Hockey: Mantell boosts Reading

Richard Mantell's 69th-minute penalty corner goal gave Reading a 2-1 victory at Surbiton in a fiercely competitive Premier League game.

In a match in which the defending was at times frantic, the middle-field play enterprising and the Surbiton finishing appaling, Reading, in second place, were fortunate to win to remain within two points of the leaders, Cannock.

Matt Daly gave Surbiton a sixth-minute lead with Reading's New Zealander, Ken Robinson, equalising midway through the first half, before Mantell's late winner.

Cannock continued their high-scoring run with an 8-1 win at St Albans, while at the bottom, Hampstead are crawling clear of the relegation zone after drawing 1-1 with Guildford. Doncaster stay bottom after a 4-3 home defeat by Canterbury, despite a hat-trick from Jason Black.

Old Loughtonians ensured their return to the Premier Division by beating Stourport 6-2, Matt Hetherington scoring a hat-trick.

There was also promotion joy for Bowdon, whose point from a 3-3 draw with second-placed Nottingham ensured they achieved promotion in their first National League season. Bowden are 10 points clear at the top of the Second Division with three games remaining.

Jane Smith took her weekend goal tally to seven as she followed up her league hat-trick on Saturday in Slough's 3-2 victory over Ipswich with four strikes in an 8-0 win over Trojans in yesterday's Cup semi-final. In the final on 13 April, Slough face Canterbury who beat Doncaster 3-0.