-0 draw, Reading’s 3-1 win secured them fourth-place and a play-off semi-final against Surbiton at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park next month.

Osborn - who has helped the club rise through the divisions to the top-flight this season - revealed: “To come so close was gutting but reflecting on the journey of this season we are proud of what we have achieved and learnt, so we are all in good spirits really.

“(Holcombe coach) Kevin Johnson said to us ‘we drew with the unbeaten league champions with a team with only three players having any Premier Division experience before this season and containing four under-18 players.’

“It was a great game of hockey and we threw everything we had at it, we took the keeper off and had a shot in the last minute. They hit the crossbar and had a goal disallowed because it didn’t cross the line. It was an action-packed game.

“It’s all part of a journey, although I think next year will start a new journey as we will know the opposition better, know the standard and know what to expect.”

Osborn added: “We will have to wait and see what the plans are for next year,” and claimed the focus was now on supporting the men’s quest for promotion through the play-offs, and the looming Kent Cup semi-final.

She added: “We have to play Canterbury in the semi - we have won it for the last few years so that is still important for us to do well in this year.”

Canterbury Ladies secured second-spot and enjoyed success in the dress-rehearsal for their play-off semi-final on April 18 after coming from behind to beat Clifton 3-2.

A Joanna Leigh penalty corner conversion and a Claire Thomas strike put the Bristol side 2-0 to the good inside 17 minutes, however Sarah Kerly pulled one back soon after and after the break Grace Balsdon struck from a penalty corner and player-coach Jen Wilson secured the points with a third.

Meanwhile the schedule for the men’s NOW: Pensions Premier Division play-offs has been released.

Current Premier Division side Canterbury will take on Conference East champions Holcombe, from Rochester, aswell as North champions Bowdon and West winners Team Bath Buccaneers in a round-robin league spread over two weekends, with the top two claiming a place in next season’s Premier Division.

The first game will be played at Cannock on Sunday, March 29, with Holcs facing Bowdon at 1pm before Canterbury take on Bath at 3pm.

On Saturday, April 11, the teams will head to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with the Kent derby between the two sides at 10am and the final round the following day, both starting at 10.45am.