Hockey: Vinson shows his hand

John Grice, who plays his hockey for Southgate, is one of four uncapped players named in the first England squad since the appointment of David Vinson as coach, for two Tests against Belgium at Canterbury on 7 and 8 April, writes Bill Colwill.

John Grice, who plays his hockey for Southgate, is one of four uncapped players named in the first England squad since the appointment of David Vinson as coach, for two Tests against Belgium at Canterbury on 7 and 8 April, writes Bill Colwill.

Four of the five players who won their first caps against Belgium in Brussels last month have kept their places – the exception being Old Loughtonian's Matt Hetherington.

At the Azlan Shah Tournament in Malaysia only eight defending players are being allowed in the 23-metre defensive zone. The three players outside the zone can be interchanged at any time. The aim is to make the defensive zone less crowded and so produce more attacking hockey with a spin-off that it may make the game safer.

Cannock and Reading will start as strong favourites against Guildford and Loughborough Students in tomorrow's semi-finals of the men's EH Cup.

England squad (v Belgium, Canterbury, 7-8 April): B Garrard, B Hawes (both Surbiton), S Mason, J Clarke, R Mantell, R Todd, M Pearn (all Reading), J Bleby, G Kirkham (Loughborough Students), J Ebsworth, R Moore (Teddington), A West, M Taylor, M Jones, B Middleton (Cannock), J Grice (Southgate).

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