Upon leaving Southampton, Southerton played for Surrey as well as Sussex and Hampshire, and with more cricket to play because of Surrey’s longer programme, became the most successful bowler in England. Playing only for Surrey and Sussex in 1868, Southerton was the leading wicket-taker in England with 151 wickets, aided by an exceptionally hot summer and very bad pitches even for the era. Two years later Southerton became the first bowler to reach 200 wickets in a first-class season, and played in as many as twenty-seven of only forty-nine first-class matches played during the year. During this period it was said that Southerton was the one bowler able to defeat or even contain the brilliant batting of W. G. Grace. He continued as a leading bowler between 1871 and 1875, including taking 16 wickets for 52 runs in a day for the South against the North on a sticky wicket on 17 May 1875.