Hockey: Sharpe reply gives Cannock the edge

Cannock came from behind to beat Loughborough Students 2-1 and to maintain their two-point margin at the top of the Premier Division yesterday. Students' player coach Jason Lee gave his side a 29th-minute lead, but Cannock replied with with goals from Barry Middleton and Ben Sharpe.

Second-placed Reading had a much easier ride with a 7-0 win against Teddington, but Reading's coach, Jon Copp, will surely have strong words with his team about discipline as, leading 6-0, they were down to eight men with three of their internationals under temporary suspension. Surbiton moved into third place above Students with a 5-1 win at Hampstead.

Nicky Thompson scored twice as Old Loughtonians maintained their unbeaten record with a 3-1 victory over Southgate to retain their six-point lead over Firebrands in the First Division.

The Second Division leaders, Bowdon, are the only other unbeaten side in the leagues after their visit to Bath, where they defeated Buccaneers 4-3.

In another high-scoring game, Indian Gymkhana beat Nottingham 5-4, with Tejinder Hanspal scoring a hat-trick.

Women's Premier leaders Slough suffered a rare defeat at the hands of Canterbury on Saturday, going down to a third-minute goal from Jenny Wilson. But they regained winning form yesterday with a 2-0 win at Chelmsford, where their first-half goals came from Jane Smith and Alex Scott to inflict the Essex club's first home defeat of the season.