Hockey: Suspended Daly set for long break

Three players face an extended break from competition as they sit out this weekend's full League and EH Cup programmes, the final fixtures before outdoor hockey goes into the mid-winter break.

Three players face an extended break from competition as they sit out this weekend's full League and EH Cup programmes, the final fixtures before outdoor hockey goes into the mid-winter break.

Surbiton's Matt Daly has been suspended for 16 days for alleged comments he made to the umpire Nick Lockhart following the game with Canterbury last month. The Surrey club can ill afford to be without their leading goalscorer against Cannock in this afternoon's league game and tomorrow against Reading in the Cup.

The player-coach, Kalbir Takher, shown the red card in Nottingham's game with East Grinstead last Sunday, will also be missing and is also sidelined from coaching Olton & West Warwick in their games this weekend. Bowdon's Dominic Maguire completes the trio.

Jason Laslett, 35, the former Great Britain and England captain, returns to the Teddington squad for this afternoon's crucial game against Chelmsford as the Middlesex club parts company with its coach.

Teddington's executive committee has ended the contract of Sam Naismith, who will be replaced by the New Zealand Olympian James Nation, as player-coach, on his return from Lahore where he is playing with the National side in the élite six nations Champions Trophy.