Planet Field Hockey

By Cathy Harris

NOT even a hat-trick by James Webber for Teddington against Reading, the premier division champions, could stem the tide as the holders helped themselves to goals at regular intervals with six different players scoring in a comfortable 7-3 triumph. Tom Bertram netted two late penalty corners with Ken Robinson, Jon Wyatt, Richard Mantell, Scott Ashdown and Jonty Clarke also on target as Reading remained second on goal difference behind Surbiton.
After a disappointing start to their campaign in the first division, Barford Tigers had expected the arrival of Prabhjot Singh and Deepak Thakur, the two India forwards, to revive their fortunes, but after hearing that the stars would be delayed in India they were forced to register their first win without them.

Harpreet Singh converted a penalty stroke either side of the interval to give the Birmingham club a 2-0 lead against Chelmsford, before the Essex team hit back. Alan Thorgood reduced the deficit with four minutes left and although Chelmsford earned a last-minute penalty corner, the home team’s defence held firm.

Bowdon extended their unbeaten run in the second division, taking over at the top from Nottingham after their impressive 5-0 win at Blueharts. Nottingham’s hopes of remaining in pole position were crushed by Gary Hales who completed a hat-trick for Peterborough Town in an impressive 3-2 win.

In the women’s premier division, Ipswich moved two points clear at the head of the table thanks to a goal in each half by Leisa King, the England striker, in a 2-1 win against Sutton Coldfield. Sandie Lister, the former England captain and Ipswich coach, said that the Suffolk club had been forced to make a few tactical changes to break down their opponents, not to mention contain the threat of the evergreen Jane Sixsmith, who always looked dangerous on the break.

Lister said: “They were certainly no pushovers and provided us with a few problems.”

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