Planet Field Hockey

By Cathy Harris

JANE SMITH displayed the type of finishing prowess that she will hope to translate to the international stage when England play in the World Cup finals in Australia this month in scoring four goals in Slough’s 10-1 victory over Hightown yesterday, which put them to the top of the Women’s National League premier division.
Slough will now occupy the leaders’ position, ahead of Olton and Leicester on goal difference, for the next ten weeks as the premiership has an early midwinter break.

Yesterday Smith and the rest of the England squad began a two-week acclimatisation programme, starting at the University of Hertfordshire, designed to help to prepare them for the Australian summer.

Tricia Heberle, the England head coach, who rested over the weekend after being hit on the head by a ball in training on Thursday, said: “I’m really pleased with the work-rate the players have put in, particularly as they’ve had club games to focus on combined with a lot of travelling.

“The weather has also been diabolical and really tested their motivation in the countdown to the World Cup. But I’m happy with their national league form, especially with the forwards, who have been scoring on a regular basis. Smith, Lucilla Wright, Anne Panter and Alex Danson all stand out.”

Smith also scored in her side’s 3-2 win against Olton on Saturday and Panter hit a brace of goals in Leicester’s convincing 4-1 victory away to Sutton Coldfield.

There were also plenty of goals in the men’s EHA Cup third round. Three premier division sides, Cannock, Reading and Teddington, progressed to the fourth round in some style.

Reading, having beaten Doncaster 3-0 to take over at the top of the men’s premier division on Saturday, comprehensively outclassed Oxford Hawks 13-0 in the cup, courtesy of five goals by Ken Robinson, the New Zealand forward, and a hat-trick by Andrew Watts.

It was Cannock, however, who appeared intent on setting records when Simon Organ, the Wales penalty-corner specialist, managed six goals, including five from the set-piece, as his team convincingly overcame West Bridgford 22-0.

Martin Jones also helped himself to six goals and Chris Mayer, the former England winger, claimed five.

James Webber, who scored the only goal of the match for Teddington against Guildford in the premier division, collected another four yesterday as the club thrashed Robinsons 12-0.

Southgate improved their lot, moving clear of danger in the first division with an impressive 9-2 win against Barford Tigers before beating Swindon 5-1 in the cup.

Doncaster ended Coalville Town’s run in the cup competition with a 5-0 victory, but there was no disgrace in defeat for the Leicestershire side, who play their league hockey five divisions lower than their opponents.

Chris Ashton, the Coalville chairman, said: “It was a really enjoyable experience for the lads and I think we did ourselves justice considering the gulf. It also made a change to have decent umpires.”

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